The heartwarming comedy film 'My Daughter is a Zombie' has unveiled its secrets.
On the 21st, a press screening for the film 'My Daughter is a Zombie' (directed by Phil Kamsung, distributed by NEW, produced by Studio N) was held at the Mega Box Coex in Seoul. The event was attended by director Phil Kamsung, Jo Jung-seok, Lee Jeong-eun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri.
The film 'My Daughter is a Zombie' is a comic drama about a doting father who embarks on a covert training mission to protect his daughter, who has become the last remaining zombie in this world.
On that day, director Phil Kamsung noted, "Eventually, this day has come," expressing his nervousness about the film 'My Daughter is a Zombie', based on the popular Naver webtoon that has amassed a global view count of 500 million.
Additionally, regarding the realistic depiction of zombies, director Phil stated, "I had to manage the intensity. It was most important to find the right balance. In the beginning, I wanted it to be scary and thrilling. I wanted it to be perceived realistically. Although I cannot provide exact numbers since it is a comic drama, it was really around 59 to 41. I had to focus on comedy amidst that and put a lot of effort into that aspect."
He continued, "The focus is not on the zombie spectacle but on the important process of recognizing the father as a source of food at first, then as a protector. Therefore, I divided the movements with actress Choi Yu-ri, the makeup team, and the choreographer who directed the zombie motion. Specifically, I wanted them to be seen as pets. I also thought to myself whether a zombie could become a family member. Fortunately, actress Choi Yu-ri thought similarly and did a lot of research by observing her pet dog at home. I tried to create a depiction of gradually adapting to human society."
Jo Jung-seok portrays 'Jeong-hwan', a father who embarks on covert training for his daughter, the last remaining zombie in the world, showcasing his deep acting skills and subtle expressions to perfectly capture 'Jeong-hwan's' life's ups and downs.
He recalled, "Since there are many emotional scenes when acting, it can be difficult, but in terms of approaching it, I found it quite easy. The only difficulty was the overflow of emotions. It became excessively emotional, leading to many discussions on how much was appropriate."
Jo Jung-seok said, "I hear that the film suits actor Jo Jung-seok very well, and I feel incredibly happy and thankful for that. From the moment I first received the offer, I had already become a father of a daughter, and I think I was able to immerse myself deeply. It might be slightly distorted, but I thought I must do this. When I conveyed this to my agency and the production company, it ended up being distorted into the articles as 'This is mine?' 'This is for me?' Regardless, I think I was able to meet this work at a perfect timing for me. Personally, I wonder if I could ever find a project that suits me better than this, as I feel completely immersed in the character 'Lee Jeong-hwan'."
Lee Jeong-eun plays the role of grandmother 'Bamsun'. Lee Jeong-eun explained, "The most important thing is to observe the relationship between the father and daughter while also being an essential child for me and maintaining discipline. However, I tried to portray a character that resembles a mother in real life, but was not overly cartoonish."
Regarding the message of 'My Daughter is a Zombie', Lee Jeong-eun stated, "In fact, a virus is perceived as a target that must be eliminated even if it's family, to ensure my safety. However, I believe our movie prompts the need to reconsider that, posing a question. It seems to express the intent of trying to revive through the interest and love of those around us."
Cho Yeo-jeong, who plays Jeong-hwan's first love 'Yeon-hwa', said, "The character Yeon-hwa has a personal story, so I think I tried to seriously believe in that situation while rationalizing my guilt. I never thought of it as something to have fun with. Since Yeon-hwa's previous story isn't something that could be described as entertaining, I approached it seriously. However, since the book describes it in such a serious context, it couldn't help but turn out humorous. So, I wonder if it came out like 'Malknun-gwang' (a Korean term for a person who gets excited easily)."
Cho Yeo-jeong also shared insights about the atmosphere on set, stating, "The chemistry was one that couldn't be anything but good. Yeon-hwa appears relatively late, and her first scene was a tteokbokki scene after filming had progressed. I sat there so comfortably because I have a friendly relationship with the elder sister. I was on a diet, but I ended up eating too much of the prop tteokbokki, and they kept handing me paper cups to spit it out, but I had nothing to spit out."
Yoon Kyung-ho, who played the role of Dong-bae, shared, "Earlier, while watching the movie, I saw a bodyguard next to me crying. I felt a sense of connection in emotions being conveyed together," he said with a smile, reflecting on his thoughts about the work released after the Netflix series 'Emergency Center'.
He continued, "Of course, our project was filmed before 'Emergency Center', but it had a different temperature. Although there was enjoyment, there were cheerful moments, and there were also bright and warm atmospheres. It felt that this film was extraordinarily good in its own way. There were healing moments while filming. As you can see, 'My Daughter is a Zombie' consists of fairy tale-like people within a fairy tale-like village. I felt happy living within it."
Choi Yu-ri, who transformed into 'Sua', Jo Jung-seok's daughter within the film, expressed, "I felt honored to be able to work alongside the actors. They are actors I have always respected, and I was happy to be able to shoot together. They treated me kindly, which made for a meaningful time," recalling her time on set.
In conclusion, director Phil stated, "It is a family comedy film that connects thrilling zombies with warm smiles and touching emotions. I ask for a lot of support and interest for this film." Meanwhile, led by Jo Jung-seok, Yoon Kyung-ho humorously presented a three-line poem on 'My Daughter is a Zombie', saying, "'My Daughter is a Zombie' has come out. Help me to be able to soar. Ding-dong!" evoking laughter.
'My Daughter is a Zombie' will be available in theaters nationwide on July 30.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]