Our interview with Jack Quaid and Dayo Okeniyi at the Midnight Release Party!

Last Friday night we attended the Santa Clarita Walmart Hunger Games DVD release party! While many fans lined up outside of the Walmart answering trivia questions and eating cupcakes, we (Courtney and Tiffany) got a spectacular opportunity to have a group fansite interview with Jack Quaid (Marvel) and Dayo Okeniyi (Thresh). We hung out with the lovely Erin and Elena from TheHungerGamesMovies.net, Beth from Mockingjay.net, and the ever awesome Aldrin from Down With The Capitol.

From left to right: Jack Quaid, Aldrin, Courtney, Tiffany, Beth, and Dayo!

Fansite group hug with Jack!

You guys will definitely want to see Aldrin's Vlog of the night's events, especially our interview with Jack and Dayo. Although we have provided an audio recording and transcription for you guys, you have to see it to believe it. Hilarious conversations were had!

03:54 through 14:11 mark is the group fansite interview!




Click below for audio recording and interview transcript!

Hunger Games iTunes Trailer!

Check out the iTunes trailer the Hunger Games Facebook posted!

Check it out here!

It gives you a look at exclusive features if you buy it on iTunes. Remember, you have to buy it on iTunes, not the digital copy you get with the DVD/BluRay!

Sneak Peek at Walmart's #HungerGamesDVD Extra Features

Walmart's Hunger Games BluRay/DVD comes with 30 extra features! At least, that's what the fine people at Lionsgate told us! Check out some these sneak peeks of those features:


See more sneak peek videos under the cut...

Hunger Games Cast Members Appearing at Walmart Midnight Release Parties!

Check it out! Looks like some cast members from The Hunger Games are due to appear at some Walmart #HungerGamesDVD release parties! Our friends at Down With The Capitol posted a fantastic rundown of the events to go on:

Certain Hunger Games cast members will attend Wal-Mart midnight release parties starting at 11 p.m. on Friday, August 17! In addition to the midnight party release fun, fans will also be able to access never-before-seen interviews and behind-the-scenes footage on Walmart’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/walmart.
Check out what fans can find at the parties:

• District Parties featuring special giveaways, movie trivia and the opportunity to win exclusive The Hunger Games prizes
• Fans who purchase the DVD at midnight will receive a special pack of collectible The Hunger Games trading cards, while supplies last. A select number of random packs will include an autographed card from one of the cast members.
• Customers who prefer to pre-order The Hunger Games 2-disc Blu-ray or DVD online at Walmart.com prior to the movie’s release on August 18 will have a chance to win a trip to Los Angeles to attend The Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere or other exclusive prizes.
• In select stores, fans will have the opportunity to meet the following cast members:

o   Glimmer (Leven Rambin) in Dallas, TX
o   Cato (Alexander Ludwig) in Miami, FL
o   Primrose Everdeen (Willow Shields) in Phoenix, AZ
o   Thresh (Dayo Okeniyi) in Santa Clarita, CA
o   Atlanta, GA, TBD
For specific store locations and event activities, please visit: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/Event-Detail.aspx?txtEventID=1017
And for even more fun, celebrity party-planning expert Hostess with the Mostess has partnered with Walmart to host a live #DistrictParty Twitter party at 4:00 p.m. ET Thursday, August 16. Fans can follow @Walmart and use the hashtag #DistrictParty to join the conversation and get tips and ideas about hosting their own The Hunger Games themed viewing party to celebrate the DVD release.

Sounds like a blast!  Remember, you can head over HERE to see where the closest Walmart midnight release party is happening near you!

Source: DWTC

#HungerGamesDVD Sneak Peek: Cast Bonding

Can't wait for The Hunger Games DVD? Check out this sneak peek of the DVD bonus features. In this video, the cast talks about good ol' bonding times!



Source: Access Hollywood

Buy ALL the DVD Box Sets!

