On the PG-13 rating – Nina Jacobson said, “When I first read the books, of course I asked myself ‘How can you do it?’” Gary Ross said, “You don’t need to be gratuitous in order to be honest and capture the intensity of the book … Is it violent? Yes. Do we back off from what it is? No, we don’t. But I’m not interested in violence for violence’s sake. This is a character’s story; it’s about Katniss’ journey.”
Josh and Jennifer’s relationship - The two actors lean on each other for support as they gear up for movie’s release. Josh said “I’m constantly texting her, like ‘Oh boy, here we go.’ It’s kind of like we’re getting ready for our own Hunger Games.”
Jennifer and Woody’s first meeting – “I walked to his bus to introduce myself, muttering the whole way, ‘Hi, I’m Jen. Hi, I’m Jennifer. Should I go Jen or Jennfier? Should I say I’m Katniss? No, he probably already knows that.’ So I walk onto bus and first words out of my mouth are ‘Hey Woo – is that a sex swing!?’ It was in fact a yoga swing hanging from the ceiling.”
Jennifer and Gary’s relationship – “When you’re working all day long every day for four months with an actress who’s in every frame of the movie, you’ve gone through a journey together that is almost different from the rest of the experience. I don’t know how to explain it, but next to my own kids … It’s a very very special relationship”
Nina Jacobson on splitting Mockingjay into 2 films – “It’s too soon to say. I’m deeply committed to Suzanne, and she entrusted me with her books, and I’m never going to do anything with that trust.”
Soundtrack tidbits – Taylor Swift said T-Bone Burnet wanted to make what future Americana and bluegrass music would sound like. They used vintage microphones, like 50 yrs old, for a warm throwback feel.
Sticking to the book - Everyone involved with film stayed dedicated to the source material. Jacobson said “A really cheesy version of the movie would have aged up the characters or glamorized the violence. Or it would overplay the love triangle, when this book is about so much more than ‘Gee, which boy do I like?’”
4 things we won’t see in film – Here are a few things from the book that the article reveals didn’t make it into the movie:
Madge – Jacobson said, “You have so little time to establish these characters. So if Madge has to get thrown under the bus so you can make sure that an audience who hasn’t read the books understands the devotion between Katniss and Prim, then that’s what you do.”
More than glimpse of the Avoxes … – Gary Ross said “We have Avoxes, but we don’t digress in the film. I think it’s a wonderful way to populate the world, but there are just certain [cutbacks] that have to happen.”
… or the Prep Team – Katniss’ Stylists will be introduced, but we will have to wait to get to really know them. Cinna is focus in this film.
Capitol Gadgetry – Cool things, like pushing a button and food will appear, will not be in movie. Jacobson said “We didn’t want Capitol to appear too fanciful, It has to appear ominous and threatening. The Capitol has to be a mind-blowing experience, but it can’t be Whoville.”
Also, the writer from EW saw an early cut of the Cornucopia scene and said, “If the footage Ross just shared represents the tone of the entire film, rest assured the movie will be every bit as raw and harrowing as the reading experience.” Yes!
Basically, the main reason I like Katniss is because she is a refreshingly realistic, flawed character. She is also rare in another way - Katniss is a well thought-out, well-written female character, rather than just being there to be a love intrest for a male hero (this might have somethig to do with the fact that Suzanne Collins herself is female).
The Hunger Games
In the first book, Katniss is motivated by a need to get out of the Hunger Games alive. She manipulates Peeta, kills people, and runs on base instincts. What a more typical (read: Mary-Sueish) character would have done would...
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The Hunger Games
