Welcome to District 12

MTV Movie Awards: #VoteKatniss for Best Hero!

2012-05-30T12:22:00.001-07:00

We cannot stress this enough, people: VOTE FOR KATNISS!!

The MTV Movie Awards rolled out a new category recently: Best Hero!

All you gotta do is tweet your vote, which you can do by clicking the link:

#VOTEKATNISS

If you wanna see just how much in second place we are, head over HERE

VOTE! VOTE!

UPDATED! Real or Not Real? Finnick Fan Favorites Make it to the Final Rounds

2012-05-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

It's quite possible that this may be more than just a rumor, but E! Online reported yesterday that Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch, and Garret Hedlund are the top three choices being considered for the highly coveted role of Finnick Odair. Here's what E! Online had to say:

A source tells us at that the top three names being bantered about right now are Armie Hammer, Taylor Kitsch and Garrett Hedlund.
The source also says that a final decision from the studio may be announced as early as this week.
However, another source says the studio may also be looking at unknowns à la Brad Pitt in Thelma & Louise.
Filming is scheduled to begin in the fall with Francis Lawrence taking over the directing reigns from Gary Ross.
Catching Fire will be released on Nov. 22, 2013.

Read the full article HERE

If this indeed is true, I would have to give an enormous round of applause to Lionsgate and those listening to fan choices for Finnick. Taylor Kitsch I've heard been mentioned among fans, but over the past year, at least in our experience, the battle for the role of Finnick has always been between Armie Hammer and Garret Hedlund. Both near perfect choices in my opinion, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Who knows? Maybe it's neither and Taylor Kitsch will come out on top. OR, as E! Online has reported, perhaps they really are looking for an unknown!

UPDATED!! Zap2it is reporting that they are still auditioning for the role, and the three actors are not the only ones being considered. We figured as much, just because Lionsgate may be eyeing the three actors mentioned above, doesn't mean they aren't considering others, and like E! Online said, they are indeed considering an unknown, at least according to these two articles.

Here's what Zap2it had to say:

E! Online reports that Kitsch, Hammer and Hedlund are the names Lionsgate wants, but Zap2it's source says nobody's in the lead just yet considering talks only began on Tuesday (May 29). Actors are still reading for the role, and the studio is strongly considering bringing in an unknown to avoid ego clashes on set. It's easy to understand the mix-up -- someone probably got their hands on the confidential memo going around that reveals the three men are currently on the shortlist of dudes we'd love to marry in a fantasy dream world. (Honestly, any list with those three guys on it is a win-win-win situation.)

The scenes the actors are reportedly reading for the role include the sugar cube scene where Finnick first meets Katniss and the scene where he hears Annie's scream.

Read the full article HERE

Well how 'bout that?! A little tidbit of new information on how exactly the Finnick auditions are going as well.

Whatever the case, if all this truly is real, my mind has exploded knowing that the studio is actually considering the actors that the fans have been clamoring for. Real or Not Real?

#HungerGamesDVD Countdown!

2012-05-25T12:08:00.001-07:00

Check it out! The Hunger Games Facebook page has started their countdown to the release of the DVD, and every week there will be a challenge! Here's what they just posted:

To celebrate The Hunger Games DVD / Blu-Ray release, we are starting a weekly countdown where you can win prizes! Each week we will provide you with a different mission to create fan art.

For this week, the theme is the Mockingjay. Your submission must include the hashtag #HungerGamesDVD, as well as the text "11 Weeks and Counting". Email your work to HungerGamesDVDCountdown@gmail.com and next week we will post submissions in our album and announce the winner each Friday. You could win some of these great prizes!

Don't forget your image must include the hashtag #HungerGamesDVD, and FOR THIS WEEK "11 Weeks and Counting"!

Check it out HERE

Good luck!!

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

2012-05-25T11:02:00.000-07:00

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!!

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire!

2012-05-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Comingsoon.net is reporting that Lionsgate announced the title of Catching Fire will be "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

Lionsgate has announced a minor title change for the second part of their blockbuster franchise. Formerly titled Catching Fire, the Francis Lawrence-directed sequel to this year's The Hunger Games will now be called The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

This makes total sense as the audience needs to connect "Catching Fire" with "The Hunger Games" for those not familiar with the books.

Source: ComingSoon.net

Press Release for The Hunger Games Blu-Ray/DVD!

2012-05-23T10:36:00.001-07:00

Check out the press release! Interesting details!

Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games Arrives On Blu-ray Disc, DVD, On Demand And Digital Download On August 18

Theatrical Release Approaching $400 Million At North American Box Office And $650 Million Worldwide

Midnight Launch Expected To Bring Back Lines of Avid Fans At Midnight Retail Events Nationwide

“We have a winner.”

