New Peeta Portrait and Interview with Tim Palen

A cool interview with Tim Palen, CMO of Lionsgate, about the marketing for Catching Fire is being passed around the internet today featuring a new portrait of Peeta. It's a really interesting read for those interested in marketing, and it's also cool to see how Tim Palen seeks out genuine fan reaction when looking for feedback on what they put out for The Hunger Games.

JM: HOW CHALLENGING WAS IT TO APPEAL TO A WIDE AUDIENCE IN A MOVIE LIKE THE HUNGER GAMES?  

There were a lot of challenges in marketing a beloved book especially knowing that it was the first of four films in a series. The best decision we made was to take our queues from the book – and we consider the words of Suzanne Collins to be our bible in marketing the film. The Hunger Games is a story about a reluctant hero who is forced into a world of violence and how institutionalized violence (i.e. war) changes everyone. One of the biggest challenges fundamentally was how to handle the notion of kids killing kids. The books do not glorify violence and Katniss is not a killer. Sensationalizing that aspect of the story would be contrary to the core message of the books and we believed that it would be alienating to a huge part of the audience that love the books and that would love the movie.  

JM: WHAT WAS THE FIRST CAMPAIGN YOU SHOT? CAN YOU TALK ABOUT A RECENT SHOOT AND HOW YOUR PROCESS WORKS?  

Most recently I shot the campaign for HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE. Because I also shot the campaign for the first HUNGER GAMES I have gotten to know the talent and there’s a certain level of trust and
familiarity that has added a level of magic to the campaigns.
As a general rule, a photographer has a short window of time to connect with an actor and make them feel comfortable and safe and taken care of – most times it’s a matter of hours from the time they show up at the studio for
hair/makeup before you have to dive right in. I think that’sone of the advantages of my job – I get to connect withthe people I’m working with on a more intimate level thanmost marketing executives. It’s something I’m grateful for and something I never take for granted.  

JM: WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC QUALIFIERS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WITH YOUR NEXT MARKETING CAMPAIGN…YOU JUST RELEASED THE FIRST TEASER FOR CATCHING FIRE(WHICH GOT OVER 28M VIEWS IN A LITTLE OVER A WEEK) BUT I’M SURE THERE WERE MANY CHALLENGES.

The launch of the teaser trailer for CATCHING FIRE was a hugely pivotal moment in the ongoing HUNGER GAMES campaign. Because we have a franchise across four films, each piece is just part of the larger puzzle, and this step was even more crucial because we had such great success on the first film. At the same time we have a new director (Francis Lawrence), a new editor,a new cinematographer and a new costume designer.
So I really needed this first glimpse of the second film to work hard to reassure the fan base that the characters they know and love are back and that the integrity we showed with the first movie is still intact. But almost equally important for me was to show that the stakes are higher, the drama will be greater and that CATCHING FIRE will be taking the story of our reluctant hero Katniss Everdeen to a whole other level. I’m grateful that Francis Lawrence has delivered a gigantic movie that has so many rich and amazing pieces for me to play with. He’s really made my job a fun and easy one.
Probably the most satisfying thing I saw after the release of the teaser was a fan comment on one of the blogs that posted the trailer. I tend to be overly obsessive about reading and monitoring real fan reaction to the materials. This one comment did the most to reassure me that we had hit the mark with the new teaser trailer: “Shit’s getting real.” It doesn’t get better than that.

Source: Scribd via Panem Propaganda and  HG Girl on Fire

Comic-Con Catching Fire Interview ROUNDUP!

Soooo, Comic-Con was amazing. Aside from our experience and possible giveaways (which we will announce soon), TONS of interviews have come out over the past week from the press line. It's almost overwhelming the number of interviews that are out there so we did our best to put them all together.

Click the link below to see all of the videos, but first, please enjoy this video from EXTRA in which Jennifer Lawrence freaks out over Jeff Bridges. We can't blame her because we had the same reaction when witnessing The Seventh Son panel.

"Who was your favorite character? Does it rhyme with 'The Shmooze'?"

Exactly our thoughts, Jen.

Tons of interviews under the cut!

New Finnick Still! Sugar Cube?

