Hollywood Crush
Tweet your inquiries to @mtvnews using #askHG, and your query might get answered by the "Hunger Games" star during our interviews next week!
ASK AWAY, PEOPLE!
Hollywood Crush
Tweet your inquiries to @mtvnews using #askHG, and your query might get answered by the "Hunger Games" star during our interviews next week!
The companies have resumed discussions that broke down in the past over price and control issues, said the people, who declined to speak publicly because talks are private and there’s no assurance a deal will be reached. Summit has additional suitors, one of the people said. Lions Gate would gain access to the cash generated by the five “Twilight” movies. The first four films have grossed more than $1 billion in worldwide ticket sales for Summit, according to Box Office Mojo. A combination would produce a payday for owners of closely held Summit who formed the studio in 2007 with funding from Merrill Lynch & Co.Here are my thoughts on this: Yes, it seems a little appalling to us since we despise all the HG/Twilight comparisons, and the idea of having Twilight be affiliated with our beloved Hunger Games is a little repellent. I absoutely love how Lionsgate is handling the entire Hunger Games franchise, and would like it to stay that way. Lionsgate has a great head on its shoulders, and I for one do not want to see anything interfere with that. Maybe the merger would keep things the way they were, I'm not sure. But it seems as if this would definitely help out Lionsgate monetarily, especially since the last couple of their movies haven't done so well.
It's the pink hair that did it.Source: People
For Elizabeth Banks, playing Effie Trinket in the upcoming screen version of The Hunger Games first clicked into place thanks to the character's signature cotton-candy coif.
"I would be in the hair and makeup trailer and I was Elizabeth, and then the wig went on and very suddenly I was Effie," says Banks, 37. "Every day I would have that aha moment, like, 'We did it! We found Effie!' "
In the best-selling The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Effie serves as a publicity agent of sorts for the Games, a cruel arena battle that pits youths, called "tributes," against each other in a televised fight to the death. The movie opens March 23.
"Effie is a very complicated woman," says Banks, who previously worked with director Gary Ross on 2003's Seabiscuit. "She's a spinner. She spins everything into something positive. These kids have been pulled from their loved ones to compete on television in this horrible event in which they will likely lose their lives."
Effie, she says, is "charged with making their last days before they're in the Games as positive as possible, so that they go into the Games with a great attitude. And, of course, that seems crazy."
At the center of the action is the heroine Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), whose skills with a bow and arrow aid her survival.
"Katniss is so strong, so courageous, and when faced with this overly positive, super-enthusiastic Effie, [Jennifer] and I definitely had some great moments of conflict," says Banks – who admits to one major drawback in playing the outrageously dressed character.
"For sure the biggest challenge of playing Effie was the shoes!" says Banks. "All of my shoes in the movie are completely amazing but highly uncomfortable. I said to Gary, 'You better be shooting these shoes, because they're killing me.' "
I have never been so blown away by just a theatrical trailer. In two and a half minutes, Jennifer Lawrence’s portrayal of Katniss felt gut-wrenchingly real, so much so that the Reaping scene broke my heart into a million tiny pieces, leaving me in tears for the rest of the trailer. Seeing the glimpses of the citizens of Panem watching the games, especially the three-finger salute in District 11, is a very welcome perspective and much needed addition. District 12, the Capitol, the training center, the arena – all places that have been no more than words on paper and images in my head – are now concrete, and what’s better is that they are as I have imagined. These places sacred to me have been treated with respect. Finally, the countdown at the end of the trailer as a panicking Katniss is rising up into the arena provides such an ominous feeling that even a stranger to the series will know that this will be a movie to be taken seriously. The trailer brought it in terms of stunning visuals, true to the book scenes, emotion and depth, and phenomenal acting.
Netflix has signed another major content deal ahead of its much-anticipated UK launch next year, enabling the firm to offer new movies from Lionsgate, such as The Hunger Games.Read the whole article HERE
The American company has agreed a multi-year licensing deal with Lionsgate, making it the studio's exclusive subscription streaming partner for first-run films in the UK and Ireland.