      – Rolling Stone

SANTA MONICA, CA, May 23, 2012 –Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games juggernaut will arrive on home entertainment at 12:01 A.M. on Saturday, August 18, as the first film in Lionsgate’s (NYSE: LGF) The Hunger Games franchise, which has already grossed nearly $400 million at the North American box office and is approaching $650 million at the worldwide box office, debuts on 2-disc DVD (plus digital copy), 2-disc Blu-Ray (plus digital copy), VOD and digital download with three hours of previously unavailable bonus materials in the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate’s history, the Company announced today.

The film, based on the New York Times best-selling novel from writer Suzanne Collins, achieved a remarkable four-week run as the #1 film at the North American theatrical box office where it has already grossed $392 million, ranking as the 14^th highest-grossing film of all time, and it is approaching $650 million at the worldwide box office with an early June opening slated in China.

The 2-disc Blu-ray and 2-disc DVD arrive loaded with over three hours of extensive bonus materials including the comprehensive eight-part documentary, “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games.” Other special features include a sit-down conversation with director Gary Ross as well as numerous featurettes that examine the global success of the books, the creation of the control room in the film and the filmmakers’ motivation behind creating new scenes that were not in the book plus much more. The Blu-ray Disc set contains an additional exclusive feature, “Preparing for the Games: A Director’s Process,” which looks at the progression of taking three key scenes from the book to the screen. The Hunger Games Blu-ray Disc and DVD is a must-have film that is hailed as “exciting and thought-provoking in a way few adventure dramas ever are” (New York Daily News). Fans will be able to pre-order the Blu-ray Disc and DVD, starting on Friday, May 25^th, for $39.99 and $30.98, respectively.

“The motion picture event of the year is poised to become the home entertainment event of the year and, with a midnight launch and midnight retail events scheduled at stores around the country, we expect to replicate the same level of consumer excitement generated by the film’s theatrical debut,” said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate Executive Vice President & General Manager, Home Entertainment. “This is far and away the biggest home entertainment launch in Lionsgate’s history and, true to a theatrical marketing campaign that incorporated an unprecedented reliance on digital and traditional media alike, our home entertainment launch will involve a similarly innovative and integrated digital and packaged media rollout that we will unveil in the weeks ahead.”

Directed by Academy Award^® nominee Gary Ross (Seabiscuit), The Hunger Games, starring Academy Award^® nominee Jennifer Lawrence (Winter’s Bone), features an ensemble cast that includes Golden Globe^®winner Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), Academy Award^® nominee Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones), Academy Award^® nominee Woody Harrelson (The People vs. Larry Flynt), Lenny Kravitz (Precious) and Emmy^®nominee Elizabeth Banks (TV’s “30 Rock”). The film also stars some of the industry’s brightest up and coming actors such as Josh Hutcherson (The Kids Are All Right) and Liam Hemsworth (The Expendables 2).

The Hunger Games is the first in a trilogy of books published by Scholastic that has already become a literary phenomenon with over 36.5 million copies in circulation. Set in the future, one male and one female from each of the twelve districts of the nation is forced to participate in the annual competition called The Hunger Games, which is broadcast live throughout the country for the entertainment of the Capitol’s wealthy residents. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen (Lawrence) volunteers in her younger sister’s place to enter the games, and is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy when she’s pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

BLU-RAY & DVD SPECIAL FEATURES^*

·   “The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games” – an eight-part documentary covering the “making of” the film in all aspects from the pre-production process all the way through the theatrical release and fan reactions

·   “Game Maker: Suzanne Collins and The Hunger Games Phenomenon” featurette

·   “Letters from the Rose Garden” featurette – insights from Donald Sutherland on the development of his role as President Snow

·   “Controlling the Games” featurette – stories and concepts behind creating the control center

·   “A Conversation with Gary Ross and Elvis Mitchell”

·   Propaganda Film (in its entirety)

·   Marketing Archive

·   “Preparing for The Games: A Director’s Process” (Blu-ray Exclusive)

* Subject to change

*** For artwork, please visit www.lionsgatepublicity.com ***

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Year of Production: 2012

Title Copyright: © 2012 Lionsgate Films Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Type: Theatrical Release

Rating: PG-13 for intense violent thematic material and disturbing images- all involving teens

Genre: Action/Adventure

Blu-ray Closed Captioned: English SDH

DVD Closed Captioned: English

Subtitles: English and Spanish

Blu-ray Format: 1080P High Definition 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1)

DVD Format: 16x9 Widescreen (2.40:1)

Feature Running Time: 142 minutes

Blu-ray Audio Status: English 7.1 DTS HD-MA, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Optimized for Late Night Listening and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio

DVD Audio Status: English 5.1 Dolby Digital EX, English 2.0 Dolby Digital Optimized for Late Night Listening and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

To experience The Hunger Games online, please visit:

Official Website: http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

Official Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/thehungergamesmovie

Official Twitter Page: @TheHungerGames #HungerGamesDVD

Lastly, check out the trailer!

