The new year marks an opportunity for us to begin again, start fresh, and a chance to be better; but sometimes, it can feel like we’re still stuck in the same situation as before. To help us look ahead on our new journeys with hope and optimism, Viu Philippines released the complete official soundtrack of its first Viu Original, Still. Comprised of 13 OPM tracks, the powerful and poignant songs capture the stories of each character and take us on a journey where they strive to prove that they still have a voice – that they still matter – even as their lives are intertwined and forever changed from the pandemic.
Still is an eight-part Viu Original musical narrative designed to move you to move forward through song and stage. The story was produced during the pandemic, a time when we were deprived of our normal way of life, and the songs were written to tell the story of today’s generation and inspire us to still keep going.
These songs that still matter today were created and composed by Nica Del Rosario (composer of the hit song Tala), Matthew Chang (musical director and composer of Dekada ‘70) Mike Shimamoto (Viu cast member, singer-songwriter, and founder of Haru), and Flipmusic (a local production house that delivers global competitive sound and audio solutions).
Chang composed Babangon Pilipinas to tell our resilience story. Sung by Gabby Pangilinan, his intention was to show that we can uplift each other despite life’s challenges. There’s also Paalala Para Sa’yo, a song that reminds everyone to love yourself, especially during these hard times. According to Chang, the songs were derived from the Filipino trait of being selfless but, we need to always see our worth so we can better love and help other people.
Sumandali, composed by Shimamoto, is a pandemic anthem—a song that speaks of our shared pain during the pandemic, but the silver lining is that we learned to lean on each other. It was the voiceless exchanges of support that helped us find a place to take a break and breathe. He also wrote Panahon as a gift to a loved one who was feeling lost and hopeless. It reminds us that no matter how dark the night gets, we hold on and we hope for a new day.
Del Rosario created Bagong Mundo, 50 days after the quarantine was announced last 2020. “I watched all my plans and dreams suddenly go into limbo. The song was cathartic for me because I poured what my heart was feeling to it,” she recalls. She also wrote Muli as a tribute to all the frontliners and OFWs who are working hard for the country and their loved ones. The song ultimately represents the love that family can give, whether it’s the one you were born into or the one that you chose.
“We can relate to all the songs but what struck us the most is Mundo, Umikot Ka. There are times when you get tired of everything that is going on with your life, but you are not alone. You just have let it all out and express what you truly feel. You can sing this song from the top of your lungs and afterwards you’ll feel way better,”shared Chang and Del Rosario.
Tuloy Ka Lang is a song that can also resonate with all of us. “We’ve experienced anxiety, frustrations, challenges, and the feeling of being lost. Still, we learned to find a sense of change and maturity, a grounded and unshakeable sense of hope. Kahit sa dilim, at sa lamig, at sa lalim ng gabi. Huwag kang bibitaw,” Shimamoto added.
This 2022, Still hopes to be a source of strength for the quarantine generation and to let their voices be heard. Listen to the complete official soundtrack of Still: A Viu Original Musical Narrative Series today, now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and Tidal. All eight episodes of Still are also available on Viu! Download the Viu app now on App Store, Google Play and selected Smart TVs, or visit www.viu.com.
To stay updated on the latest news and releases, like and follow Viu Philippines on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram, and follow the hashtag, #ViuStillSeries.
Infinix started its new year with a bang with the launch of the upgraded Zero X Pro. The company’s best-selling flagship camera smartphone equipped with a 108-megapixel primary camera, 60X periscope moonshot camera, and 120° ultra-wide & macro lens camera now comes in 8GB + 256 GB, packing more storage for your photos, videos, games, and other important content. Available exclusively on Lazada, it now retails for P15,990.
Aside from its impressive cameras, Infinix Zero X Pro also has MediaTek Helio G95, 8GB RAM, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and 120Hz superfluid refresh rate for an incredible and lag-free gaming experience and a 4500 mAh battery with 45W super-fast charge technology for fun-filled days of photography and gaming.
Infinix will also launch the ZERO X Pro 5G, its first-ever 5G smartphone, soon. Stay tuned for more details.
