Saturday, July 28, 2012

Khatuna Lorig talks about working with Jennifer Lawrence and The Hunger Games

Olympian and Jennifer Lawrence's archery coach Khatuna Lorig spoke with Elle Girl and they got to talking about The Hunger Games!

EG: How do you think The Hunger Games and the Olympic Games are similar or different?
KL: Well for one, we’re not killing each other! Also, the Hunger Games are every year and the Olympics are only every four years. The main difference though is that during the Olympics the whole world is competing in peace and everyone gets along. I have plenty of friends on other country’s teams and we all get along. You know, we’ll practice and shoot against each other then go and hang out after. 
EG: What was it like working with Jennifer Lawrence?  
KL: Jennifer was a very fast learner and a good listener too. She has a fun personality and was easy to work with every day. She was good at acting like she had been shooting for years. 
EG: Were you proud when you saw her in the movie? 
KL: Yes, and it was weird too because I kept thinking, “Hey! I gave her that technique.” 
EG: What was a funny moment you guys had when working together in training? 
KL: I’d tell her that when I saw her in the movie I would tell everyone “that’s my student!” and she would say to me that when she saw me competing in the Olympics she would be the one telling everyone “that’s my teacher!” so we had a really fun time working together and we would laugh. 
EG: How do you feel about the new found popularity archery is gaining thanks to The Hunger Games? 
KL: I’m really thankful. The audience loves to watch archery because it’s such a unique sport. Age, height, and gender don’t matter; you can always have fun with it. All you need is skill and it’s great because you can go and pick up a bow and arrow anywhere, you don’t need to have a permit to go shoot at an archery range.
Read the rest of the article at the source

Another BTS clip from The Hunger Games special features

Check it out! Entertainment Weekly posted another exclusive clip from the behind the scenes features of The Hunger Games blu-ray!


Go here to watch as the video is not embeddable.


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Official Map of Panem Press Release



Finally! The official map of Panem has been released as we posted earlier (there's actually more districts revealed in that post), but here's a press release of this awesome news. Here's the catch....you have to play The Hunger Games Adventures on Facebook to see for yourselves where the rest of the districts go!

FUNTACTIX AND LIONSGATE REVEAL NEW MAP OF PANEM INSIDE THE HUNGER GAMES ADVENTURES

Funtactix, a worldwide developer and publisher of social games based on the world’s premier box office films, in partnership with Lionsgate, yesterday revealed an exciting new addition to The Hunger Games Adventures, one of the hottest social games on the Facebook platform. This landmark release offers an exclusive look at a new map of Panem. The map is one of the most anticipated updates to the game and arrives as part of a series of new content reveals leading up to the DVD release of the film on August 18.

For the first time, Hunger Games fans can use the new map of Panem as they explore the world of the film and novel, complete quests for their favorite heroes and unlock all-new stories inside the world they love. Thus far, the epic adventures of the game have led fans to the Capitol, District 12, District 11 and, most recently, District 2. In the coming months, new districts will be revealed exclusively through the new map, along with an exciting storyline that will take players on a journey from obscure citizen of District 12 to a hero capable of unlocking Panem’s deepest secrets.

Since launch, Funtactix and Lionsgate have continued to work together to provide the game’s audience with a steady flow of fresh, dynamic content, using Facebook to continue the story of The Hunger Games universe in between film releases. With over a million players and growing, fans continue to devour assets and game play almost as soon as the weekly chapter updates go live.

For more information on the game, please visit The Hunger Games Adventures Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TheHungerGamesAdventures
To download and view a screenshot of the map along with new screenshots of the game, please go to:

About The Hunger Games Adventures
The Hunger Games Adventures is an epic adventure game for Facebook based on the novel and film The Hunger Games.

When the games end, the adventure begins!

Panem needs you!  Embark on a daring adventure beyond the fence of District 12 accompanied by your most trusted Facebook friends and your favorite characters from The Hunger Games. Explore Suzanne Collins’ epic universe alongside Katniss, Peeta, Gale and the other characters of the novels and film. Hunt and trap in the wilderness outside the fence, then bring it back to trade in The Hob. Visit Peeta’s Bakery, The Seam, the Justice Building and then escape from it all to a secret forest hideout that is exclusively yours. Escape from District 12 and explore Panem, meeting Cinna, Effie, Seneca, Thresh, Rue and a host of other characters. Join the rest of the fans and your Facebook friends as new adventures, districts and the official map of Panem are unveiled inside the game.