BREAKING! THG on Blu-Ray/DVD August 18th!

2012-05-23T09:10:00.001-07:00

...aaaaand we're back!

It's been 2 weeks since we last posted (We've been busy!) and glad to deliver this news to you:

2 DISC DVD AND BLU-RAY TO BE RELEASED AT MIDNIGHT AUGUST 18TH!!

Lionsgate kicks off its official 12-week countdown to the release on Friday, May 25, when the Blu-ray and DVD will become available for pre-order. EW is helping with the celebration by hosting the exclusive premiere of the trailer, embedded below:

The two-disc set will include over three hours of unreleased material, with features that provide insight into how the film was made, interviews with the cast and crew, and details about some of the story lines that differed from the book -- like President Snow's character (Donald Sutherland) and the role of the game maker (Wes Bentley). An eight-part documentary entitled The World is Watching: Making of The Hunger Games delves into the behind-the-scenes aspect of creating the film. The extras also include the full-length "Propaganda Film" shown during the Reaping.
By releasing the Blu-Ray/DVD at midnight, Lionsgate hopes to recapture the excitement from the midnight theatrical screening back in March. “The motion picture event of the year is poised to become the home entertainment event of the year, and with a midnight launch and midnight retail events scheduled at stores around the country, we expect to replicate the same level of consumer excitement generated by the film’s theatrical debut,” said Ron Schwartz, Lionsgate Executive Vice President & General Manager, Home Entertainment.

Read the rest over at EW.com and check out the the trailer!

Source: Entertainment Weekly

I think the internet may have wet their collective pants. Three hours of glorious footage!! That was the best case scenario for the DVD, but Tiffany and I were predicting it would be much less 3 hours. Kudos to you, Lionsgate!! The fans asked, and you delivered. Thank you!

Happy Birthday Katniss!

2012-05-08T11:00:00.001-07:00

Happy May 8th! May we celebrate this fine day in honor of the future victor and symbol of the rebellion, Katniss Everdeen!

Last night, Fireside Chat hosts Adam Spunberg and Savanna New made us ponder how Katniss would have spent her day of birth, besides of course the oh so happy collecting of tesserae. Um.......woo hoo?

Anyway, I think it's safe to say she would spend the day hunting with Gale since that seems to be where she is happiest. But what about post-Mockingjay Katniss? Twitter-ites discussing the #HGFiresideChat last night came up with some rad ideas such as eat cheese buns all day, which sounds like a pretty sweet birthday to me.

But seriously, let's really take a second to appreciate the appearance of the most inspiring and all around awesomeness that is the newest heroine in town. When I finished reading the books, I had already put Katniss in the ranks with Wonder Woman, Princess Leia, Lara Croft, Buffy, and well, you get the idea. In such a materialistic society, here is a character whose best skill is survival and supporting her family at age 16. She's a badass without any kind of thought that she is a badass. She can be a little socially awkward just like the rest of us, and despite setting up a million walls to protect herself, still maintains her human ability to love even in the romantic sense. But don't stop there!! I have admired Katniss for one MAJOR thing, I think to be the most important of all in the current young adult trends: Katniss needs no man. Notice how she doesn't end up with either Gale or Peeta until everything is over? That's because there are far more important things than having a boyfriend. Katniss' relationship or "love triangle"(if you would even call it that) is the B storyline in the trilogy, not the A. It takes a backseat until just about the last page in the book. So suck on that, Twilight.*

It is for these reasons today we are saluting the coolest and newest heroine in town, Katniss Everdeen! May she be remembered for generations to come!

What are you fans out there doing to celebrate?!

#HappyBirthdayKatniss

*Yea, I said it.

Michael Arndt in Talks to Re-Write 'Catching Fire' Draft

2012-05-05T13:32:00.002-07:00

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Michael Arndt, who won an Oscar for his Little Miss Sunshine screenplay and penned Toy Story 3, is in talks with Lionsgate to work on the high-profile sequel to The Hunger Games, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.

...

The sequel is barreling toward a late-summer production start. While Lionsgate doesn't yet have a deal with Arndt, if he signs on, he will have to work double-time to get the script ready due to a squeezed schedule caused by star Jennifer Lawrence’s commitment to Fox’s X-Men: First Class sequel. That tight schedule was one reason Ross declined to take on the project.

Wait we thought Simon Beaufoy was writing the screenplay? Well, he wrote the initial drafts, which have been finished for a while since Suzanne Collins had said she'd received them around March, and screenplays typically go through quite a lot of rewrites. For The Hunger Games, Gary Ross and Suzanne Collins had done the rewrites together (initial drafts done by Billy Ray), but due to time constraints and not having Gary (Francis Lawrence does not have professional screenwriting experience), it makes sense to have yet another Oscar-winning screenwriter work on the script. Hopefully Suzanne has sent over some notes (at the very least). There isn't a lot of time left before filming is due to start!