Premier Apple partner Power Mac Center (PMC) is welcoming the month of love and luck early with a roaring double celebration. Apple fans looking to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day with a new device buy or a special tech gift for their loved ones can enjoy their Lucky 2 Love promo, with great deals and discounts on select Apple devices and accessories, training courses, and even service and repair fees.
“It has become a tradition for us to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day with special deals for our beloved customers. This 2022, we’re attracting love and luck in the Year of the Tiger to spread some cheer and hope for a better year as we fulfill our mission of delivering the best Apple experience to Filipino consumers,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management, Marketing, and Space Planning.
Deals that double the fun
From January 24 to February 17, 2022, all Power Mac Center and The Loop stores nationwide, official online stores (Web Store, Viber Store, Shopee, and Lazada), Apple Authorized Global Training Provider PMC Business Systems Inc. (PBSI), and Mobile Care Service Centers will be participating in the promos.
Be the first to experience the Power of Two wherein you can get the new iPhone 13 and the 13-inch MacBook Pro (M1) at P2,022 off. While you’re at it, embrace the luck of Everything Red as select red accessories are discounted up to 22% off SRP. Score deals that are definitely Better Two-gether as PMC is also slashing prices up to 22% off on participating accessories when purchased with any Apple device via non-installment payment methods.
Over at the official online stores, customers can purchase select Apple devices and get an additional 22% discount on select accessories on Shopee and Lazada. Get vouchers with up to P80 off for a minimum purchase amount of P2,200.00 on Shopee, Lazada, and the SM Malls app, plus enjoy free shipping nationwide. Offers are valid in conjunction with complementing Shopee and Lazada site offers.
Meanwhile, if you’ve been eyeing training courses such as App Development with Swift, macOS Support Essentials, and Technical Troubleshooting by PBSI, you’re in luck ‘cause It’s a Date! Enroll anytime from January 24 to February 17, 2022, and bring a plus one for FREE.
Fix What You Love by visiting any Mobile Care Service Centers nationwide or availing PMC’s Mail-In Service. Get 22% off on diagnostic fee, software fee, and non-repair services fee on February 1, 14, and 15. Also take 10% off on fees from January 24-31, February 2-13, and February 16-17, 2022.
There’s more! The premier Apple partner is inviting its 1 Infinite Access members to shop for a chance to win in the Infinite Fortune exclusive raffle. Just spend a minimum of P10,000.00 at Power Mac Center and The Loop stores, or at powermaccenter.com from January 24 to February 17 to earn raffle entries for a chance to win 1,000 points (1 point = P1). Members must present their 1 Infinite Access account for in-store transactions and login for Web Store transactions to make their raffle entries valid. If you’re not a member yet, sign up for free now at bit.ly/32j7GaW.
Power Mac Center ensures that people’s safety amid the pandemic remains an utmost priority. Apart from strengthening its online shopping presence on various platforms, it highly encourages customers to call and inquire or order via its official Viber Community at tinyurl.com/PowerMacCenterViberStore prior to visiting the branch for faster transactions.
PMC also offers a variety of Enhanced Contactless Shopping options to give customers the convenience of getting their favorite Apple devices even without leaving their homes. Learn more about EC Shopping at bit.ly/ECShopping. To be updated on news and promotions, follow Power Mac Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.
Per DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-135565 Series of 2022
Manulife Philippines recently launched its newest digital short film, Firsts, which encourages Filipinos to remain hopeful despite uncertainties, and to look forward to a future filled with “new firsts.”
“The path forward may seem rough and uneven, as we are still dealing with or recovering from the challenges brought by the pandemic. Despite this, we at Manulife believe that we need to continue to look forward – reaching for our goals and dreams for a better future. We want to share that sense of hope with Filipinos,” said Melissa Henson, Manulife Philippines’ Chief Marketing Officer.
