HBO Max
The Last of Us: why did they ban the word “zombie” during filming?
HBO Max’s The Last of Us’ director of photography revealed the reason why the term “zombie” was not allowed to be spoken during production of the series.
The Last of Us has already passed its middle mark after the release of its fifth episode, so now we only have four episodes left to end Joel and Ellie’s journey through postapocalyptic America, or at least for now, since it's already been confirmed that a second season will adapt the sequel to the video game; or at least part of it. Be that as it may, this last chapter has already left us a good example of the potential of a production that does not skimp on a spectacular staging with the appearance of the forgotten horde of infected.
Yes, because they are not classic zombies, as many might think; they are merely infected. And that is why even during the filming of the series the use of the term 'zombie' was prohibited. This is how its director of photography Eben Bolter explains it, in the recent podcast The Credits, where he has explained many curiosities behind the scenes of the series.
The Last of Us and not-zombies
During the filming of The Last of Us an unwritten rule was put in place by which it was forbidden to use the term 'zombie' and there is a very clear reason for it. This is what Eben Bolter says, clarifying that the reason was for everyone involved to focus deeply on what was really important for the series: the:characters. “We weren’t allowed to say the Z word on set. It was like a banned word.”, explains the director of photography of the series.
“They were the Infected. We weren’t a zombie show. Of course, there’s tension building and jump scares but the show’s really about our characters; The Infected are an obstacle they have to deal with,” continued Bolter.
Even the game itself is almost entirely focused on the characters, their decisions and moral dilemmas as the main pillar of its story, leaving the different monsters as just another element to overcome in their fight for survival, just as other groups of people can be even more dangerous than the infected themselves.
The Last of Us continues to air week after week through HBO Max.
Source | The Credits