It's Official: Francis Lawrence Will Be Directing Catching Fire!

2012-05-03T11:17:00.003-07:00

WOO! IT'S OFFICIAL!!

Here's what Francis had to say to the fans:

"Hello fellow Hunger Games fans! I just want you all to know how unbelievably excited and honored I am to be a part of Catching Fire. At the end of the day, all of the work that I put in to my movies is for you -- the fans. Make sure to post and let me know what you’re most excited to see in this adaptation as we aim to make something truly faithful and spectacular!" - Francis Lawrence

-From the Hunger Games Facebook

Check out the press release:

FRANCIS LAWRENCE TO DIRECT CATCHING FIRE

‘Hunger Games’ Sequel To Open In Theaters Everywhere On November 22, 2013

SANTA MONICA, CA (May 3, 2012) - LIONSGATE® (NYSE: LGF), a leading global
entertainment company, announced today that Francis Lawrence has officially signed on to
direct CATCHING FIRE, the sequel to THE HUNGER GAMES, based on the second in a
series of books by Suzanne Collins that has 36 million copies in circulation in the US alone.
The announcement was made by Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Patrick
Wachsberger and Rob Friedman.

Lawrence, who is represented by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment, has experience directing films
that make him uniquely suited to handle the blend of character driven drama and high stakes
action of CATCHING FIRE; among them are I AM LEGEND, CONSTANTINE, and WATER
FOR ELEPHANTS.

"Lionsgate, the cast, and filmmakers are all thrilled to have Francis Lawrence come on board as
director of Catching Fire. Suzanne's brilliant book is the intense story of the birth of the rebellion
and Katniss' emotionally charged journey as she takes on the mantle of the Mockingjay, and
we all think Francis is the perfect director to bring the story to life,” said Erik Feig, Lionsgate’s
President Of Production.

“From the very beginning of this brilliant trilogy's journey from page to screen, our first priority
has been to stay true to the heart and soul of Suzanne Collins' powerful stories. From my first
conversation with Francis, I knew he would make a great partner for both me and Suzanne.
His passion for Catching Fire and inspired ideas for a faithful adaptation make him the perfect
director for this movie. I know this will be a wonderful collaboration and I cannot wait to get
started,” echoed producer Nina Jacobson.

Said Francis, "It is truly an honor and a privilege to bring Catching Fire, the second chapter of
Suzanne’s beloved trilogy, to the big screen. I fell in love with the characters, the themes and the
world she created and this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional
and surprising way. I can’t wait to dive right into it and bring this chapter to life along with the
truly superb cast and filmmakers involved."

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth will reprise their roles as Katniss,
Peeta and Gale, with Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Toby
Jones, and Woody Harrelson also returning to their respective roles. The film will be produced
by Jacobson’s Color Force in tandem with producer Jon Kilik. Production is slated to begin this
Fall, and the film will be released on November 22, 2013.

THE HUNGER GAMES has broken many box office records since it opened on March 23,
2012. It achieved the highest grossing opening weekend ever for any non-sequel film and the
third biggest opening weekend in box office history. It has already grossed $373 million at the
North American box office, ranking in the top 20 films of all time, and it recently crossed the
$600 million mark in worldwide box office.

Good luck, Francis Lawrence!

I Bid You Stand, Tributes! MTV Movie Award Voting Begins!

2012-05-02T14:50:00.000-07:00

Oh yea, IT IS ON.

The Hunger Games has snagged EIGHT (count 'em) EIGHT MTV Movie Award nominations. These include Movie of the Year, Best Kiss, Best Female Performance, Best Male Performance, Best On-Screen Transformation, Best Fight, Best Cast, and Breakthrough Performance. Voting ends Saturday, June 2nd, with the exception of Movie of the Year which will remain open until the show starts the following day.

GET VOTING HERE!

Now hurry up and vote people, before I have to get into my Aragorn speech.

Source: MTV

The Hunger Games Adventures Presents WE ARE PANEM!

2012-05-02T14:22:00.000-07:00

Check it out, Hunger Games adventurers!

We Are Panem is the newest Hunger Games Adventures interaction, allowing Facebookers to share their individual stories of their HGA characters. Let your mind run wild with the possibilites and share them with the We Are Panem Facebook page! Every week they will pick the "Hero of the Week", whoever has the best story and will be shared on the HGA welcome screen.

We Are Panem Facebook Page

Lionsgate Splitting Marketing Groups; Tim Palen and Nancy Kirkpatrick to Stay | THR

2012-04-25T19:05:00.000-07:00

Fear not, Hunger Games fans! When the Summit/Lionsgate merger was announced, we wondered who would be heading Lionsgate's marketing. Since The Hunger Games had a very successful and innovative marketing campaign, we were hoping they'd keep Tim Palen so that we can expect more awesome marketing for the future Hunger Games movies. Looks like they've reached a compromise!