Twitter: @THGAdventures
Play the Game: www.PlayTHGA.com

Monday, July 23, 2012

CASTING ALERT: JENA MALONE OFFICIALLY CAST AS JOHANNA MASON!



OFFICIAL CASTING NEWS, YAY!!

Press Release:

JENA MALONE CAST AS JOHANNA MASON IN LIONSGATE’S THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Santa Monica, CA, July 23, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES:CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Jena Malone has been cast in the role of Johanna Mason in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire.  Johanna Mason is a female victor from a past Games still in her early twenties, and is one of the youngest, but also one of the most psychologically scarred Quarter Quell participants.

Malone recently starred opposite Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton in the History Channel's Emmy® nominated mini-series Hatfields & McCoys.  The mini-series broke cable records and is the new most-watched entertainment telecast of all time on cable. Her additional credits include Zack Snyder’s Sucker Punch, Oren Moverman's The Messenger, and Sean Penn's Into the Wild.  She will soon begin production on Lonely Hunter.

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 50 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.  

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com

Source

Sunday, July 22, 2012

The (Partial) Official Map of Panem from The Hunger Games Adventures

So if you haven't been playing The Hunger Games Adventures (I'm a little behind on my quests shhh) you would know of the Capitol seal quest to reveal the OFFICIAL Map of Panem. We've seen fan-made maps before, but this is official! Anyway, when enough Capitol seals were collected by players of The Hunger Games Adventures, the map of Panem would be revealed, and finally, that day has come!

Screenshot of map from Down with the Capitol

As you can see, not all of the map has been revealed yet. As new chapters of the game are released, you will travel to other parts of Panem and then those parts of the map will unlock. I haven't gotten to District 2 yet and am currently on a District 12 quest so my map looks like this:


As many have suspected, parts of present day North America are underwater (sadly Courtney and I are too) and parts of Mexico and Canada are included in Panem.

Any surprises here?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The Search Begins for the Mockingjay Director(s)!

Looks like they are wasting no time with finding a director (yikes, maybe even two) for the Mockingjay films:

    Lionsgate recently revealed a plan to turn the final Hunger Games novel, Mockingjay, into two films rather than one. The release dates for those last two chapters are already set, for November 21, 2014 and November 20, 2015. Given that the second film, which has yet to even shoot, and is still announcing cast members, opens on November 22, 2013, that means there are three consecutive Thanksgivings with Hunger Games releases to come.
But there might be one problem with that plan: the aggressive release schedule means that Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence might not be able to helm the third and fourth films. And so Lionsgate is already looking for his Hunger Games successor.
     And while the last two films could be shot back-to-back, they might not even be directed by the same person, unlike the final two Twilight films, both of which were directed by Bill Condon.
Source

Well obviously they need to start the process for Mockingjay since they have such a tight schedule now for the films, but the thought of two different directors for the Mockingjay films does make us a tad nervous. I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens!

CASTING ALERT: AMANDA PLUMMER IS WIRESS!


Most of you know her as the charming lady who held up a diner in Pulp Fiction, presenting Amanda Plummer as Wiress!! Check out here IMDB page HERE.

Thoughts?

Check out the press release:

AMANDA PLUMMER CAST AS WIRESS IN LIONSGATE’S THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE

Santa Monica, CA, July 17, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that actress Amanda Plummer has been cast in the role of Wiress in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire.  The character’s eccentricity earns her the nickname “Nuts” from fellow tributes, and though she doesn’t communicate traditionally, her observations and contributions prove invaluable in the Quarter Quell. 

Best known to film going audiences from her memorable and award nominated roles in THE FISHER KING and PULP FICTION, Plummer is also a beloved, Tony Award® winning stage actress on and off Broadway.  She can next be seen as the title character in the forthcoming film ABIGAIL HARMS.  
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.  

Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com
 

Monday, July 16, 2012

Mockingjay Mockup: Cinematic Delusions of Grandeur (Part 1)


Welcome to another edition of Mockingjay Mockup! Glad you are still with us after the long post we had last week in which we went into detail how we think Part One should go. Since we posted it, news came out that Mockingjay indeed will be two parts. Huge sigh of relief over here. This makes our job a little easier as we don't have to persuade as hard why it should be two films, though we're still seeing some unrest among fans who think that it shouldn't be two films. Guys, I know it seems that Lionsgate is "cashing in" on the franchise, which I won't say isn't true, however having Mockingjay as one film, I guarantee it, would have totally screwed us over. Mockingjay as one film, no matter who directed it, would have turned into a confusing scatter-brained shell of what could have been an epic journey of war. We will revisit this topic most likely in our last installment, but for now let's delve into something a little more lighthearted: CINEMATIC DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR!!