Can't figure out what Hunger Games DVD box set to buy when it comes out on the 18th? Maybe this will help:

Blu Ray - $22.96
Disc 1• Feature Film

Disc 2• Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games Phenomenon
• The World is Watching: Making the Hunger Games
• Letters from the Rose Garden
• Controlling the Games
• A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell
• Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process (Blu-ray Exclusive)
• Propaganda Film
• Marketing Archive

DVD - $18.96
Disc 1
• Feature Film

Disc 2
• Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and the Hunger Games Phenomenon
• The World is Watching: Making the Hunger Games
• Letters from the Rose Garden
• Controlling the Games
• A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell
• Propaganda Film
• Marketing Archive

Target - BluRay: $25.99 DVD: $20.99
-Same extras as DVD or Blu-Ray
-Tribute Video Diaries -- "The seven main tributes use their flip-cameras to document the build up to the release of The Hunger Games, (2) Stories from the Tributes – sit down with the tributes and hear the best stores of their time filming the most anticipated movie of 2012, (3) Tribute Biographies – find out all about your favorite tributes with this animated gallery and (4) Tribute Photo Gallery – personal photos of the tributes."

Walmart Box Set
Blu-Ray: $26.96 DVD: $22.96

-Same features as DVD and Blu Ray
-VUDU EXCLUSIVES:

     -The Stunts of the Hunger Games
     -Capitol Couture: The Styles of Panem 

-Comes with Mockingjay Pendant

Best Buy - $45 range

Unfortunately, it's not available to preorder online because there are a limited quantity of them (I believe the people at Lionsgate said around 40,000). It comes with both the DVDs AND Blu-Rays. No particular special features, but does come with cool acrylic Mockingjay which would probably look pretty sweet on your mantle.

Costco - We're guessing in the $50 dollar range
This fancy box set will be available at Costco! In addition to the movie, this comes with a District 12 arena bag, a Hunger Games bag clip, and a parachute necklace! Oo la la!

That's it for all the popular DVD box sets available for purchase! Choose wisely! Or, you know, buy them all.

One last thing! Be sure to check out Aldrin's vlog from our trip to Lionsgate! Watch Courtney do something silly at the 4:43 mark, and at 5:17 watch Arianna from DWTC and Courtney give a rundown on our recommended box set: Target!

Find A #HungerGamesDVD Party Near You!

Isn't this fancy?! Check out this super cool website! Just type in your zip code to see if there will be a midnight release party near you on the night of the 17th!

Stay tuned for a more detailed post on your Blu-Ray/DVD options!

Source

Fansite Special Features Screening at Lionsgate!

The Welcome To District 12 duo (that's Courtney & Tiffany for those who don't know) got invited to Lionsgate's The Hunger Games Blu-Ray/DVD features fansite screening!

Naturally both of us were very excited and bursting to tell you all once we found out what we would be doing. The day started off with getting our spiffy name tags, complete with our site URLs so we knew where everyone is from. Luckily we've met most of the other fan site runners already. Along with the two of us, in attendance were Aldrin and Arianna from Down with the Capitol, Amie from HGGirlOnFire, Erin from TheHungerGamesMovies.net, and Beth from Mockingjay.net (so sorry if we missed someone!) Even Kara Warner from MTV.com was there!

Aldrin: "COURTNEY THAT'S NIGHTLOCK! YOU'LL BE DEAD IN A MINUTE!"

We checked out all the Blu-Ray/DVD box sets that were laid out. We've got to say they're all pretty awesome and that it was really helpful to see them all together to compare them. So here we go readers, we present your awesome choices for Blu-Ray/DVDs:

COSTCO!!

This Costco Blu-ray comes in a really cool collectors box (the cover can be seen in the photo of the DVD package table) and comes with a District 12 arena bag, bracelet, and parachute necklace. Same special features as the normal Blu-Ray

BEST BUY!!

This edition is for collectors too! The Lionsgate team said that there are only about 40,000 made and comes with an acrylic Mockingjay thingamajig (we're not really sure how you would classify it. Who cares what it is? It's awesome. You want it on your desk). The box opens all fancy and all the discs come in a cool book (seen resting on box). What's cool about this set is you get both the Blu-Ray AND DVDs all in one. Same special features as the normal Blu-Ray.

Walmart!!

We were told this Walmart edition comes with 30 minutes of extra features you can't get anywhere else, and it comes with a Mockingjay pendant. 

Target!!

 Check out this BEAUTIFUL DVD box set! It's from Target and we are naming this A MUST BUY!! Not just because it's the most aesthetically pleasing, but because this has a bunch of extra features aside from the one the DVD has. You will be able to enjoy a special look at the tributes we've come to know and love: The Tribute Diaries.