“Our new digital film aims to inspire Filipinos to find strength, courage and gratitude from past experiences, no matter how difficult, and believe that they can rebuild, thrive and bounce forward. By taking challenges as opportunities to be braver and stronger, we can all take the first step towards whatever comes next, and make every day better. Life may not be how it used to be, and challenges will be certain, but Manulife reminds everyone that life will always be worth seeing through,” Henson added.
For those who want to take that first bold step towards financially securing their future, Manulife Philippines offers a wide range of award-winning products and services specially designed to respond to Filipinos’ evolving needs. For more information, visit www.manulife.com.ph.
FrozenMNL, an innovative curated frozen food delivery service recently debuted a new selection of frozen delights that can be ordered from its website.
Among the new products are well-reviewed participants of the recently concluded Ultimate Taste test: Master Edition such as the Bomb Pies of the Butter Bros (@bomb_pies) and the Mushroom Sisig by Kabute @thekabutefarm.
A perfect choice for dessert lovers is a New York-inspired pastry called the Bomb Pie, a custard-filled buttery oat crusted pie. This is a dense treat is perfect with your favorite black coffee for breakfast or afternoon snacks. A creation by a pair of thoughtful home bakers, this pie has been growing quite the following on social media. Throw in the bomb of confectioners’ sugar and crack into this one-of-a-kind pie.
The Mushroom Sisig by Kabute farms is a healthy, delicious treat, you won’t believe it’s not the usual pork sisig. It’s instead made of oyster mushrooms, native onions and chili spices.This Mushroom Sisig is best paired with rice and your favorite sisig condiments like a fresh egg, calamansi and toyo. Kabute Farm is from the famed mountains of Banahaw and their ready sisig packs are convenient to prepare.
Butter Bros Bomb Pies and the Mushroom Sisig are just two of the latest in FrozenMNL’s growing roster of easy to order, chilled treats. FrozenMNL.com curates chilled and frozen food selections made for those who want to prepare easy meals for their homes. It has aextensive selection of ready to eat meals, snacks and including a wide variety of ice creams and desserts. For orders, visit www.frozenmnl.com.
tvN and tvN Movies kick off the Year of Tiger with continuous strive for perfection (尽善尽美) by serving the best Korean entertainment and inspiring greater good with our viewers. This year-long campaign #BeKindBeCharmed will begin with Channels supporting the World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore(WWF-Singapore) to amplify their effort to raise awareness of the Tiger conservation program in Asia. Both Channels also promised to double down in delivering fresh and first-run content to viewers.
Securing the future for tigers is about so much more than just saving an iconic species. If tigers are thriving in the wild, it is an indicator that the ecosystems in which they live are thriving too. As a large predator, the tiger plays a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems for people and the planet. This Lunar New Year of the Tiger highlights an auspicious opportunity to captivate people and the community by combining education, engagement, art, and conservation in a celebration of protecting nature and biodiversity.
As part of our #BeKind campaign, tvN and tvN Movies are proud to be the Official Media Partners for Tiger Trail, a tiger conservation initiative by WWF-Singapore. Catch a sneak preview of Tiger Trail at Chinatown (Kreta Ayer Square) – a display of life-sized Tiger art sculptures designed and decorated by local artists to promote the importance of tiger conservation. Viewers can stay tuned for further announcements by following WWF-Singapore’s social media channels for more details of this partnership with exciting events ahead.
Channels will fully support the Tiger Trail campaign through on-air, on-ground, and social media activations to all 10 Asia-Pacific territories from this year namely; Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Viewers can learn more about the Program, donate and win limited edition merchandise
Channels also strengthened the programming strategy so viewers continue to #BeCharmed with best and most anticipated programs. Key acquisitions in first half of 2022 include:
On tvN Movies – On The Line, Miracle: Letters to the President, Sinkhole, Spiritwalker, Confessions, Decision to Leave, Kingmaker, Emergency Declaration, The Roundup, Point Men, Decibel etc.
*on SG, MY, INDO & PH feeds only and selected titles on VOD in HK.