Opening
This time around, we're only looking at things that occur in our Part 1 Layout. To start out, it's possible we'll get a look at how Panem is doing as well as what's going on in the Capitol at this time. There may even be a possibility Peeta wakes up and finds himself in a terrible situation. Will we get a look into what torturous things are occuring around Peeta? With a likely PG-13 rating, we're not too sure but we're definitely not ruling it out.

After the above happens, there are two scenarios we'd like to see that involves where the flashback of the firebombing occurs.

Scenario #1: Shot of only Katniss' feet walking through dust, coal, and rubble. She reaches the doorstep of her home in Victor's Village. She retrieves the items she's looking for, basically everything that happens in the book during this scene. Of course she stumbled upon the rancid smell of the rose (which we are assuming will be touched upon in Catching Fire), slow push to the rose suddenly engulfed in fire which becomes the fire from the firebombing. FLASHBACK TIME! We see the firebombing event, which ends in fire where we get the movie title right on top: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1.

Pros: We get to see the flashback a lot sooner, being the device to what brings the audience to the opening titles provides great drama. It's always great to have an action scene in the first 10 minutes.
Cons: We don't get to see the demolished District 12 until the propo gets filmed, which isn't until much later on.

Scenario #2: After establishment of Panem and possibly Peeta's situation, Katniss walks through a destroyed District 12. We see first hand the aftermath of the destruction and despair. She reaches Victor's Village, gets everything to take back with her, and stumbled upon the rose. Same as Scenario #1, slow push on the rose which becomes engulfed in fire. Here is where the movie title appears: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1. In this case, flashback does not occur until the first war room scene in District 13.

Pros: Clean and simple, flashback occurs during a scene where much can be explained.
Cons: Lack of anticipation and action.

We really like the idea of putting the title sequence here as we think it is just as much a reminder to Katniss as it is to the audience of Snow's ever watchful eye. The rose is a great symbol of the suffering and war to come, and a great place to officially kick off the film.

District 8

We definitely want this to be a punch in the gut for every audience member. The hospital scene should definitely be a touching moment where we truly see Katniss' effect on those in the other districts. We're expecting the score to be up to par with this memorable scene (John Williams, yes? Please? PLEASE?!?!) all of a sudden to be interrupted by the sound of bombers above as Katniss is waving goodbye to all the wounded.

As for the conclusion of the action scene with the all important "We burn, you burn with us" section, it could be interesting to go between the actual filming of the propo and the airing of it in sections of Panem at the same time. Could be nifty, but it's just an idea. All in all, this is the moment when Katniss truly becomes the Mockingjay for herself, so we're expecting this section of the film to have a lot of focus and attention. 

The Hanging Tree

Yes, it's quite possible The Hanging Tree will be omitted, but.....will it? We mentioned this a bit in the last post, but we won't be surprised if they keep it it. Whether because the fans will be quite disappointed if it's not in it or because it's just one of those popular movie devices, it's very possible it will make the cut. During the propo scene that it occurs during, we get a look at what District 12 is like after all the destruction. Then, Tiffany and I got to thinking, and maybe it's because we've seen Lord of the Rings way too many times (I mean, come on, we play Lord of the Rings DVD trivial pursuit), what if we get a montage during Katniss singing "The Hanging Tree"? It's possible we could get an update on the war in Panem much like they do in Return of the King:





Hey, we called this post "Cinematic Delusions of Grandeur" for a reason. We can dream, right?

INTERCUT CLIMAX!

If you haven't checked out our previous post about the climax of Part 1, you should probably take a look at it. We came up with an interesting idea to combine some events to make the climax way more interesting than it is in Mockingjay. But hey, it's not the book's fault! We just know that we need a kick ass climax to end Mockingjay Part 1. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the lackluster climaxes for all those Part 1 movies in existence. Mockingjay can blow all those out of the water by combining these events: Finnick's story propo, Snow's reaction, Panem's reaction, and the rebel rescue effort. There's plenty of material to go around, not just an action sequence, but a character's SHOCKING backstory to go along with it. It also could be interesting to see the battle between Beetee and the people behind the Capitol feed duking it out over the airwaves.