Note: There will also be extra special features if you purchase the film on iTunes!

Courtney poses with DVD!

 Then we were ushered into the Lionsgate Screening Room where VP of Marketing TJ Moffet introduced the sneak peek to us. It was specially edited together for this event and featured our sites! They showed us several sections of the extras, including parts of the Target, Walmart and iTunes exclusives. We were all pretty impressed with what they had shown us and couldn't wait to get our hands on the full features!

Aldrin and Arianna from DWTC in the screening room!

Afterwards we were surprised by Foxface herself Jackie Emerson! She hung out with all of us while we had lunch, telling us funny stories and asking us about what it's like running fansites. We spoke with several members of marketing, publicity, and the Home Entertainment department, giving them feedback and answering some of their questions. 

Tiffany and Courtney with Jackie Emerson (Foxface)! She told us about self cleaning toilets!

Fansites with Jackie!!

 And then came the swag bags! It turned out that we wouldn't have to wait much longer to get our hands on the movie, not to mention TONS of Hunger Games merchandise! Thank you to Lionsgate, we were very surprised! Could there be some giveaways in the future?!


Overall we had a blast! We loved what we saw at Lionsgate and cannot wait to watch all the features. We're very much into DVD special features so we're incredibly excited! 


And look out for a full review of the features on Friday August 10!!!

Hunger Games BTS Sneak Peeks!

We got a couple more for you guys, one from EW about Jennifer Lawrence's tree climbing training and another very interesting video about the design process for The Capitol. Remember, the Blu-Ray/DVD comes out August 18th!!

Click HERE to see Jennifer Lawrence climb trees!

Source: EW

DESIGNING THE CAPITOL




Source: IGN

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:

barnyweasley via Hunger-Games.net

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!

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!

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

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.

WHO: Alexander 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 

#HungerGamesDVD Preorder Roundup PLUS Win a Trip to Catching Fire Premiere!

Today is the day you can order The Hunger Games on Blu-Ray/DVD! If you'd like to do so directly from Lionsgate, click HERE!! The DVD is $30.98 and the Blu-Ray is $20.98.

Before we get into the pre-order round up, check out what Wal-Mart is offering with purchase of their special DVD:

 You can check out that pre-order page HERE. If you do so, you should receive an email with your contest code and instructions within 72 hours.


Thanks to our friends at Down With The Capitol, they have compiled a list of all other DVD pre-orders available right now, some stores with other exciting versions!

Target:

• 2 Disc DVD + Digital Copy: $18.99
• 2 Disc Blu-Ray + Digital Copy:  $22.99
• The Hunger Games – Target Exclusive 3-Disc Deluxe Limited Edition DVD: $21.99 — Bonus Disc contains 45 minutes of additional features.
• The Hunger Games – Target Exclusive 3-Disc Deluxe Limited Edition Blu-ray: $24.99

Walmart:

• 2 Disc DVD + Digital Copy: $18.96
• 2 Disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy: $22.96
• Walmart Exclusive DVD + Digital Copy + VUDU Bonus Content + Mockingjay Pendant $22.96
• Walmart Exclusive Blu-ray + Digital Copy + VUDU Bonus Content + Mockingjay Pendant $26.96

Barnes & Noble*

• 2 Disc DVD + Digital Copy: $21.69
• 2 Disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy: $27.99
• ?? DVD: $26.49 (no information is given, but it looks like B&N may have it’s own special edition?  We’ll keep watch.)

*while supplies last receive a 30 X 40 cloth poster of Katniss with purchase.
Amazon

• 2 Disc DVD + Digital Copy: $21.69
• 2 Disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy: $27.99

Best Buy:

• 2 Disc DVD + Digital Copy: $19.99
• 2 Disc Blu-ray + Digital Copy: $24.99

FYE (in-store only pre-order)
2 disc DVD + digital copy – $15.99 (after $7 mail-in rebate)
2 disc Blu-Ray + digital copy – $19.99 (after $7 mail-in rebate)
* Free Hunger Games tote bag with purchase.

You can check out Down With the Capitol's full post HERE.

Happy Pre-Ordering!!