Lionsgate marketing head Tim Palen and Summit marketing chief Nancy Kirkpatrick are both staying with the company, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The Hunger Games studio has closed a new long-term deal with Palen, who will now run marketing for the Lionsgate-branded film slate. Kirkpatrick will head up marketing for Summit-branded films, including the final installment of the Twilight franchise, set for release in late November.

There had been widespread speculation in Hollywood that one of the marketing execs would depart Lionsgate in the wake of the company's merger with Summit this year. As part of that deal, Summit'sRob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger took control of the film studio, potentially giving Summit's Kirkpatrick the inside track. But Palen is considered a talented marketing executive, responsible for the campaign for Lionsgate's current blockbuster Hunger Games. The studio now has worked out a compromise that seems to have satisfied both executives in the short term while planting the seeds of a long-term plan.

Combining the two studios has resulted in a large number of films on the upcoming release slate, so splitting the duties and allowing each executive to run his and her own slate makes sense. However, once the merged Lionsgate trims its film slate to about 14 films a year, as it has said it plans to do, two marketing heads probably won't make sense.

At that point, locking Palen into a long-term deal probably gives him the pole position to remain with the company.

UPDATE: Lionsgate is confirming the news with a press release announcing Palin's new long-term deal.

"Tim is a gifted marketing executive who has been a driving force in the success of our motion picture business over the years, and he elevated his game to a new level with a groundbreaking marketing campaign for The Hunger Games," said Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer and vice chairman Michael Burns in a statement. "His marketing campaigns integrate digital and traditional resources in innovative and cost-effective ways that reflect Lionsgate's entrepreneurial culture at its best."

"One of the great benefits of Summit’s recent merger with Lionsgate is the opportunity to be in business with a marketing executive as talented as Tim,” said Friedman and Wachsberger said in a statement. “As we roll out a combined slate capable of generating more than a billion dollars at the North American box office, we are fortunate to have two extremely talented marketing executives to guide both the Lionsgate and Summit brands going forward.”

We're glad that Tim Palen's work on The Hunger Games hasn't gone unnoticed. We love the marketing done for The Hunger Games and we can't wait to see what's in store for Catching Fire and Mockingjay!

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Interview with Hunger Games Soundtrack Producer Greg Wells

2012-04-24T16:09:00.000-07:00

PopMatters sat down with Greg Wells to talk about what it was like producing the companion soundtrack to The Hunger Games, Songs From District 12 and Beyond. He goes into the process of creating the Kid Cudi song on the soundtrack, "The Ruler and the Killer".

“Then Cudi would leave the room for about five or ten minutes and come back in and say ‘I think I got verse one! Let me just hold the mic and I’ll do it right here in the control room.’ So he did it right in front of us. One take. Everything was one take. He never re-did anything. And I thought he would, but he’d just say ‘OK, that was it.’ Like Frank Sinatra never did overdubs, it was a bit like that! [laughs] And I loved it! I’m not used to working with people like that. You know, everyone wants to hone it a bit, and he was just like ‘This is what it is.’

“I played some bass on it, and T-Bone played this kind of very vibey little acoustic guitar pass, he did the same kind of beat, he just jammed on acoustic guitar over this track. And pretty much everything he played in the first take was just this great little, fantastically weird little notes. They’re quite featured in the final mix I did on the track. And then I did a mix of that, we listened to it and lived with it. Cudi came in to tune up the guitars a bit ... and we had it. It was quick.

“I love how kind of quirky the thing is, and none of us knew we were gonna write a song that sounded anything like that! It’s a weird little menacing song. And Cudi just really tried to dial in the Donald Sutherland character in the movie. It’s very oppressive and messed up—evil. That’s the perspective of the singer in that song, and I like how creepy we got it.”

His success with the song was interesting, considering that he didn’t have any prior experience withThe Hunger Games. “I usually have a couple of projects going on at the same time, and between that and having three kids, I’m just so busy I don’t take in a lot of new stuff that doesn’t get put right in front of me,” Wells says. “So, I was somehow unaware of the massive phenomenon that is that book series. But I got played a very long trailer that I don’t think was ever released, a ten-minute trailer that was put together and really gave me a huge feel for what the movie is, and the arc of the whole story—and I was so sucked in. It was an incredible little vignette from that movie, and I was pretty much just like, ‘OK, I’m in! This is amazing. There’s nothing like it.’”

The soundtrack itself stands as one of the great film soundtracks of recent years. It, like Burnett’s soundtrack for the Coen Brothers’ film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and every soundtrack for every Quentin Tarantino film ever created, is a narrative in its own right, allowing the listener to know and live in the world of the film long after the screen goes dark. The album boasts talent like Taylor Swift and Kid Cudi, as well as The Decemberists, Arcade Fire, and Neko Case, among others, creating a rich tapestry true to the dystopian, Appalachian core of both the film and the books.