Part 1 Possible Cuts
Though it bums us out, many things will end up on the cutting room floor, even with a split movie. Here are some things likely to get cut:
-District 13 arm printed schedules (will they even take the time to explain it?)
-Prep Team shackled (depending on their role in Catching Fire.)
-Delly (We'd hate for her to sit on the bench with Madge, but it's possible.)
-Hummingbird room (But it's so pretty!)
-We Remember (These propos likely won't make it, but wouldn't it be cool to see the old tributes again?)
-Brainstorming (We mentioned this scene in our last post, we hope it makes it though! But we completely understand if it does.)
-Katniss/Gale hunting
-The Hanging Tree
Part 1 Possible Additions

-President Snow and Panem reactions to propos such as "We burn, you burn with us" and Finnick's backstory.
-Finnick and Katniss scenes to establish friendship
-Peeta's real time (most likely implied) torture
-Wrap up: President Snow's and Panem's situation right before Part 1 cliffhanger

Part 1 Possible Changes

-Introduce Haymitch in the first war room scene instead of filming of bad propo
-Brainstorming scene slightly altered to discuss propo and change in tactics
-Will Katniss disobey in District 8? We hope so, so they can foreshadow happenings of the Simulated Street Combat in Part 2, but will SSC get cut too? 
-Combined scenes for intercut climax

So that's a general look at stuff we'd like to see in part 1, and just a few of the deletions, additions, and changes that might occur. Many questions posed in this series will be answered by the time Catching Fire comes out as well. We're interested to know if Catching Fire will tackle subjects as the Avoxes(THEY BETTER!), the District 12 firebombing, and Finnick & Annie's backstory. I guess we will have to see, won't we? Thanks again for reading this edition of Mockingjay Mockup! Looks like next time we'll be going into Part 2 in detail, which we may just have to split into two posts (how ironic!) cause there's a lot to cover. See you next time!

May your bread be toasty and your arrow fly straight,
Courtney & Tiffany

Want to read the other editions of Mockingjay Mockup?

Intro

Part 1 Overview

Storylines

Part 1 Timeline

Comic-Con WRAP UP!

Credit: @KGirl0724 via @Alow8111

Wondering why we were so quiet this weekend? Well, ONE I work on the weekends, and TWO it sure felt like the news was just piling and piling up, so we figured once Comic-Con drew to a close we'd give it all to you in one place!

SWAG

Check out the posters they gave away:

MERCH

Neca released a new line of Hunger Games merch! Thank you so much to Brittany(@KGirl0724) who sent us pictures her friend(@Alow8111) took of the new Neca line! Check it out, new action figures!




























Click the link to check out the rest: the tribute signing AND interviews!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

BTS Clip of the Forest on Fire

Entertainment Weekly shares with us a behind the scenes clip that premiered at Comic-Con from when they filmed Katniss running to escape the Gamemakers' forest fire!

The video is not embeddable yet but click here to watch it at the source!



Tuesday, July 10, 2012

MOCKINGJAY RELEASE DATES!


Woah, already?! According to deadline, Lionsgate has announced release dates for Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2, so I think it's safe to assume that Mockingjay will be split!

BREAKING … Lionsgate will release two films based on Mockingjay, the third book in Suzanne Collins’Hunger Games trilogy. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 will bow worldwide November 21, 2014, followed by The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 on November 20th, 2015. The first sequel, Catching Fire, is coming out November 22, 2013. The original Hunger Games bowed March 23 and has grossed $404.4 million at the domestic box office and $678.2 million worldwide.
Source: Deadline 

Looks like from here on out we will be getting a Hunger Games film every year! Assuming Lionsgate will confirm this soon, that is.

If you want to see our series about how Lionsgate should go about splitting Mockingjay, check out our series, Mockingjay Mockup!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Mockingjay Mockup: Part 1 Timeline

   

Sorry for the unexpected hiatus of Mockingjay Mockup! We're back, and FINALLY we can unveil to you our plans for Mockingjay Part 1. Let's get down to business!

     As you can see from this ridiculous graph, we've got the rundown on all the events that we think should play out in the Mockingjay Part 1 film. Towards the bottom we have our legend with symbols that represent what storyline they fulfill, most of which we discussed in our last edition. In the faded background, you can also see we have specified which sections of the book we are currently pulling from: The Ashes, The Assault, and The Assassin. Come on along with us while we go through it point by point!

