Lenny Kravitz on how he got the role of Cinna

In a Q&A with Details magazine, Lenny talks both Cinna and the book:

DETAILS: Your acting career has been notable too. You had a well-received part in Precious and were just cast in The Hunger Games. Had you read the books?

Lenny Kravitz: I honestly hadn’t heard of them before the director called me. I hope the fans don’t hate me for that. He had seen my work in Precious and called and offered me the part of Cinna, who is the stylist for the main character, Katniss. He saw how I played a caregiver in Precious and figured I might be good for Cinna. I didn’t have to audition, so I’m lucky.

Danny Elfman to officially compose THG score

An article on Movies.com is reporting that Danny E. is set to score The Hunger Games:

We’ve been told exclusively that Elfman is definitely scoring The Hunger Games with T. Bone Burnett, who recently won an Oscar for his work on Crazy Heart.

Note: This news has not been confirmed by Lionsgate.

Danny Elfman could possibly compose the score

In a recent interview, to celebrate the release of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton 25th anniversary music box, Danny E. talks about his upcoming projects. The Hunger Games is listed as a possibility:

 And then another one called The Hunger Games popped up, which seemed like really interesting thing. Different — and different catches my attention in a way that’s like, “Oh, I can’t ever pass up a chance to do something different.” So that deal’s not even closed, it may not even happen, but we’re well along with that.

Source: Buzzine and The Hob

He composed the soundtrack for The Nightmare Before Christmas and did the voice for Jack Skeleton. Enough said. I really hope he writes the score, that would be so great. I love The Nightmare Before Christmas, the music is amazing! I’ve seen it multiple times and I’m always amazed with the songs. So beautiful.

Check out his IMDb page.

 

 

Scholastic introduces a gift edition and movie tie-in for The Hunger Games

Scholastic has announced the following:

New York, NY — June 16, 2011 — Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today announced the publication of a special gift edition of the worldwide bestselling The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for holiday 2011. Three movie tie-in titles will follow in early 2012, based on The Hunger Games film, currently in production at Lionsgate. Scholastic will publish and deliver the titles through all of its distribution channels both domestically and internationally.

The Hunger Games Collector;s Edition ($30, November 2011, ISBN: 978-0-545-40577-5) will be published in November 2011 and will include a special slipcase featuring exclusive new mockingjay artwork. The three movie tie-in titles include The Hunger Games: Movie Tie-In Edition ($12.99, February 2012, ISBN: 978-0-545-42511-7), The Hunger Games: Official Illustrated Movie Companion ($18.99, February 2012, ISBN: 978-0-545-42290-1) and The World of The Hunger Games ($17.99, February 2012; ISBN: 978-0-545-42290-1), all to be published in February 2012 in advance of the much-anticipated March 2012 feature film release.

“Millions of readers have already discovered the world of The Hunger Games series, and now even more will come to it through the release of the film,” said Ellie Berger, President of the Scholastic Trade Publishing division. “The collector’s edition will be the perfect holiday gift this year for teens or adults, and the tie-in books will add new dimensions to our Hunger Games publishing as we anticipate the release of the feature film.”

Source: Scholastic Twitter

Wow, new mockingjay art work! Sounds like alot of good stuff. Can’t wait!

Flavius and Venia has been cast

Lionsgate annouced via twitter the casting of Nelson Ascensio as Flavius and Kimiko Gelman as Venia:

 

 

Nelson Ascencio

 

Kimiko Gelman

 Awesome! The prep team is complete!

Note: Earlier today there were some set photos on Just Jared of Jen in the reaping dress and Liam as Gale. They have since been removed because they’re obviously too revealing. Unfortunately, I was too late and didn’t get to see them! I mean they were already out there, might as well take look, right? Also, I don’t how people think they won’t get caught or that it’s illegal. They need to just stop.

Video: Jennifer Lawrence on Late Show with David Letterman

Here is a video of the appearance in case you missed it:

 

See the full episode  here.

