Bela Bajaria Chief Content Officer at Netflix | Official website
In a Director’s Talk hosted by Netflix, Indonesian director Joko Anwar and Korean director Yeon Sang-ho, known for their work in the supernatural genre, recently engaged in a conversation about their latest projects. Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams and Parasyte: The Grey were the focal points of their discussion, highlighting the appeal of Asian storytelling on a global scale.
Yeon Sang-ho commended Joko Anwar's series, expressing his admiration for its unique structure. He remarked, "I was fascinated by how each episode builds anticipation for the next. It was a format I’d never seen before. I think the universe you’ve created holds significant potential to go global."
Both directors emphasized the importance of visual effects in creating immersive worlds while ensuring believability. Joko Anwar's production team constructed set props like an actual-sized clock tower and a small house to enhance on-set filming and layered VFX, aiming to maximize visual impact. Yeon Sang-ho faced challenges in adapting the manga "Parasyte" for the screen, striving to maintain the original aesthetic while incorporating realistic elements. The CG team worked diligently to animate the dynamic movements of the parasites, ensuring authenticity in every transformation.
Yeon Sang-ho highlighted the rich storytelling potential in Indonesia's diverse cultures and folklore, expressing optimism about the growing momentum in the industry. He stated, "Now is the opportunity for Asian genre filmmakers to present Asian genre films to a larger market."
"Parasyte: The Grey" is currently available for streaming, while "Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams" is set to premiere on June 14, exclusively on Netflix.