Where to start?

     We are pretty positive no matter how they choose to end Catching Fire the film will begin with what is going on with Panem as a nation. This could mean some Snow action, it could also mean the oppression that occurs in the districts, even what Snow has inflicted upon the prisoners from the Quarter Quell. Peeta's an extremely important character, and for the film's sake they probably won't want to wait until his first interview to introduce such a huge main character. Speaking of which...

     Whatever establishing needs to be done in the first part of the film will precede Katniss' return to District 12. We see the ruin and devastation, and it is possible for flashback scenes of the firebombing, though we think it might be more beneficial if it were told a little later on. The scene should end with the discovery of Snow's rose, and we have some cool ideas on how that should happen cinematically. That, of course, we have reserved for a later edition entitled, "Cinematic Delusions of Grandeur".

District 13


     After these establishing moments, we've got to introduce the audience to District 13. One of the many reasons we believe in the split is because we have a whole new system in which Katniss is living in, the audience needs to get a clear idea of how it looks and how it functions. This leads us to our next scene: the war room. We are guessing all of the military scenes will take place in some type of war room location, which will end up being the frame of the entire Mockingjay story. It's at this point this might be a good opportunity during the introduction of all the rebellion plans to insert the flashback of the District 12 firebombing. For the rescue effort,  Gale has been promoted by Coin therefore a nice place to put the flashback in, not to mention... ACTION SCENE!
     If you're wondering why Haymitch's icon is also next to this scene, it's because we've taken that important scene between him and Katniss in which they first talk about what happened in the arena. Sure this doesn't happen until much later in the book, but we're pretty sure whoever directs Mockingjay will want to keep Haymitch in early on since he is such an important character.

Chain of Events

     Be forewarned: If phrases such as "Inciting Incident" or "Turning Point" I or II confuses you, check back to our short writing structure explanation. Anyway, the Inciting Incident we have labeled as Peeta's first interview. This scene not only gives us an update on what's going on with him, but starts a chain reaction that leads to Katniss' decision to become The Mockingjay. Directly under this event, we have two symbols: Prim's and Gale's. Both represent two scenes we think need to happen so we see why Katniss becomes the Mockingjay. Gale's conversation with Katniss establishes that the games are still on ("He's still trying to keep you alive") and her frustration that there cannot be a cease fire influences her decision. However, what makes Katniss make a list of demands such as victor immunity is her late night conversation with Prim. One may look at this scene and think it can easily be given to Gale, but we all know what happens to Prim and we deem pretty much every Prim scene mandatory! Naturally when Katniss does become the Mockingjay, the discussion of terms, Cinna's sketchbook, and announcement of terms will all be important scenes to include. 

Sweet Weapons & Comic Relief

    Next up we have a super cool scene that we are expecting to make it into the film: the Mockingjay bow. We'll get a deeper look into District 13 (hopefully) and some Beetee action. It's also at this part we get a little reference to Gale's gift for snares and military tendencies ("That doesn't seem very fair to the deer"). Afterwards, Katniss gets made up and they film the unsuccessful propo, offering great opportunity for comic relief. 
    It would be a nice smooth transition to go from comic relief to what we think is an incredibly touching scene. We're not sure if it will make the cut, but we're crossing our fingers for what we call the "Brainstorming" scene. This of course is when Haymitch tries to figure out why that particular way of filming the propos is unsuccessful. One by one, everyone around the table divulges which of Katniss' actions touched them the most. In this scene we get one of our first glimpses of how the Girl on Fire has touched so many. 

District 8 (Midpoint)
    To achieve a decent propo, Katniss makes a trip to District 8, which is one of the most moving sections of the entire book. This will occur about halfway through and will provide plenty of exciting action scenes. The hospital scene will further the audience's comprehension of Katniss' effect on the entire country, making it a must-have for Mockingjay Part 1. It is also in this sequence that the camera crew can be established, if not already in the "Bad Propo" scene. 