Check out the entire article here.

New TV Spot: Movie Sensation

2012-04-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest TV Spot, advertising the return of The Hunger Games to IMAX theaters:

We're still running our contest to win 2 tickets to see The Hunger Games in IMAX. Just RT this tweet and make sure you're following our Twitter!

THG Returns to IMAX Theatres April 27!

2012-04-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Check out the press release!!

THE HUNGER GAMES RETURNS TO SELECT IMAX® THEATRES FOR A ONE WEEK ENGAGEMENT

Limited One-Week Engagement Begins April 27

Los Angeles, CA – April 20, 2012 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) today announced that due to overwhelming demand, The Hunger Games will return to more than 100 IMAX® digital theatres across North America on April 27. The film will play for a one-week special return engagement through May 3.

The Hunger Games has grossed over $533 million globally since its launch on March 23, including $13.2 million generated from IMAX theatres in its original one week run.

“It’s wonderful that so many fans have expressed interest in seeing The Hunger Games in the immersive IMAX format, and many of these are repeat viewers,” said Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group Co-Chair Rob Friedman, adding “ We're delighted that IMAX has been able to accommodate them through this special one week re-engagement.”

“The Hunger Games has become a cultural phenomenon and we are thrilled to provide moviegoers with another opportunity to see this year’s most successful film in IMAX,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

The IMAX release of The Hunger Games has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.IMAX.com.

You can also enter to win tickets to an IMAX showing! Follow our Twitter and retweet this:

Woohoo #HungerGamesIMAX! Follow @wtod12 and RT this to enter to win 2 Hunger Games IMAX tickets! May the odds be ever in your favor!

Sources Say...It's Francis Lawrence!

2012-04-19T19:16:00.002-07:00

Could it be? THR is reporting that Lawrence got the offer today, and if he accepts will direct "Catching Fire". But of course, nothing is official!

Sources say Lawrence will receive an official offer Thursday afternoon. If he accepts and a deal can be worked out, he will replace Gary Ross, who directed the hugely successful first installment of the franchise.
The hunt has been fast and furious, with the field narrowing down to Lawrence, director of I Am Legend and Water for Elephants, and Bennett Miller, who helmed the Oscar-nominated Brad Pitt baseball movie Moneyball. Both directors met with the studio Thursday, according to sources, and Lionsgate executives have made their pick.

Read the full THR article

If this is true, we're very excited to see what Francis Lawrence will do with Catching Fire, and we are even more glad that he has experience when it comes to big special effects and big budgets.

Rumor: Catching Fire Director will be either Lawrence or Miller

2012-04-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

Rumor is, as reported by LA Times' 24 Frames, that the Catching Fire director job will go to either Miller or Lawrence and we'll find out by the end of the week.

The hunt for the new director on "Hunger Games" sequel "Catching Fire" is reaching its conclusion, with Lionsgate expected to offer the job to either Francis Lawrence ("Water for Elephants"; "I Am Legend") or Bennett Miller ("Moneyball"; "Capote") by the end of the week, according to knowledgeable sources not authorized to speak publicly.

The studio has narrowed in on the two directors after considering a broader group that also included Tomas Alfredson ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"), Tony Scott ("Unstoppable"), and Stephen Daldry ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close").

Lawrence (no relation to "Hunger Games" star Jennifer Lawrence) may be the easier option because his schedule is open. One source said he has met with top executives at the studio and appears eager to take on the job.

Miller, meanwhile, would have to delay his plans to direct the movie "Foxcatcher" about John du Pont, the heir to the famous family's fortune who shot and killed an Olympic gold-medal-winning wrestler. The film, which recently added Mark Ruffalo to a cast that already includes Steve Carell and Channing Tatum, is supposed to start filming late this year.
The Austrian-born Lawrence got his start helming music videos for Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Green Day. While last year's "Water for Elephants" starring Reese Witherspoon did only modest business, he had great success with the 2007 "I Am Legend" with Will Smith. He's also quite proficient in special effects and knows his way around large film sets, two attributes crucial for directing the action-heavy "Catching Fire."

Miller has never directed a big-budget movie with special effects but was widely praised for his work on "Moneyball" and "Capote" and was nominated for an Oscar for the latter picture.

With production set to begin in August, whoever takes the position that Gary Ross abandoned last week will be working furiously with screenwriter Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") and producers Nina Jacobson and John Kilik to get the production ready in the next few months. The movie is scheduled to hit theaters in November 2013.

Crushable: Drinking with Octavia

2012-04-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Super cool blog post by Anna Breslaw of Crushable in which she interviews Brooke Bundy, known as Octavia in The Hunger Games.