In addition, this festive Lunar New Year period is packed with galore of great entertainment. Sit back as tvN bring you a joyful and fun-filled week filled with great programs starring all your favourite Korean stars in a series of marathon from 31 Jan (Mon) 12.30pm to 06 Feb (Sun) 9.15pm. You can catch all the highly-rated shows like 3 Meals a Day – Doctors, High School Mystery Club S2, House on Wheels S3, Idol Song Dictation Contest etc.
I Can See Your Voice, the greatest mystery music game show hosted by Kim Jong Wok, Yoo Se Yoon and Lee Teuk is back with a brand new season and you don’t want to miss the special premiere on 01 Feb (Tues), 6.30pm. Usher in the second day of Lunar New Year with Oppa Rain and Kim Bum,catching up on their new fantasy + medical drama – Ghost Doctor about two doctors who could not be more different in terms of their backgrounds, skills, or personalities but who end up combining bodies and spirits on 02 Feb (Wed), from 12.30pm all the way to the latest episode in the evening at 9.15pm.
Fans of tvN Movies are also in for a treat as we bring you a whole week’s worth of the Best Korean blockbusters every night from 31 Jan (Mon) to 6 Feb (Sun) at 10pm (MY)/ 9pm (ID) withThe Dude in Me, Tazza: One Eyed Jack, The Witch: Part 1 The Subversion, Secretly, Greatly etc. plus the exclusive premiere of The Hot-Blooded (05 Feb) starring Jung Woo and Kim Kap-soo to keep you company this Lunar New Year.
Don’t miss the exclusive premiere of Blockbuster Miracle: Letters to the President, starring Park Jung-min, Yoona & Lee Sung-min. It is a touching movie about the dream and determination of Joon-kyung, a genius high school student writing multiple letters to the President of Korea for authorization to add a train station stop at his remote village off the railway track for the safe travel of his fellow villagers on 19 Feb (Sat) at 10pm. Stay tune to our SNS pages for more information on our Lunar New Year programming.
“We aspire to start the Tiger year with kindness and positivity. The Chinese idiom 尽善尽美(delivering perfection) defines our aim to provide the Best Korean Entertainment to our viewers and give back to society and environment. Supporting WWF and their Tiger conservation program is our first step in many more to come and hope to spread this kindred spirit with our viewers and partners. Here’s wishing everyone a Perfect year ahead!”Mickey Ong, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, CJ ENM HK, Singapore branch.
In the pursuit of providing only the best technological aesthetics and smart photography, Huawei pushed itself to produce the P Series. It started with the P9 Series where all the multi-lense camera phone era began. Then followed by the HUAWEI P10, HUAWEI P20, HUAWEI P30, HUAWEI P40 series, which pushed boundaries, driving innovation in smartphone photography with intelligent algorithms, larger and more sophisticated sensors, and better zoom capabilities. Truly, this evolution shows that Huawei continues to take great leaps in order to cater to the ever-changing technological needs of consumers today.
In this lineage, the HUAWEI P50 Pro was conceived. The HUAWEI P50 Pro is the perfect blend of form and function. It has been exquisitely designed, sporting an effortlessly elegant look which is the main characteristic of the P series. Its iconic Dual-Matrix Camera Design sees an incredible array of high-end lenses working together in perfect harmony. This is further enhanced by the ground-breaking HUAWEI XD Fusion Pro image engine and HUAWEI XD Optics technologies, as the HUAWEI P50 Pro captures the essence of true photography and artistry.
Adding on to the P Series family is the most premium folding smartphone, the HUAWEI P50 Pocket. It is likewise defined by the DNA of innovative camera technology with a touch of trend-setting aesthetic design. The HUAWEI P50 Pocket is yet another smartphone where one can enjoy highly innovative camera technology without compromising style.
The HUAWEI P50 Pocket continues a legacy of aesthetic excellence with a uniquely eye-catching design, which sees intricate etchings on its outer casing beautifully intertwine light and shadow. In an age where there is a desire for smaller, more portable, and powerful devices, the HUAWEI P50 Pocket achieves the delicate balance between portability and function – all by fusing innovation with artistry.