     As for the "We Burn, You Burn With Us" moment, we're hoping this to be Mockingjay Part 1's huge redeeming moment. Meaning this will be the most remembered moment of the film, hands down. We have high hopes for this part, and we're counting on whoever is directing to heighten the drama for this moment. It is the first moment that Katniss truly becomes the Mockingjay, and we don't want to be disappointed! Lastly, the actual propo airing could go a number of ways, one option being the propo airing happening at the precise moment it is being filmed intermixed along with how it is being received all over Panem. If done this way, it could be a pretty nifty and memorable sequence. 

It's Too Cinematic NOT To Film!

     Next up is Peeta's 2nd interview, which aside from being updated on Peeta's condition (whether or not they will add extra scenes to see what is going on with him in the meantime) will really jab at Katniss' distrust of the rebels, which is one of the most important conflicts to emphasize in the film. As for whether they will include the part about Katniss and Finnick pretending not to have witnessed it remains to be seen. This all depends on whether they want to build on the conflict going on between Katniss and Gale, since in the books she takes offense to Gale not informing her of Peeta's interview. We think it may not be necessary, but I guess we will see what happens.

     The last propo filming of Mockingjay Part 1 will most definitely be included along with Katniss singing "The Hanging Tree". At first thought, it seemed like something not necessary enough to include even in a split film. However, upon further examination we think that there is a good chance that whether this is included here or not, it will be put somewhere. Our reasoning is that it's too cinematic NOT to film! Think about it, a haunting song with relevance to the plot itself, it's just one of those common movie devices. We won't be surprised at all if they keep it in!

Climax & Cliffhanger

     Before we get into the juicy details about Mockingjay Part 1's climax, let's talk about events leading up to Turning Point II (sometimes referred to "hero's darkest hour). This entails when Beetee is hacking the Capitol feed, Peeta looking wildly hijacked and announcing "dead by morning". This will launch the audience into Turning Point II: The District 13 bombing. No doubt this will include chaos (for drama's sake it's likely the residents won't be as calm and organized as they are in the books) and giving us another action scene with the actual bombing itself. Again, to drive home the preciousness of Prim to Katniss, her and Gale's narrow escape to safety will be some great tension to add to the event.

     During the quiet waiting period during the bombing, we have some downtime for character development. In the book there are two very important conversations: Katniss and Prim, and Katniss and Finnick. The first with Prim (we're hoping no Prim scenes are cut cause, you know) gets Katniss to realize how Snow is using Peeta ("Whatever it takes to break you"). The conversation with Katniss and  Finnick is important because we need to keep establishing their friendship, and perhaps even a little discussion about more information about Finnick and Annie. We're willing to bet they will go into some kind of detail about Annie's background in Catching Fire, but nothing more than that. In case something goes horribly awry and they don't cover Annie and Finnick's backstory, this would be a great place to put it. 

     Onto the climax of Part 1. We have concocted a sort of nifty idea to combine a few scenes together to hype up the climax of the film. Before this happens, Katniss breaks down because whatever propo she has to do with will hurt Peeta. According to the book, Haymitch and Katniss have a touching moment and they knock her out for about a day and at that point the rescue effort is already underway. Later, Finnick agrees to divulge his secrets as a distraction. To cut some stuff out, we figured that after the bombing it should be agreed that a rescue mission goes off (because clearly, Peeta is in huge danger from announcing that secret bombing plan) and Katniss and Finnick agree to film the distracting post bombing propo. Katniss tells how she met Peeta but obviously it's not as captivating as they had hoped so Finnick agrees to spill his secrets. Here is where we would have an INTERCUT CLIMAX!! That is, a montage of many different scenes going on (hopefully with some killer soundtrack under it): Finnick's secrets, the rescue effort (ACTION!), Snow's point of view/reaction, along with reactions all over the country. This could be a climax worthy of a Hunger Games film, and probably a lot more exciting climax than some other young adult franchise's first parters. Yea, I mean both of 'em. 

     After the climax, things settle down and we get some form of resolution. First, we will get the return of the rescue team including the touching moment when Finnick and Annie reunite. If it were us, we'd cut the scene there and wrap up what's going on in the Capitol and the districts so it can transition into part 2. In the very last scene, we come back to where we left off with the reunion of all the freed prisoners. This means possibly a short funny Johanna scene (She's unconscious in the books, but a lighthearted scene here will make the figurative punch at the end much more effective) and eventually Katniss's reuniting with Peeta, except WABAM! fingers on her throat, holy crap Peeta's insane, and that my friends, is called a cliffhanger. Indeed, the best way to end a two parter. 

Why Split There?

