Jeon Ji-hyun: "I Tried Acting Like a Zombie... The Director Said He Found a Raw Gem" [Cannes★Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Invited for the Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes International Film Festival... Interview with Jeon Ji-hyun on the film 'COLONY'

Actress Jeon Ji-hyun said it was fun acting alongside actors playing zombies.

On the 16th (local time), Jeon Ji-hyun held an interview for the film 'COLONY' (directed by Yeon Sang-ho) at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, and shared stories related to the work. The film 'COLONY' was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival and met audiences at the Grand Lumière Theater through its official screening the day before, on the 15th.

On this day, Jeon Ji-hyun shared her impressions of arriving at the Cannes Film Festival, stating, "It's wonderful. Thanks to Director Yeon Sang-ho, I am so happy to be here at Cannes, which can be called the dream of all filmmakers. Although this is my third time coming to Cannes in a formal capacity, it is my first time being invited with a Korean film. I felt the emotional moment of the film being screened at the Grand Lumière Theater. I realized I must live with even more gratitude. I am infinitely grateful to the director."

After returning to the screen after a long break, Jeon Ji-hyun leads the team in her role as Kwon Se-jeong, a biotechnologist and leader of survivors. When asked about her impressions of acting with zombies, Jeon Ji-hyun smiled and said, "It was wonderful."

Jeon Ji-hyun explained, "It was a character I wanted to meet at least once. Acting together feels natural. Since it is a genre film with tense situations, once the action starts, it comes out naturally. It wasn't easy to act while running away quickly, but it felt vivid, and shooting with zombies was really fun." She added, "The actors playing zombies seem truly miraculous."

Jeon Ji-hyun continued, "I actually think it's important to use one's body well. It is important not only as an actor but also for people living their daily lives. Most people do not know their bodies well, so I envied those (the actors playing zombies) and thought they were so cool. They always shine." She expressed her respect for the dancers who played the zombie roles in the film.

Jeon Ji-hyun then joked, "I even said I might have some potential for zombie acting. I briefly tried acting like a zombie on set. After trying out a few poses, the director said, 'I think I've found a raw gem.'"

The film 'COLONY' is about isolated survivors inside a building sealed off by an unidentified infection outbreak, fighting against infected individuals who evolve in unpredictable ways. Director Yeon Sang-ho, a 'regular guest' at Cannes, was invited to the Cannes Film Festival for the fourth time, starting with his first feature-length animated film 'King of Pigs' (2012, Directors' Fortnight), followed by 'Train to Busan' (2016, Midnight Screening section), and 'Peninsula' (2020, Official Selection). Director Yeon Sang-ho, who has left a strong impression on the global film industry with genre films that add a Korean-style zombie genre and original twists, once again demonstrated the power of the father of Korean zombies through 'COLONY'.

Meanwhile, 'COLONY', which was first unveiled through the Cannes Film Festival, will be released in Korea on the 21st.

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*This content was translated by AI.