MOVIE
Director Pil Gam-seong Expresses Trust in Jo Jung-suk for 'Zombie Daughter'
On the 29th, director Pil Gam-seong was interviewed at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, about his film 'Zombie Daughter.'
'Zombie Daughter' is a comedic drama about a father who undergoes secret training to protect his daughter, the last remaining zombie in the world. The film is based on a webtoon of the same name.
Director Pil stated, "I couldn't imagine anyone but Jo Jung-suk as Jeong-hwan," expressing his confidence in the actor. He added, "From the moment I read the original webtoon, I thought Jo Jung-suk would be perfect for the role. I wrote the script with him in mind, and fortunately, he agreed to take on the role. It felt like sending a love letter, and when he said, 'It really feels like me,' I was overjoyed."
Jo Jung-suk, who is a father in real life, brought authenticity to his role. Director Pil noted, "There were many scenes that only a father could portray. My favorite scene is when he trains his daughter Sua, and his expression as a father explains the entire movie. Jo Jung-suk is an outstanding actor, and adding the element of fatherhood brought out even better performances. I remember telling him, 'You're the best,' and he responded by holding my shoulder and saying, 'Thank goodness.' It was a moment of great connection."
Regarding the casting, Pil said, "Fortunately, all the actors were my first choice, and they agreed to join the project immediately. It was a happy experience." He continued, "After Jo Jung-suk, Lee Jung-eun was cast. I couldn't imagine anyone else for the role of Bamsun. Thankfully, we had worked together on a previous project, so there was mutual trust."
Director Pil had previously worked with Lee Jung-eun on the thriller 'Unlucky Day.' He joked, "There was so much blood in that film that the staff started calling me 'Blood Gam-seong.' I told Lee Jung-eun jokingly, 'With this project, I've reclaimed my real name, Pil Gam-seong.' If I shoot another bloody film, I'll be 'Blood Gam-seong' again," he laughed.
Choi Yoo-ri, who plays the zombie daughter Sua, was not cast through an audition but was directly offered the role. Director Pil explained, "I was impressed by Choi Yoo-ri in the film 'Alienoid.' Her bright smile and the subtle sadness in her face seemed perfect for the zombie makeup. Looking at her through Jeong-hwan's eyes, her face already told many stories." He added, "Yoo-ri had to balance acting practice and her studies, so she had a lot on her plate. We met regularly to discuss zombie motions and the 'No. 1' dance. She learned quickly, and her rapid improvement was inspiring."
Regarding Cho Yeo-jeong, Pil said, "The character Yeon-hwa is serious and quirky but unaware of it. I thought of Cho Yeo-jeong's line 'Is It Okay with You?' from 'Parasite' and her face came to mind. Her line 'Is there a zombie to kill?' matched perfectly with her vibe, and I hoped she would take the role." He continued, "I didn't expect her to accept because the role wasn't large, but I sent the offer like a love letter, and she responded the fastest. Our film's producer and I were so excited we jumped around holding hands."
On set, Pil often had to rein in Yoon Kyung-ho's enthusiasm. Pil shared, "When Kyung-ho first met me, he requested a meeting to discuss my thoughts on comedy. I told him I liked his approach, which was to avoid excessive ad-libs and keep it simple. We high-fived over it." However, "Kyung-ho prepared extensively for his scenes, even having multiple options. Coincidentally, his first scene was a Thor cosplay, which required a calm start, but it was a high-energy scene with Jo Jung-suk. I reminded him, 'Kyung-ho, remember our talk?' It's still a funny story I share," he laughed.
'Zombie Daughter' is set to premiere on the 30th.
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