The Hunger Games was mentioned and although Letterman didn’t know much about it, I got a kick out of watching Jen explain it to him. Letterman asked, (holding up the EW cover) ” Is that a vampire deal?” To which Jen replied, ” No that’s not a vampire deal.” She then explained that it’s about kids fighting to the death in an arena and the look on Letterman’s face….priceless. “But we don’t drink blood, that’s sick.” Yeaah stickin it to the vamps.

Jennifer Lawrence reveals which scene she’s most excited to shoot

EW has added a new interview with Jen focusing more on the books:

The 20-year-old Oscar nominee was first turned onto Suzanne Collins’ beloved dystopian trilogy, about children forced to fight to death to amuse a brutal government, last Christmas. Her mother, who runs a summer day camp in Lawrence’s hometown of Louisville, Ky., lent her her own dog-eared copies and Lawrence fell fast and hard. As she gobbled down the books, two scenes stuck out as ones that would be a particular thrill for any actress to play.

Her No. 1 scene from The Hunger Games: “The first time that Katniss has to go into the cylinder and she goes up into the arena and looks around and sees it for the first time,” says Lawrence. “Knowing that when that trumpet blows she could die. The thing that’s great about her is she’s not a murderer. She’s a hunter, but she’s not a killer. I told Gary, ‘I totally understand if you don’t hire me, but please remember that after Katniss shoots a bow and kills someone her face cannot be badass. It has to be broken.’ She has to be heartbroken because she just took another person’s life. It’s so tempting, especially with a cool, big budget franchise movie, but we have to remember that she’s a 16-year-old girl who’s being forced to do this. These kids are only killing each other because if they don’t, they’ll die. It’s needless, pointless, unjustified violence. So there’s nothing cool about her. It’s not like she looks around the arena and goes ‘Yeah, I got this, I’m going to do this.’ I think she looks around terrified and thinks, ‘Well there are all the million different ways that I can die.

Her No. 1 scene from the entire trilogy, however, comes from the second book: “It’s from Catching Fire,” she says. “When she finds out that she has to go back and she runs in and has a complete meltdown — I remember reading that and being like ‘I want to act that!’”

Well said Jen, well said.  “ The thing that’s great about her is she’s not a murderer. She’s a hunter, but she’s not a killer.” She truly understand the importance of not glorifying the act of killing in the games. On another note, I’m loving the black jacket and the bow. Perfection.

Update on filming in Asheville, NC

From: The Hob

 Ashvegas recently reported:

-Extras get the nod: Extras who attended casting calls in Concord and Shelby and were picked for the movie received confirmation this week that they’re wanted. The extras chosen are supposed to report for fittings and such soon. Extras were told their filming will occur somewhere around the end of the month.

-Tree taken: I’ve gotten word of an unusual Warren Wilson College/The Hunger Games connection. The story goes that filmmakers scouted out a giant tree that they wanted to use, one that was apparently already dead or dying. It’s unclear if the tree was located on campus or adjacent to campus. But the filmmakers cut a deal to cut the massive tree and take it. 

-Photo shoot: Word on the street is that some type of The Hunger Games photo shoot went down around Asheville this week. That’s all I’ve got right now.

Following the report The Hob received two photos (one above) from a contact who lives near the site:

A contact of ours who lives near Henry River Mill village provided us with photos and some info on the pre-production work taking place in the village in preparation for The Hunger Games filming, which is reported to start on May 19.

The old store – our contact said the film crew just added the awning to the front of his building and word is the inside of the store will be a set.

The old store looks nice. I’m thinking it could possibly be used for the bakery? The tree is harder to figure out. No idea. I just find it funny that they cut and moved a particular tree they wanted to use. They went tree shopping.

While a photo such as this one is interesting and makes me excited, I wouldn’t want there to be any revealing set pics in the future. Good thing there’s some security surrounding the set.