     Aside from the awesome fact that Peeta's hijacked state is the only suitable place in the book that is somewhere in the middle and a cliffhanger, it is the moment in the book where everything changes. Radically. Katniss has a completely different mindset in the books at this point, so much so that she gives up on Peeta and dedicates herself to training in order to kill Snow and die in the process. You need a catalyst when splitting movies, so you have A REASON to split. Not only do we have a reason to split here, but we have a cliffhanger AND there's so many important events to the complex plot you pretty much HAVE to split it. Once we get into part 2, it will become clear that if this book were to be one film, it would be a very different story to how it is in the books, and hasn't the faithfulness to the books been what has separated Hunger Games apart from the others?

Hope you guys enjoyed this edition of Mockingjay Mockup, and we're just about done with Part 1. Stay tuned next time when we talk about our "Cinematic Delusions of Grandeur", what might be cut, and what might be added to Mockingjay Part 1. Thanks for reading!

May your bread be toasty and your arrow fly straight,
Courtney & Tiffany

Want to read the other editions of Mockingjay Mockup?



Storylines

Lionsgate Press Release: Philip Seymour Hoffman Cast as Plutarch




PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN CAST AS PLUTARCH HEAVENSBEE IN LIONSGATE’S THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE
Santa Monica, CA, July 9, 2012- Lionsgate® and the filmmakers of THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE are pleased to announce that Philip Seymour Hoffman has been cast in the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker for The Hunger Games, in the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ worldwide smash hit novel Catching Fire. 

The actor and filmmaker just wrapped a Broadway run as Willy Loman in the revival of “Death of a Salesman” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.  He will next be seen in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Master” and the indie film “A Late Quartet” alongside Catherine Keener and Christopher Walken.  More recent films include “Moneyball,” “The Ides of March” and “Jack Goes Boating” which marked Hoffman’s feature directorial debut.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark.   Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a "Victor's Tour" of the districts.  Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75thAnnual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) - a competition that could change Panem forever.
THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE will be directed by Francis Lawrence, and produced by Nina Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. The novel on which the film is based is the second in a trilogy that has over 36 million copies in print in the U.S. alone.  
Lionsgate will release THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE on November 22, 2013.

Ongoing casting news and information for the film can be found at: www.CatchingFireCasting.com


Casting Fire: CONFIRMED! Philip Seymour Hoffman Will Play Plutarch Heavensbee!


Casting announcements have officially started! The Hunger Games has even rolled out a snazzy section of their facebook page (much like they did with the tributes last time) to help everyone keep track of who's playing who!!

We're so excited to have the esteemed Philip Seymour Hoffman as Plutarch Heavensbee!! REJOICE!!

Head over to the Catching Fire section of the facebook page!

EW Exclusive: BTS DVD Preview



Check it out! Entertainment Weekly's got a short preview for the special features that will be on The Hunger Games DVD.

It's not embedabble, so make sure to check out the video here:


Click HERE for the sneak preview!


Click HERE for the sneak preview!


Click HERE for the sneak preview!

Casting Fire: Has Philip Seymour Hoffman Signed On?


Well, not officially. The rumor, according to E! Online, is that Philip Seymour Hoffman has already been signed on to play Plutarch Heavensbee in Catching Fire.

Sources tell E! News exclusively that the Oscar winner has signed on to play Plutarch Heavensbee in Catching Fire, the much anticipated second movie in the Hunger Games trilogy.
"The deal was made right before the Fourth of July holiday," one source said.
Lionsgate does not comment on casting until something is official. An announcement about Hoffman is expected to be released any day now.
The Hollywood Reporter reported that Hoffman, 44, was offered the role on June 11.

Let's just see how this plays out, guys. Remember, nothing is official until Lionsgate announces casting!!

Thanks so much for @THG4all for the tip!

Source: E! Online

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Comic Con 2012: HUNGER GAMES!!



Going to comic-con? Well, good for you. We hope you get trampled! Just kidding, the truth is we're so jealous we can't stand it. The best we can hope for is that you Hunger Games fans get all you can out of this years' con so we've got a press release concerning the Hunger Games Blu-ray autograph opportunities, and some other related panels thanks to a post from MTV. Also, if you guys plan on going PLEASE PLEASE send us pictures of your Hunger Games Comic-Con experience to WelcomeToDistrict12@gmail.com and we will definitely post those suckers! Okay, onto business...