The HUAWEI P50 Pro boasts fast-charge capability with the 66W HUAWEI SuperChange. It takes 38 minutes of high-speed charging to juice up its high capacity 4300mAh battery. The HUAWEI P50 Pocket on the other hand also has a fast-charging capability with 44W HUAWEI SuperCharge.
Both P Series smartphones, HUAWEI P50 Pro and P50 Pocket feature the EMUI version which comes with a bunch of new features and improvements over EMUI 12 and provides a better user experience. It is a smart operating system, featuring an innovative design for smoother interaction and comfortable viewing.
The AppGallery contains all the apps you need for your daily use and places data privacy at top priority. With the HUAWEI P50 Pro and P50 Pocket, controlling multiple devices at once is as easy as controlling just one single device because of the Super Device. Super Device lets users easily control or set up multi-device collaboration with other devices, such as the HUAWEI Vision, FreeBuds, MatePad, and MateBook.
Get first dibs on the soon-to-be cult-favorite’s Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pocket through the Huawei’s e-commerce platforms below:
Believe it or not, National Croissant Day is a thing. In case you didn’t know, January 30 is a day dedicated to these flaky and buttery baked goods. And if you want to make sure your household is stocked up with this very important pastry (VIP), you better have this bookmarked. Here is an updated list of must-try croissants you can get in Manila:
This one’s definitely not your ordinary croissant. As the name suggests, its a hybrid of a croissant and the Japanese fish-shaped cake taiyaki. These unique snack is available in sweet and savory flavors like Milk Cream, Ube and Custard, Nutella, Azuki Beans and Custard, Pepperoni Pizza, Meaty Taco, and priced at P135 to P165. They also offer a Discovery Set where you can have a taste of each flavor for only P888.
For orders, send them a message via Viber or Whatsapp at 09563945249. Same-day delivery is available with a cut-off at 6pm.
Eric Kayser
Found in 1996 in Paris, Eric Kayser came to Philippine shores in 2013 and have grown 7 stores in different cities within Metro Manila, with stores in Makati, Taguig, Mandaluyong, and Alabang. An easy best-seller and obvious crowd favorite is his Croissant that’s buttery and flaky, using Eric Kayser’s signature liquid leaven and pure French butter.
Order via website. They offer next day delivery for orders placed by 4pm. For same-day delivery, call their stores.
KOMU
Make sure you’re patient enough for KOMU’s Sourdough Hybrid Croissants (P150)! While it’s available almost daily, their croissant takes 3 days to make and is made with unbleached flour and Belgian butter for a beautiful lamination. Keep your eyes peeled as they post what’s available for that week in their highlights!
Originally from Baguio, they’re now available in Manila! They’re reopening their kitchen in February with their lineup already posted on their Instagram: Butter, Pain au Chocolat, Ham & Gruyere, and Strawberries & Cream. Make sure you stand by for their Pride Croissants which are as colorful as the Pride Flag. These croissants are filled with yema and topped with more yema and roasted cashew nuts.
You’ve probably seen Silly Lily in your Instagram feed at least once. These beauties that are originally from Laguna can easily be transported to Manila so it still counts! Their croissants has the finest lamination butter from France and use both Yeast and Sourdough to enhance the flavor of each pastry. Silly Lily has 12 variants — Chocnut Croissant, Tiramisu Croissant, Rainbow Sprinkle, Triple Choc Au Lat to name a few, and ranges from P95 to P190 apiece.
One of the sought after bakeries in the metro, The Daily Knead’s baked goods are all made by hand and they promise to only use wholesome ingredients with no preservatives or extenders. They have a whole lineup of French pastries that consists of Croissants, Pain au Chocolat, and Danishes. Choose from their flavored croissants collection — Calamansi Caramel, Lychee Strawberry, Coffee Cardamom, Coconut Hibiscus, and Sparkling Strawberry to name a few. Their flavored croissants come in a box of 4s and range from P640 to P1,800.