The two have known each other prior to The Hunger Games' fame, and they chat about funny stories, filming, and her very sensible ideas on handling The Hunger Games success. Here are some highlights:

A mutual friend of ours from college once asked us what skills would keep us alive in a dystopian world–a question, incidentally, unrelated to California native Brooke’s big break in the movie–and her first answer was “brute strength.” (Mine was “running fast.”) She does tend to stomp into places like a very pretty, large-faced in the best way, bull in a china shop. She rushed breathlessly up to me in the sports bar we were meeting as if she was late, which she was not, and gave me a huge hug. She had taken the subway from Red Hook, where she had just interviewed for a restaurant job.
“Those interviews are hard. It’s hard to be like–” She puts on crazy-solemn eyes. “Yes. I take this very seriously.’”

It seems incongruous that an actress in the top-grossing movie in the country for four weeks straight, someone who can make an informed personal judgment of Lenny Kravitz as a human being (verdict: “The coolest person of all the big famous people”) would be running around Brooklyn trying to get a waitressing gig. Less than a month ago, she was walking the red carpet at The Hunger Games’ Los Angeles premiere alongside a star-studded cast that included Jennifer Lawrence, Woody Harrelson, Kravitz, Josh Hutcherson and Elizabeth Banks. Last week The New York Daily News ran an article about Brooke that commented on this duality, with quotes from a Ditmas Park family whose kids she watches. The kids, understandably, are psyched: “Our babysitter is in The Hunger Games!”

“It’s weird. I mean, you aren’t immune from awareness about status, but you can’t let that get to you. Especially me, I mean, I have such minimal exposure. I’m not famous.”

She also found the vibe of working on a big-budget movie surprisingly familiar. “I expected it to feel more controlled. People think it’s a shiny adventure [to make movies], but it’s so messy. No matter how much money’s involved, it’s just people fighting to get things done in time, just like it is in little indie stuff.”

Read the full blog post HERE!

Two More Catching Fire Hopefuls!

2012-04-17T16:54:00.000-07:00

The quest for a Catching Fire director continues! Add these names to the list: Bennett Miller and Francis Lawrence.

Playlist reports, "Sources close to the project tell The Playlist that "Moneyball" helmer Bennet Miller and "I Am Legend" director Francis Lawrence are also in contention for the gig."

Some may know Miller from Moneyball and Capote, and Lawrence is known most for I Am Legend and Water For Elephants.

Read the full article HERE

TeeFury: "Stay Alive" Available for 24 hours!

2012-04-16T00:36:00.000-07:00

The various threats through the trilogy in one shirt. Get it at TeeFury.com for the next 24 hours!

Source: TeeFury

Josh Hutcherson Introduces The Hunger Games Adventures

2012-04-12T19:03:00.001-07:00

We got new chapters today for The Hunger Games Adventures and it turns out a video from Josh too!

Have you been playing lately? Looks like we'll be going to the Capitol!

In the latest chapter, the adventures continue as players make a heroic escape from the confines of District 12 and arrive in the splendor and excess of the Capitol. Upon arrival they are greeted by Effie Trinket, who will act as their guide to the Capitol. Through their exploration, they will encounter other familiar characters such as everyone's favorite stylist – Cinna.

Join Effie and Cinna in the Capitol today by going to www.PlayTHGA.com

And check out these screenshots:

Source: PlayPanem.com via DWTC

Conflict With Fox May Have Cost Us Gary Ross

2012-04-11T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that scheduling conflicts with Fox regarding X-Men is what caused Gary Ross' decision not to return for Catching Fire.

When writer-director Gary Ross announced his decision to drop out of the next installment in The Hunger Games saga, he stated his reasons succinctly:

"As a writer and a director, I simply don't have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule," he said Tuesday.

Ross did not allude to Fox, which had imposed that schedule by putting a January start date on its X-Men: First Class sequel with an ensemble role for star Hunger Games Jennifer Lawrence. And Ross did not express his misgivings about the particular challenges he perceives in framing and executing a film version of Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins' young-adult series.

Fox's January date led the bond company on Catching Fire to insist that Lionsgate commit to finish filming by Dec. 20, backing the studio into a production schedule with an August start date that Ross felt he could not accommodate. (Fox's deal with Lawrence predates her contract for Hunger Games, putting X-Men in a priority position.)

According to knowledgeable sources, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-chair Rob Friedman pressed Fox to set a later start date for the X-Men movie, even offering allurements including a chance to handle some of the overseas distribution on Catching Fire.

Fox was willing to move back its start date a few weeks and is still in conversations with Lionsgate on that issue. But the additional time would not have been enough to allay Ross's concerns. And Fox might have been inclined to cooperate only up to a point: When X-Men: First Class was released in June, the studio very much wanted Lawrence to attend the premiere. But the actress was starting The Hunger Games then and Lionsgate did not make her available, apparently causing severe friction with Fox. Friedman, who was not at Lionsgate then and has a good relationship with Fox's Tom Rothman, has been negotiating to win a little more time. Lionsgate is now said to be confident that it can complete shooting in the time allotted.

