The first The Hunger Games: Catching Fire television spot was released this week. The dulcet tones of Coldplay’s “Atlas” feature behind all new, never before seen clips!
Also release this week, the Japanese CF trailer!
Capitol Couture has released their fall issue, starring The Girl on Fire:
Katniss Everdeen: Combustible
District 12’s stunning tribute comes on strong.
by Monica Corcoran Harel
For most of us, a year passes without huge consequence. We grow a bit older, vow to appreciate more. But for Katniss Everdeen, life shifted seismically last fall. A simple girl with a knitted braid and flair with a bow selflessly shouted, “I volunteer!” and went on to ignite our city with a newfound spirit. And while she may be known as “the girl on fire,” we all know that this Victor’s flame is internal, if not eternal. Everdeen smolders, yet there is little smoke.
On the day of our exclusive photo shoot, for instance, she arrives four minutes early and treats everyone with respect. Unlike past cover divas, Everdeen demands no over-the-top amenities like albino caviar crepes or a 24K gold-leafed footstool. (Um, yes we have yielded to such requests in the past.) When our stylist hurries in with a rack of custom gowns from couture designers such as Lanvin and Balenciaga, Everdeen smiles and points to her leather duffel bag. “I’m all set,” she says and then adds, “Thanks to Cinna, of course.”
What she ultimately slips on for the cover portrait is a cool, gray leather jacket from sister and brother design team Nicholas K. with an intricately knit scarf by Maria Dora. The quintessential autumnal look is organic, powerful and ruggedly sexy—the flipside to over-the-top fashion choices made by Victors we have profiled in the past years. Many of them longed to show a softer side, perhaps in a gambit to disarm their allies. Or maybe they just yearned for a taste of unbridled glamour?
It’s just like Everdeen to downplay the VIP pomp that comes with Capitol celebrity though. Her District 12 roots call to mind such stoicism. This is a young woman who once stated, “I am not pretty. I am not beautiful. I am as radiant as the sun.” A year later, that shine is only brighter and stronger. And like the fiery planet in the center of the solar system, Everdeen has become Panem’s most valuable natural resource.
This Catching Fire infographic from AMC gives newbies & fans a brief run down who’s who of the returning tributes. Also, it’s super cute, right? Look at little Beetee!
Click here for a better look.
Did you pick up your new District Identification Pass ? You should do so immediately! This DIP will allow you sponsor tributes, view exclusive material and be counted in the Panem Census.
In honor of the 75th Hunger Games, all citizens must participate in the Capitol Quarterly Census, beginning immediately. This is a Capitol mandate. Report immediately to The Citizen Control Center at the newly relaunched portal, TheCapitol.PN to receive your NEW District Identification Pass. This will allow you to be counted in the Capitol Quarterly Census.
You may log into The Citizen Control Center with Twitter or Facebook, and locate your new District Identification Pass. You will then be able to access all of the features available to registered District ID Pass holders, including District Productivity, District News and Weather, and Victor Sponsorship Opportunities. Exclusive behind-the-scenes Capitol training footage from Capitol TV will aid you in your Victor sponsorship decision.
Third Quarter Quell tribute sponsorship opportunities are now available! Citizens of Panem, please view the Capitol TV tribute training footage below and report to TheCapitol.PN to sponsor your favorite tribute.
Be sure to participate in the Capitol Quarterly Census and receive your new District Identification Pass. Your productivity and vigilance to the Capitol will be closely monitored.
Report IMMEDIATELY to The Citizen Control Center at TheCapitol.PN for the Capitol Quarterly Census! Your productivity and vigilance to the Capitol will be closely monitored.
PanemPropaganda is an Officially Sanctioned Capitol Census Director, appointed by President Snow and The Capitol Census Bureau. (X)
This month's Seventeen Magazine features a photo shoot and extensive interview with Josh Hutcherson and mini Q&As with Willow Shields!
Bruno Gunn talks to Hollywood.com about twitter, training, and being Brutus!
First off, can you share a little about your experience filming The Hunger Games: Catching Fire? Did you feel a fellowship with your co-stars? Was there competition behind the scenes as well?
I made great memories, new friends, and together we got to travel around the country and make this amazing film. The only competition was on the dance floor and Josh Hutcherson by far had the best moves.
Tell us about your character Brutus. What did you do to prepare to get in the head space to play him?
As a former Victor in one of the richest districts (Two) in Panem, Brutus was afforded a privileged lifestyle. He’s a fierce warrior who was groomed for the Arena. I immediately related to Brutus’ fiery competitive nature. It was also important for me to create a personal back story for him and let that influence what was otherwise a very physical role.
Did you read any of the books before your audition? Do you think the movie will satisfy fans of the book?
Before I auditioned for the role? No. I only knew it was a phenomenon. I got the news I was cast as Brutus in between connecting flights to Italy. Nine hours on a plane with this life-changing news and I couldn’t share it with anyone. Let’s just say I threw myself a small celebration on the plane. I picked them up immediately and they were the best books I ever read. I was immediately immersed in the world. The fans will be very happy.
Obviously you are no stranger to the big screen, but how are you dealing with the fandom of Hunger Games? It is quite a phenomenon. How do you anticipate the release of the movie will impact you personally? Have you given any thought on how best to handle it?
They are well-read, intelligent and creative fans who have a passion for reading. They love Suzanne Collins and pore over every line of her story. It’s been a completely positive experience. It’s great hearing people tell me that they’re discovering some of my earlier work and am excited for them to see future projects.
How much, if any, physical training was involved in the making and preparing of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire?