Enjoy tales of inner strength and resilience with two brand-new original films The Fallout, from up-and-coming director Megan Park, and KIMI, from seasoned director Steven Soderbergh. From overcoming tragedy to facing one’s greatest fear, these films bring out the best of the human spirit while exploring the depths of personal relationships and integrity. The Fallout premieres Thursday, January 27 and KIMI premieres Thursday, February 10, both streaming exclusively on HBO Go.
Megan Park makes her screenwriting and directorial debut in The Fallout, a compelling exploration of the inexplicable resiliency of life and the hope that emerges out of loss. The film stars Jenna Ortega (Scream, You, Yes Day) as Vada, a high schooler who forms new friendships forged under sudden and tragic circumstances. At the same time, she is simultaneously forced to re-evaluate her relationships with her family, friends and her views of the world. In the process of reinventing herself, she moves away from her comfortable family routine, starts taking chances with a series of quicksilver decisions that test her own boundaries and push her in new directions. As she spends more time with her friend Mia, played by Maddie Ziegler (2021’s West Side Story, Music), their shared experiences lead her further away from that tragic day and closer to living her life in the now.
The Fallout won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for Narrative Feature and bagged the Brightcove Illumination Award that honours a filmmaker on the rise at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival.
Other cast members include Niles Fitch (This Is Us television series, Roman J. Israel, Esq.), Will Ropp (The Way Back), with John Ortiz (Ad Astra, Bumblebee) and Julie Bowen (Modern Family television series, Hubie Halloween) and Shailene Woodley (Big Little Lies, the Divergent movies).
The creative team for The Fallout also included director of photography Kristen Correl (Ad Astra, John Carter), production designer Justin Dragonas (Vital Signs television series) editor Jennifer Lee (The Skeleton Twins) and costume designer Tasha Goldthwait (An American Pickle, International Falls), with the original score by Finneas O’ Connell (No Time to Die) and Peymon Maskan (Into the Blue) as music supervisor. The soundtrack features an original song written and performed by Maisy Stella and Lennon Stella.
KIMI, an original thriller by Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh (No Sudden Move, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, Ocean’s Eight), follows a young woman who finds herself in a tight situation when she becomes aware of a violent crime.
Zoë Kravitz (Fantastic Beasts movies, Mad Max: Fury Road) is Angela Childs, a tech analyst who reviews data streams for the Amygdala Corporation, purveyor of the voice-activated companion server KIMI. Amidst a pandemic, even though restrictions have eased, Angela suffers from agoraphobia and follows a strict routine within the safety of her loft apartment in downtown Seattle. Between computer breaks, Angela flirts—among other things—with her neighbour across the street, and communicates with her mother, her dentist, and her therapist via video chat, proving she never needs to leave the comforts of home.
But that changes when she hears something horrific in one of the streams she is analysing. Reporting it over email is deemed too risky, so a trusted co-worker advises Angela to go to their head office downtown and speak directly to executive Natalie Chowdhury and alert her to what Angela is certain is a serious crime. But Angela hasn’t ventured outside since before the pandemic. Just getting to the office is a huge challenge, but she’s determined to do the right thing. But Angela has no idea what will actually happen when—and if—she’s able to step out of her comfort zone.
Other cast members include Byron Bowers (No Sudden Move), Jaime Camil (Schmigadoon), Erika Christensen (Traffic, Ten Days in the Valley), Derek DelGaudio (Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself, The Carbonaro Effect television series), Robin Givens (Riverdale, Batwoman), Charles Halford (Logan Lucky, Constantine television series), Devin Ratray (Side Effects, R.I.P.D.), Jacob Vargas (The 33, Sons of Anarchy television series), with Rita Wilson (executive producer of the Mamma Mia! Films with husband Tom Hanks, The Good Wife television series).
Soderbergh, whose most recent film for the streamer was the star-studded No Sudden Move and who is next returning for Magic Mike’s Last Dance directed KIMI from a script by acclaimed screenwriter David Koepp. Soderbergh’s frequent collaborator Michael Polaire and Koepp produced.