Under the deal, Netflix will enable subscribers to watch a range of Lionsgate titles in the pay-TV window on TVs, tablets, games consoles, mobile phones and computers - meaning it will stream the films at the same time as they are shown on Sky Movies.
New Lionsgate movies will appear on Netflix within one year of their theatrical release, including The Hunger Games starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, blockbuster action sequel The Expendables 2 and the recently-announced remake of Dirty Dancing.
In an attempt to preserve the anticipation and mystery that fans are relishing, the trailer only shows footage from the first half of the film, chronicling events leading up to but not including the Games themselves. After giving fans their first look at all of the book’s beloved characters brought to life, giving viewers who haven’t read the book vital information about the world of Panem, the trailer ends with an electrifying cliffhanger right as Katniss enters the arena.Do tell us what you thought! In the comments, our Facebook, Tumblr or Twitter!
Krista Smith: Tell me—how did you get into The Hunger Games?
Gary Ross: I read the book. My kids turned me on to it, and I went nuts. I guess, about a year ago. I literally read it and said, “I have to make the movie.”
And what’s been the best part so far?
You rarely get a tentpole that has this much emotional depth, this much character to dive into. The character of Katniss is . . . incredible. Suzanne [Collins, the author of the books,] did such an amazing job, and painted such a vivid character that I think for me and Jen. . . . It was just exciting every day. Not just from a pure filmmaking perspective, but also just in terms of the depth of the acting and exploring the character.
How did you get Jennifer to play Katniss?
I was just a fan. When you do what I do, any time you see an actor like this emerge—I think everybody’s head sort of snapped, you know? Both from Winter’s Bone and other work that she’s done, I was just always very aware of her. And then I had a meeting with her, and I was just as impressed, and then she came in and read for us and she sort of blew me away. But I wasn’t totally surprised, because I think that an actor like this comes along, you know, once a generation.
I saw her in Poker House—that crazy Lori Petty movie. My friend Selma Blair plays the mother, and so I happened to go to a screening of it and remember going, “Who is this girl?”
Exactly. You have that response with everything—even The Beaver, you go, “Oh my God.” She has so much depth, so much power—she has so much that’s in her control at such an early age.
You also have Josh Hutcherson in the part of Peeta.
He kind of reminds me of a young Jack Lemmon. There’s this incredible versatility to him; he’s wise beyond his years, he’s sort of mature beyond his years, and there’s just such a natural ease to his acting. He’s so comfortable.
You’ve been nominated for four Oscars—is there a different kind of thing when you go in and you take on this kind of—
Piece of pop culture?
Sure.
Well, it’s really just a responsibility to the material. First and foremost, my responsibility is to Suzanne and the readers to give them the same experience they had when they read the book. Or two, even if it’s not the same experience, to sort of give them the same visceral sense they had when they read the book. I’m a fan of the books, so my expectations are just as high as everyone else’s—I loved the material so much that I wanted to do it justice. So it isn’t really that strange, because you want to live up to what the potential of the book is. And I felt the same thing with Seabiscuit. That’s really the biggest expectation.
So in terms of what it is in the culture and everything, is there pressure? No more pressure than I put on myself to live up to what Suzanne has done.
Was she on set for all of it?
Yeah, she came down to the set, but we also collaborated on the last draft together. I wrote a draft, and then Suzanne and I got along incredibly well, and did another subsequent draft, the final draft together. She’s wonderful.
When do you do most of your writing?
First thing up in the morning. I fall into the chair, usually seven in the morning. I probably write from seven to noon every day, and then I’ll sort of take a break and then edit the rest of the day when I’m doing a first draft. I like to kind of get in there before I’ve had a chance to talk to too many people and have other things invade the day—when I’m freshest.
I’m reading the book now—I’m told once you start, you’re not able to stop.
Totally true. And also, [Katniss is] just such a compelling character, and her struggle and her evolution is so beautiful, and that’s what I’m saying. You see the character emerge and grow and have so much strength—she’s a very important character for kids, because she starts off purely in a fight for survival, and by the end of the story, she learns there’s so much more. There [are] things more important than merely surviving—like, what does it mean to actually live?
And Jennifer is just a great fit for it.