Some sources are skeptical that Fox actually will start filming the X-Men movie -- which still lacks a finished script -- in January. Its deal with Lawrence allows the studio to start within six months, so filming could begin as late as June. But given the possibility of an earlier start, the bond company on Catching Fire required a commitment that the film would be finished shooting in December.

Ross, who has earned screenplay Oscar nominations for Big, Dave and Seabiscuit, felt that he had to focus on the script for at least two months, leaving him only six to eight weeks to prepare for shooting. Sources also say he feels the second novel is the most challenging in the trilogy to make into a compelling film. Collins, who shares writing credit on The Hunger Games with Ross and Billy Ray, is said to want a screen version that is very faithful to her book.

Although the key actors are locked into Catching Fire, Lionsgate didn’t kick off a negotiation with Ross for the sequel until about three weeks before Hunger Games opened March 23.

It is unclear who might replace Ross and make the sequel in the time allotted, though no doubt many directors will be interested. And Friedman has shown in the past that he is willing to make changes. When he ran Summit Entertainment, the company memorably did not invite Catherine Hardwicke back to direct the second Twilight movie, New Moon.

Fox and Lionsgate declined to comment for this report.

Even though there haven't been official statements made about this from any of the parties, this sounds very plausible, especially coming from THR. All I'm saying is that I will be pissed if X-Men starts filming much later than January.

Source

Our Director Picks for Catching Fire

2012-04-11T14:52:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard, there was some heart breaking news yesterday: Gary Ross will not be returning to Catching Fire. This obviously leads us to wonder what brave individual will be the next one to rise to the challenge of not only living up to the high bar set by Ross, but to do so with an extremely limited preproduction schedule. Keep also in mind, said director must have the time to do it (many directors already have other commitments) and MUST have the passion and a clear understanding of what the books are about. Oh, and I suppose it would be a good thing that they conform to Ross' original vision for sake of consistency.

Here are our picks for directors we would want the most, a mix of pie in sky dreams and viable candidates!

1. Christopher Nolan
Okay, my pie in the sky dreams. Director of some of my favorite films such as Inception and The Prestige, he could do wonders with the multiple storylines occuring in Catching Fire. Most likely he is far too busy with post production for Dark Knight Rises and working on Man of Steel. The same goes for Peter Jackson and Ridley Scott. A girl can dream, can't she?

2. Steven Soderbergh
Most known for the Ocean's movies, definitely a solid choice for Catching Fire. I just loved how he handled the District 11 riot scene in The Hunger Games. Most likely a large pricetag, I would trust him to handle Catching Fire.

3.The Coen Brothers
Joel and Ethan Coen have directed some of the coolest films of our time! They're responsible for films such as O Brother Where Art Thou and the legend, The Big Lebowski. Not sure how their schedule is, but might give Catching Fire a nice edginess.

4. Ron Howard
Ron Howard's the man! Do I need to explain all the great work he's done over the years? He seems to have a great handle on multiple genres, and would do great with working with younger actors. We say, "Yes, please!"

5. Kathryn Bigelow
Here's an interesting choice that's being thrown around. She directed Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker and the new film about Navy Seal Team 6. Granted she's got a great handling on war, but interestingly enough she's a big painter. I wonder if any of that would come into play with Peeta's storyline in Catching Fire?

Well Lionsgate, it looks like you've got a tough job ahead of you! I wish you guys the best of luck, and we hope that you will keep consistency with The Hunger Games in mind, and may the odds be ever in your favor.

Gary Ross Won't Direct Catching Fire

2012-04-10T20:29:00.000-07:00

From Deadline:

Lionsgate executives and reps around Gary Ross for weeks have expressed confidence that The Hunger Games director would helm the second installment of the book trilogy, Catching Fire. They expected the deal to go down right after Easter weekend. And they even went so far as to privately deny an Internet report that Ross had told the studio at the start of last week that he would not helm the sequel because he didn’t want to repeat himself. Instead, as a Lionsgate exec now tells me, “I am in shock.” I understand the negotiations were handled by Lionsgate toppers Jon Feltheimer, Michael Burns, and movie chief Rob Friedman, newly arrived from Summit. There, that studio also changed up directors after its massive hit Twilight debuted — and the franchise not only wasn’t hurt but thrived at the box office. So let the speculation begin about Ross’s replacemen

Gary Ross released a statement about not returning to direct Catching Fire:

Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience.

Lionsgate's statement:

We’re very sorry that Gary Ross has chosen not to direct Catching Fire. We were really looking forward to making the movie with him. He did an incredible job on the first film and we are grateful for his work. This will not be the end of our relationship, as we consider Ross to be part of the Lionsgate family and look forward to working with him in the future.

Source