Behind the scenes, Soderbergh’s team was comprised of his frequent collaborators, which include production designer Philip Messina (Che and The Hunger Games films), costume designer Ellen Mirojnick (Logan Lucky, Behind the Candelabra, The Greatest Showman), and composer Cliff Martinez (Contagion, Traffic, Hotel Artemis).
Filipinos can stream or download The Fallout and KIMI exclusively on HBO GO. Subscribe to HBO GO online at www.hbogoasia.ph or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store on your device for as low as ₱99.70/month. Or access HBO GO via Cignal, Globe and Skycable. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
You’re a high school student, and a zombie outbreak happens while you’re on campus– will you and your friends survive? This is the premise of Netflix’s new zombie K-thriller All of Us Are Deadwhich premieres on the streaming platform this Friday, January 28, 2022. Directed by Lee JQ and Kim Nam-soo, the series stars Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and more.
Watch the official trailer of All of Us Are Dead below:
Before we see the zombies unleashed this Friday, we got to join series creator and co-director Lee JQ, alongside the show’s main cast– Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee You-mi, and Lim Jae-hyeok — where they talked about how this intense YA zombie horror series was brought to life on screen, the relationships between the actors, and more!
Here are things you need to know about All of Us Are Dead:
The Story
This 12-episode series is based on the 2009 Naver webtoon Now At Our School by Joo Dong-geun. It follows the students of Hyosan High, who are just living the normal high school life. But when their school becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak that spreads across the town, a group of students, each with their own distinct personalities, must use their skills and limited resources to fend off the undead and survive the terrifying onslaught while trapped inside their school.
Lee JQ’s filmography includes The King 2 Hearts, Beethoven Virus, and Intimate Strangers. The series is written by Chun Sung-il of the drama The Slave Hunters and the films The Pirates and 7th Grade Civil Servant.
The Cast & Characters
Park Ji-hu as Nam On-jo
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Park Ji-hu who starred in the films House of Hummingbird and Black Light will play Nam On-jo in this new series. On-jo’s father is a firefighter who has taught her survival skills since she was young, skills that would surely come in handy during the apocalypse. Fun fact, Park Ji-hu is the only real high school student among the main cast members during the show’s filming.
Yoon Chan-young as Lee Cheong-san
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Yoon Chan-young of Mama, Doctor John, and Light for the Youth stars as Lee Cheong-san, On-jo’s close friend since childhood. Staying composed and quick-thinking in critical situations, Cheong-san exhibits fierceness and unwavering leadership skills.
Cho Yi-hyun as Choi Nam-ra
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Cho Yi-hyun who you might have seen in Hospital Playlist and Metamorphosis, plays Choi Nam-ra in All of Us Are Dead. She is a reclusive student who, as the class president, stands on top of her grade. Joining On-jo’s group, Nam-ra must gradually break down her walls.
Lomon as Lee Su-hyeok
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Lomon who has appeared in the film The Guardian and web series Lookism stars as the good-looking and athletic Su-hyeok. When the zombie outbreak erupted, he becomes a pillar of support for his friends, and takes on dangerous tasks to protect the people he cares for.
Other key characters in the series include the notorious school bully Yoon Gwi Nam, played by Yoo In-soo (My ID is Gangnam Beauty, Strong Girl Bong-soon); the wealthy and selfish Lee Na-yeon played by Lee You-mi of Squid Game fame; and the optimistic kid with explosive strength, Yang Dae-su played by Lim Jae-hyeok (Alice).
Yoo In-soo (top left), Lee You-mi (top right), and Lim Jae-hyeok.
Building Hyosan High
While viewers may think that most parts of the series were shot in a school, it was actually a set they built to become the Hyosan High campus.
“I think the space, the location, in a zombie content is very important,” director Lee JQ said. “There’s a lot of [blood], that’s why I thought we needed a set of our own. So when we looked into the set, it was like 100 meters wide, so it was basically like a four-story school building inside the set, and we would just be there all the time so it felt like we were really going to school.”
