Hollywood Disaster Blockbuster Released on the 14th
Actress Daisy Edgar-Jones Holds Press Conference in Korea
Directed by Jeong Isaac of 'Minari'... Produced by Steven Spielberg
At the press conference for the movie 'Twisters,' director Lee Isaac Chung (from left), actress Daisy Edgar-Jones, and executive producer Ashley J. Sandberg[Photo by Yonhap News]
A powerful tornado soaring from the ground to the sky like a pillar lifts streetlights, trees, and even passing cars into the air as it makes landfall. This is a scene from the Hollywood disaster film Twisters, which will be released domestically on the 14th of this month. The film, depicting researchers chasing storms and those confronting controversies as they face an unprecedented tornado, is directed by Lee Isaac Chung, a Korean American director who made the family film Minari (2020).
To mark the release of Twisters, director Chung came to Korea along with lead actress Daisy Edgar-Jones and executive producer Ashley J. Sandberg. At a press conference held on the 7th at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Chung said, “I was so scared to take on the challenge that I wondered, ‘How am I going to make this movie?’ but I felt I would regret it if I didn’t.” He added, “Thanks to this, I fulfilled my dream of directing a blockbuster film.”
Chung, who is from Arkansas near Oklahoma, the setting of Twisters, recalled, “Shortly after moving to Arkansas, within two to three weeks, my first tornado came and passed by our house. I was young, so it was scary.” Although he had never actually seen a tornado before, he said, “During filming, a tornado came and caused a halt. I went with a scientific advisor by car and saw one for the first time.”
Chung said, “We filmed the movie outdoors. In Hollywood’s large studios, due to cost considerations, many scenes are shot indoors using blue screens, but I wanted to create vivid effects as if it were real.” He added, “I hope audiences experience the gigantic and awe-inspiring tornado on the theater screen.”
While tornadoes are frequent in rural farming areas of the United States, where the film is set, they do not occur often in Korea. Chung drew a comparison, saying, “Even though Korean audiences are not familiar with earthquakes, many have watched director Eom Tae-hwa’s film Concrete Utopia (2023). Weather is just a device.” He explained, “The protagonist feels a loss of control and helplessness in the face of disaster. Although afraid of the tornado, they overcome it. Everyone experiences unexpected changes in life’s direction. The film emphasizes that the process of finding oneself afterward is important.”
Twisters, a sequel to the 1996 film Twister, was produced by Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg. It was released in North America on the 19th of last month and has grossed $274.84 million worldwide (approximately 3.786 billion KRW), easily surpassing its production budget of $155 million (approximately 2.131 billion KRW).
The film also includes a scene conveying the director’s special message about theaters. Chung said, “While reading the script, I decided I absolutely had to direct the theater scene. Nowadays, my world is shrinking to just a smartphone. It feels like we are losing many opportunities to watch great theater films.” He added, “Theater became a great element for telling stories about people overcoming trauma and fear. The theater is a space where everyone comes together to build a community.”
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