CELEBRATE THE HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF
THE FILM THAT SET THE WORLD ON FIRE
AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL 2012

Description: THG_TT_2lines_bird

Fans To Have Chance To Receive Select Hunger Games Cast Signatures On
Comic-Con Exclusive Blu-ray Disc Box Art Cover Saturday, July 14

WHAT:  In advance of the hugely anticipated home entertainment release of The Hunger Games juggernaut on 12:01 am Saturday, August 18, select cast members will participate in signing events at San Diego Comic-Con International 2012.  Occurring at the Lionsgate Booth (#4035) on Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 am and 5:00 pm, fans will have the chance to meet the actors behind Cato, Rue, Thresh, Clove, Marvel and Primrose Everdeen, plus have an exclusive Blu-ray Disc box art cover signed by the cast.  An exclusive Comic-Con Hunger Games poster will also be distributed at the Lionsgate booth throughout the duration of the convention.
                          
The first film in Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games franchise arrives on 2-disc Blu-Ray (plus digital copy), 2-disc DVD (plus digital copy), On Demand and Digital Download, complete with three hours of never-before-seen special features.  Attending media may also participate in an invitation-only press junket with the attending cast at San Diego’s Hard Rock Hotel.

WHOAlexander Ludwig (Cato), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh), Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen)

WHEN:              FAN SIGNING TIMES:
                           Saturday, July 14 at 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
                           Location: Lionsgate Booth (#4035)

WHERE:        San Diego Convention Center
                          111 West Harbor Drive
                           San Diego, CA 92101

Lastly, here are some Hunger Games related panels:

The annual celebration of all that is awesome in pop culture kicks off Thursday, July 12, and there's plenty for Panem's faithful to see and do — even if Comic-Con isn't branded with "The Hunger Games" name. It just takes a little imagination! Here are our Hobnobbing-approved picks for the Con (in chronological order): 
We don't need a panel to tell us dystopia is hot, hot, hot right now, but you better believe we're hungry to attend one anyway. On Thursday, July 12, at 3 p.m. in Room 25ABC, authors Anna North ("America Pacifica"), Neal Shusterman ("Unwind" trilogy), Lissa Price ("Starters"), Paolo Bacigalupi ("The Drowned Cities"), Michael Grant ("BZRK"), Daniel H. Wilson ("Amped"), Gennifer Albin ("Crewel") and Marie Lu ("Legend") will sit down to chat about the burgeoning genre. 
A few hours later, head to the Blu-ray Producers 2012 panel in Room 5AB, where Cliff Stephenson (the man behind "The Hunger Games" discs) will talk shop alongside producers from many a high-profile project, including "The Amazing Spider-Man" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation-Seasons One and Two." 
There's no denying the fanciful wardrobe of the Capitol's citizenry was a visual high point in the series' first installment. Fashion fiends and neophytes alike will want to flock to the Costume Designers and Illustrators: From Concept to Reality panel on Saturday, July 14, at 5 p.m. in Room 24ABC, where "Hunger Games" costume illustrator Christian Cordella will be one of many talents on hand talking about taking an imaginative vision and bringing it to stunning life onscreen. 
And here it is, the pièce de résistance. To celebrate the August 18 DVD/Blu-ray release of "The Hunger Games," Lionsgate will be hosting a star signing at its booth (#4035) on Saturday, July 14, at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The lineup includes Alexander Ludwig (Cato), Amandla Stenberg (Rue), Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh), Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove), Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen).

See a full schedule of Comic-Con events at the official site.
Source: MTV 






Tuesday, July 3, 2012

CASTING FIRE: Jena Malone Offered Johanna Mason!!


Is this fate, or what? According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jena Malone has been offered the role of Johanna Mason, and what do you know they share the same initials!

While many in Hollywood are cutting out early for the holidays, it’s reaping day for Jena Malone.

Malone has the offer and is in early negotiations for the part, according to sources.  The move nixes premature reports that pegged newbie actress-model Zoe Aggeliki as the frontrunner to play the ax-wielding former Hunger Games winner from District 7, who aligns with Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in their return to the arena for an all-stars death match.The Sucker Punch actress is in talks to play snide tribute Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire, a key role that will be reprised in the trilogy’s third installment, Mockingjay.
Source: THR

We are super excited about her being cast, I mean have you SEEN her IMDB page? Not only is she close to Johanna's age, but she has acting credits up the wazoo. Let's hope she accepts!