“Apart from these great young actors, another main cast would be the school itself,” the director added.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
The Intense Zombie Scenes
Director Lee JQ also talked about the scale of the intense scenes in the series. He shared that they used many one-takes and long takes at the beginning of filming, like the scene at the cafeteria where 200 students gathered as the zombies swooped in. According to the director, rehearsal was everything in pulling it off in just one take.
“I’ve never had full-day rehearsals, but for the cafeteria scene and the library scene, we would have all of the zombie actors and the crew members, and then we would do some test shooting, and then we would have another rehearsal with the cast. I think that was most important because what I wanted most was the realistic sense [of] the scenes. I wanted people to feel really immersed,” explained the director.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
While the zombie actors were trained through the collaboration of a dancer and a choreographer who used to act, the main cast also underwent training for 3 months in preparation for the stunts and action scenes. Yoon Chan-young, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo who have the most action scenes were grouped together for a more intense training. The three actors also shared about the experience during the press conference.
“The special training for the three of us was really, really difficult,” shared In-soo. “So we had the first 20 minutes, and I couldn’t control myself, I couldn’t control my body. So I went to the bathroom, I threw up, and then I was coming out and I saw someone else who was also vomiting, it was Chan-young.”
Meanwhile, Lomon who didn’t throw up during training revealed: “At that time, I also wanted to throw up, but I work out all the time so I wanted to not throw up. So I just told people I’m fine, but for three days after that, I just stayed in bed and I went to get some herbal medicine and acupuncture [Laughs].”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Creating the Chemistry of the Cast
During the press conference, some of the cast members talked about their relationships with each other during filming. For one, Park Ji-hu, who was actually the only real high schooler when the series was being filmed, had the nickname “Baby Angel” on set and is revealed to jokingly call her onscreen classmates “Aunties” and “Uncles”.
It was also revealed that the stars would stick their co-stars’ name tags on their phones, but Chan-Young only left On-jo’s name tag. The actor explained, “At that time, I wanted to show Cheong-san and On-jo’s relationship. Cheong-san wanted to protect On-jo and put her before his own safety. So I wanted to make sure that I become that character, so I wanted to think about On-jo every day, and think about how I could protect her and be nice to her.”
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Meanwhile, Yoo In-soo whose character is in tension with Chan-young’s character, admits that they are actually close friends in real life and that they enjoy going to the karaoke and singing “oldies” together.
To further build the camaraderie between the actors, director Lee JQ would also make them play games with each other. “Before the shoot, we would meet up and you know, talk about the script, we have to be close to each other, because we are actually friends in the show. So we would play some traditional Korean games and some board games as well. Dae-su really likes to become the emcee when we play games. So we really felt like we were classmates and when the shooting was done, I felt like we were graduating,” shared Park Ji-hu.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
What Sets ‘All of Us Dead’ Apart from Other Zombie Titles
This is not the first time that South Korea has pumped out a thrilling zombie title. Some of the most popular zombie horror films and shows from Korea are Train to Busan, Kingdom, and #Alive. So what sets All of Us Are Dead apart from these titles and other zombie titles out there?
“There is a lot of zombie content and in most stories, we look at what happens to adults when they [encounter] a zombie virus,” said director Lee JQ. “But this was a little bit unique. First, it happens in a very confined space that is a school, and it happens to students, who are not yet mature adults. We often say things like, some adults are ‘childish’, but I wanted to look into what kind of choices– and I felt that it would be extremely interesting and intriguing to look at the choices– that these young adults make, and I felt like it could bring a new meaning to the zombie genre.”
Watch All Of Us Are Dead when it starts streaming on Netflix this Friday, January 28.
About ‘All of Us Are Dead’ Director: Lee JQ, Kim Nam-soo Writer: Chun Sung-il Original work: ‘Now At Our School’ / ‘All of Us Are Dead’ by Joo Dong-geun Episodes: 12 Cast: Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young ,Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo, Lee You-mi, Lim Jae-hyeok Produced by: Film Monster by JTBC Studios, KIMJONGHAK PRODUCTION Distributed by: Netflix Logline: At a school overrun by the zombie virus, trapped students struggle together to stay alive until help arrives. Release date: January 28, 2022