A highlight of my experience on Catching Fire was the intense two months of training leading up to the film with the stunt team at Eighty-Seven Eleven. A lot of hours and preparation were put in learning martial arts, how to use a spear and choreographing fight scenes. The workouts were exhilarating and exhausting.
Speaking of training, your twitter has a very positive trend of motivation and training. How important is health and fitness to you? Can you share a bit on your philosophy on this and let us know what role health and/or fitness plays in your life?
I played a lot of different sports, so physical fitness has always been important to me. I teamed up with a great professional fitness coach in Los Angeles, Drew Logan. Although I’ve trained hard my whole life, the deciding factor was learning the importance of nutrition and the body working as a machine. Drew taught me the science of food, it all starts and ends with nutrition. You have to make smart food choices. It took me to a whole new level of performance. I maintain a physique we like to call “Home Base” by carefully managing my workouts and nutrition…so that I could gain or lose 5-10lbs if needed in a short time for any role, but oh, that’s not easy…‘cause I love chocolate éclairs.
Touching on social media: It has changed the fan/artist relationship. What is your personal approach to social media? Do you use it to share or interact?
Twitter, what a great platform to reach out and have a dialogue with someone on the other side of the world. I’ve met all kinds of incredible people through social media. It’s information and culture at our fingertips. I’m a huge fan.
Catching Fire Francis Lawrence sat down with Sci Fi Magazine to discuss not only filming, but taking on a franchise, the love triangle, and Joanna Mason.
“I had never planned on doing a sequel to anything where there is an established world, but part of what I saw in Catching Fire was a large opportunity to create and not just have to go back,” he admits. “This story for me is where everything starts to take off. The characters are very different because they are changed by the games. The world is very different. It’s winter in District 12 and we see different parts of it like the Victor’s Village. We also go to districts we haven’t been to before. The Arena is completely different. I thought there was an opportunity to humanize Effie (Elizabeth Banks) and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), as well as the opportunity to add new cast.”
“So there was plenty of opportunity for world building, which is something I like to do, but I loved where the story went. I love that the stakes were ratcheted up for the world and I liked where the love triangle started to go”
Francis Lawrence on the infamous “love triangle”
In Catching Fire, the emotional core of the film revolves around Katniss transitioning from just being a single-minded survivalist as she tries to sort out her attachments to both long-time friend, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) and Peeta. Lawrence explains, “we see what each of the boys represents for her: the eloquence and peace of Peeta and the rebellion and fight in Gale. How they weigh with Katniss is getting set up hee and so important for the next movie. I was also really interested in the idea of the awkwardness of Katniss and Peeta in the beginning. Six months have gone by and we see, “wow, they’ve gotten really disconnected.” I really like that and Katniss’s reconnection with Gale, then sort of being forced back together with Peeta. But again to connect to the consequences of war, I love the idea that two people, who have mostly bonded over a shared traumatic experience, are now getting sent back to the Games. Even though they were falling apart, they go back into this world and start to bond again over this shared trauma. I’m really pleased with it. I also think we did some great work on Peeta’s character with Suzanne in helping reconnect them. There’s a scene on the train early on when they are on the way to District 11 that I think works really well in reestablishing the connection between them.”
On his favorite scenes to shoot:
Lawrence mulls it over and says there are too many. “There are scenes I was excited about like the shooting in District 11, Mag’s [Lynn Cohen] sacrifice, and some great sequences between Gale, Peeta, and Katniss right around the whipping.”
On the Mockingjay films:
“I think they are two distinct stories. I think the objectives are very distinct. One is about getting Peeta back and one is about revenge, which is why I think they easily separate out. It allows us to explore what we need to explore within each of those stories instead of jamming them both into one.”
Jena Malone On Johanna Mason:
The hardest part for me was shooting in Atlanta, because I was still discovering Johanna and I had a hard time breaking out of her on set. I felt like I was more of a loner, not going out and hanging out with everyone because I just wanted to get her right. I feel like once we got to Hawaii, I knew who she was and could let my shoulders down a bit and realize I’m on a beautiful location and I started hanging out with the cast and crew more. They were like, “Oh Jena, you’re normal and not a crazy person like Johanna,” Locations helped to put me at ease a little.
I think the relationship between Finnick and Johanna is so important that any little moment we have together we went for it because they are sole survivors. They’ve grown up together and I think they’ve bonded because of that. I think it’s one of the last beautiful relationships in Johanna’s life where it’s someone she can actually rely on.
There’s a scene with Stanley Tucci (Caesar Flickerman) that I was a little bit nervous about because I hadn’t seen him before, as he was in makeup so we didn’t get to talk, but we had worked together before. I literally got up on stage and said, “Hey Stanley, it’s nice to see you again,” and we started the scene where I basically have to vomit my crazy aggression all over him. Afterward, as he’s wiping the spit from his eye, he was like, “Thank you, Jena. That was actually great,” so I was like, “Yes!”
Magazine scans are from readingperks and hawthornehedge.
Stills from 'Mockingjay' filming in Thomaston, GA
"impressive, dark smoke rose above the shooting location several different times throughout the day today…" (X)
The Swan House at The Atlanta History Center will commence with Swan House Capitol Tours on Friday, November 22nd, just in time for CF premiere! The Swan House was used as a stand-in for President Snow’s mansion for the film. Those who take the tour will be able to see a behind-the-scenes exhibit displaying photos from the production at Swan House and select props from the film, plus see the outdoor gardens where some of the party scene was filmed! Official Hunger Games merchandise in will be available for purchase in the gift shop. (Panem Propaganda)
Enjoy this behind the scenes CF pic & I'll See you next week, Tributes!
