This article is by Kim Ji-ye and read by an artificial voice.
In the latest box office hit "My Daughter is a Zombie," a heartwarming yet humorous family drama centered on a daughter-turned-zombie, a surprising scene-stealer is winning over audiences: Aeyongyi, the family's lovable Korean short-haired cat.
The cat has become so popular that merchandise is being released, such as Aeyongyi-inspired fans, badges and wallpapers for smartwatches and phones.
Some may think that the cheese-colored feline is a CGI creation. Don't be fooled. Aeyongyi is a real cat actor who landed the role through a final 4-to-1 audition.
So how did Aeyongyi find his way onto the big screen? The Korea JoongAng Daily sat down with Kim Da-yoon, the CEO of the cat's agency Pet Focus - yes, the cat has an agency - to hear more about this furry star and to get a glimpse into the little-known world of animal actors in Korea.
The cheese tabby is a beloved character among fans of the original webtoon series for its nonchalant yet chic disposition. So it was only natural that he be included in the film adaptation.
But there was one major challenge: cats are famously difficult to train - a fact the production team was well aware of, leading them to consider using a CGI cat. However, director Pil Gam-seong, a cat owner himself, pushed to find a real cat to play Aeyongyi, saying in a recent interview that he had a sense of "unfounded confidence."
And that cat turned out to be Geumdong, Aeyongyi's real name. Out of the four final candidates, Geumdong was the only one who didn't hide from people during the audition.
In the film, Geumdong effortlessly captures Aeyongyi's laid-back personality, even sitting on the couch like a human and watching TV. Some scenes, like when he jumps on the roof, were created using CGI for safety reasons.
"He[Geumdong] was being just himself," Kim said with a chuckle.
"It wasn't like we forced him to sit still or anything. We'd just say, 'Here, sit here and rest,' and he'd just sit there like it was nothing. He was that kind of laid-back cat."
In other words, Geumdong was born to play Aeyongyi and to be an actor.
Still, Kim emphasized that even the calmest animals need time to adjust. Though Geumdong seems perfectly at ease on screen, the early days on set weren't so smooth.
"No matter how easygoing a cat is, Aeyongyi [Geumdong] did wander off a lot in the beginning," Kim said. "It was a new environment and set, with unfamiliar people, along with big, dark equipment. So, he was definitely a bit like, 'what is going on here?'"
But thanks to the strong bond between Kim and Geumdong, and plenty of patience, the furry actor eventually settled in.
"By the latter part of filming, he had gotten so comfortable on set, it was like his own home. He would nap in the front yard and just lounge around like he belonged there," Kim said.
Like Geumdong, there are thousands of animal actors under an animal agency in Korea, from familiar faces like dogs and cats to more unexpected ones such as horses, turtles, goats and even deer.
Though each animal agency operates a bit differently, most function much like agencies for human actors. They receive scripts, analyze the role and recommend animals that fit the requirements. Some, like Pet Focus, also provide in-house training to prepare their actors for specific roles before going on set.
But how do these animals become actors in the first place? In Kim's case, for dogs, many were originally brought in due to behavioral issues, as she also offers training services as a certified animal handler. But through working with them, she often ends up discovering their hidden talents.
"They were dogs with behavioral issues like excessive barking, separation anxiety or even aggressive reactions to unfamiliar people," Kim said. "But as I spend time with them, I often get to notice their individual strengths."
Another way animal actors are discovered is through street casting - just like in the human acting world. ...