She has such command and control of what she’s doing, which is a raw, emotional power—it’s like looking into a blast furnace at times, and it literally can knock you back in your seat. And the rest of the cast, Stanley Tucci and Donald Sutherland and Woody Harrelson, were amazing. I was just so lucky.
Hunger Games fans! Do you live in NYC or the surrounding area? Why not represent The Hunger Games fandom during Monday's Good Morning America broadcast? Who knows, maybe you'll even catch a glimpse of Josh Hutcherson!
If you wanna join in on the fun head over to 44th and Broadway early Monday morning. The earlier the better, but no later than 7 am. In fact, here's what we found:
There is no audience for this show, however, Good Morning America does take ticket reservations if you would like to appear on the street outside of the studio. Many people to come by the studio and stand outside in the background, hoping to been seen by the cameras. If you'd like to do that, go ahead and bring signs and your energy. Please Note: Signs cannot contain Web Adresses or endorse businesses of any kind. No bags larger than a basic purse. No gift cards for the hosts. Must have a Photo ID.
The show tapes Live Monday-Friday, from 7am-9am.
The studio is located at Times Square at 44th Street and Broadway, NY, NY
You can make studio reservations by going to the following website:
Good Morning America Ticket Reservations
You can also call the GMA Information line at: 212-580-5176 for questions.
Make sure to tell us your GMA experience!
Lionsgate co-COO Joe Drake on Thursday told entertainment analysts during a morning call that a distribution deal for the major Asian market was in place.
Asked if The Hunger Games will number among the 20 foreign films okayed each year by Chinese authorities for cinematic viewing, Drake answered coyly: “We will be released in China.”
At the same time, the indie studio's first movie in the trilogy of adaptations from Suzanne Collins' novels, set for theatrical release on March 23, 2012, will not screen in Imax theaters. Drake said other large format theaters owned and operated by major exhibition chains will screen The Hunger Games, but Imax will not follow suit due to a pre-existing agreement with a rival studio.
With much hinging on how The Hunger Games performs in theaters, Lionsgate is also eyeing an aggressive merchandising program to emerge alongside a lucrative movie franchise from the teen book trilogy. Vancouver-based Lionsgate has lined up Striker Entertainment, the same licensing and merchandising agency that handles the Twilight franchise for Summit Entertainment.
“We have the same A-team on board. With their guidance, we will be strong in specialty stores, be very present, but not over-push merchandise going into the theatrical release,” Drake told analysts. The strategy is to first establish the theatrical movie brand before advancing aggressively into big box retailers with The Hunger Games merchandise.
Me (Courtney) and MARIO! |
Steampunk Fashion Panel |
The League of S.T.E.A.M. members (married couple Nick and Robin) showing off the shoes he made her to match his |
We handed these out! |
Tiffany's haul. |
Tiff's Hunger Games bracelet! |
In addition to this sweet Unicorn horn, I scored original Star Wars concept prints and Triforce earrings! |
The Hunger Games movie is going to be a hair spectacular! “This was one of the most complex, detailed movies I’ve ever worked on,” hair department head Linda Flowers told InStyle.com. “People are going to be blown away by how beautiful and breathtaking it is.” We’ll take her word for it—especially in light of the following stats:
3,000: People who were processed through the hair and makeup tents each week. “Extras couldn’t just have their normal hair. Everyone had to be in the style of the time,” said Flowers.
500: Cast members and extras who had their eyebrows bleached, including Elizabeth Banks, who plays Effie Trinket.
400: Cast members and extras wearing wigs in a single day of filming. “We went with odd permutations of colors like dusty rose and chartreuse,” Flowers said. “The challenge was to make them look couture and sophisticated.”
45: Hairdressers working in a single day.
20: Minutes spent creating Katniss Everdeen’s signature braid for Jennifer Lawrence.
3: Colored wigs worn by Elizabeth Banks: One pink, one green, and one lavender.
1: Wig worn by Stanley Tucci, who plays Caesar Flickerman. “It’s a dark navy blue wig in a Karl Lagerfeld-style ponytail,” she says.
The Hunger Games premieres March 23, 2012—only 136 days away! Excited yet?
Raaaaaaaage. |