Nina Jacobson talks movie status

USA Today has some info from Nina Jacobson (Producer) on the movie and casting:

Moments after 20-year-old Jennifer Lawrence was announced as the lead in the movie adaption of The Hunger Games, the Twitter-sphere burst to life. Many rejoiced. But others insisted she was too old for the part of the teenage heroine.

Or that her eyes weren’t gray and that her hair was the wrong color.

“Every decision is being so closely watched,” says producer Nina Jacobson. “I understand the fierce and intense feeling the fans have for this movie.”

Given The Hunger Games’ plot about a futuristic society whose youth must battle in a state-enforced tradition, it’s fitting that the preparation be viewed through the lens of a survival guide:

•Form key alliances. Collins’ active involvement in every step of the film sends a clear message to the faithful: The book will not stray.

•Find the chosen one. Finding a star for the book’s central character, Katniss Everdeen, was the casting competition of 2011. Chloe Moretz, Abigail Breslin and Hailee Steinfeld were just a few of the “it girls” in the running. “We left no stone unturned,” Jacobson says. But Lawrence’s gritty performance in 2010′s Winter’s Bone— as a character moved to violence to protect her family, much like Katniss — gave her a leg up. “It was a lucky break to see her in that role,” Jacobson says.

It was her audition, where she says goodbye to her family before leaving for the Games, that sealed the part and left onlookers in tears. Jacobson says the choice was easy. “You can manipulate appearance, not essence. Jennifer taps the inner life of Katniss.”

•Stake out your ground. Re-creating the book’s leafy battlescapes was crucial. “We’ve found locations that have so far exceeded anything I can imagine,” Jacobson says. “It’s perfect.”

Producers have been mum about the exact locale, but notices soliciting extras in North Carolina have tipped their hand.

•Find your supporting studs. Like Twilight,The Hunger Games has a complicated love triangle with two very eligible men vying for Katniss’ affections.

The soulful Josh Hutcherson (breakthrough role: The Kids Are All Right) nabbed the spot of the kindhearted Peeta. Liam Hemsworth (brother of Thor’s Chris Hemsworth) took the role of protective Gale.

•Recruit the crafty veterans.Stanley Tucci casting announcements don’t usually rock the Internet, but that changed when he signed as The Hunger Games’ quirky TV host.

“This is a wonderfully eccentric character, and I think Stanley is going to make a perfect Caesar Flickerman,” director Gary Ross says.

Woody Harrelson also came on board Tuesday in the role of Katniss’ drunken mentor

•Train hard. Lawrence is undertaking everything from agility training to archery work for her character. “She’s getting extensive training in all the skills Katniss possesses,” Jacobson says.

•Prepare for other battles. Lionsgate studios has the rights to Collins’ Hunger trilogy. In the likely event that the movie is a success, expect to see a lot of Katniss Everdeen.

As Jacobson says, “We’re in this for the long haul.”

I feel very good about the movie and I’m constantly getting more excited. When it comes to the heavy backlash from fans, it has died down, but there is still some scrutiny. Ugh, I just want to see the movie. Oh, and THG will forever live in Twi’s shadow. A big thank you to the media for beating it in to no end. Your persistence is admirable.

First filming location in NC revealed

Henry River Mill Village- abandoned

The Hickory Daily Record reports:

Henry River Mill village will be the site of filming for the movie “Artemis,” which is a working title for the book “The Hunger Games,” say locals who have been in contact with movie officials. “The Hunger Games” is part of a trilogy of books from author Suzanne Collins that revolves around North America rebuilding itself after collapse. Other books in the trilogy are “Catching Fire,” and “Mockingjay.”

McNeal said about 300 people will be working on the Hildebran site leading up to the shoot and 1,000 people are expected to be working at the site during filming.

How sweet/creepy/perfect are those houses!? They seem to have a top level…or an attic. They could always cover the top window though. Ahh, so excited.