Download this still in HD!

New Finnick still has been released! Thoughts? We are so glad that they released this still since we only got a glimpse of him in the new trailer.

The Catching Fire Trailer!

Here we go! Thoughts on the new trailer? We were there in Hall H at Comic Con to see it in all it's glory as well as the panel with the cast. It was fantastic and we have oodles of pictures which we will be posting in the next few days.

Check out the trailer at Yahoo!Movies




The excitement for Catching Fire is building!

Yahoo! Movies

Comic-Con 2013: Thursday/Friday Report

Check out the Lionsgate/Summit Booth on the floor!

Hunger Games Explorer Screens all over the booth!

That's right! There's a signing on SATURDAY at 3pm with Jeffrey Wright, Jena Malone, and Willow Shields! You must be on the floor RIGHT when doors open to snag your wristbands for the 3pm signing. 

Also you will need to be there when the floor opens to get new Victor Poster freebies. But what about those Mockingjay pins? We're not sure when they give those out (it's sometime in the morning) and when they do the booth has been so crowded, they've shut it down several times. At least that's what happened on Thursday. Perhaps that won't be the case Saturday and Sunday. You know what they say, may the odds be ever in your favor!

But don't also forget that The Hunger Games panel will be at 1:35 in Hall H on Saturday!

Be sure to try their Gif booth!

VISIT THE SMART POP BOOKS BOOTH!

Tiff poses with Heather at the Smart Pop Books booth!
Get your FREE DISTRICT PINS!

PRIZE WHEEL!

We also attended a special meet & greet Thursday with Bruno Gunn, Stephanie Schlund, and Meta Golding!

YOU might be able to win one of these! 

Who's a BRO?! It's Bruno Gunn!

CAESAR FLICKERMAN!!
Check him out!

We will be giving one of these away too...

Oh, and we found some cool Hunger Games Auction trading cards!! 

Quarter Quell posters IN HD!

Yesterday, The Capitol unveiled new Quarter Quell posters! With Comic Con imminent and the very first victor looks unveiled, Hunger Games fans are getting SUPER STOKED for Catching Fire. Please enjoy these awesome posters in HD!!

Click the posters to see the big version!

  

  

  

  

 

The Capitol Demands You #CelebrateYourVictors with Character Posters!

The Victory Tour has ended with a bang! The "Capitol Affiliates" have rolled out new Catching Fire Character posters!!

Yahoo! - Katniss & Peeta

MSN Entertainment - Johanna

Empire - Finnick & Mags

MTV - Wiress & Beetee

Moviefone - Enobaria & Brutus

LA Times - Cashmere & Gloss

What a cool rollout! What do you think of these new posters? If I may say, it's so cool to see Enobaria with razor sharp teeth, we weren't sure if that detail was to be included in the films!

Yahoo! Movies Announces Hunger Games SDCC Panel Details!!

Comic-Con update!! Yahoo! Movies has released not only this cool new Catching Fire still, but also details of who will be at the Hunger Games panel at Comic-Con this week. We are especially excited about this since we will be attending, and cannot wait to bring you all the news straight from the convention!
Here's what Yahoo! Movies had to say:

Immediately after the 1:35 p.m. PT debut of the new full-length trailer in Hall H, you'll be able to log onto movies.yahoo.com and watch in to your heart's content. 

[Related: Comic-Con 2013: ‘The World’s End,’ ‘Kick-Ass 2,’ ‘The Hunger Games’ and Marvel Phase Two Invade San Diego] 

So who will be sitting at that big, long table at the San Diego Convention Center introducing said trailer? Katniss herself, Jennifer Lawrence, of course! The Oscar winner will be joined by Josh Hutcherson,Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Willow Shields, and director Francis Lawrence.
In other words, set your alarms, bookmark your hub pages, and get ready for a big week of "Catching Fire" news and other goodness.

Edit: Jena Malone has been added!!

Read the whole article at Yahoo! Movies 

Welcome To District 12's Fan Guide to Comic-Con 2013

New Catching Fire still in Comic-Con Preview issue of EW

Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, we've got a new Catching Fire still!

It's not much of a stretch for us to assume that these are the tribute interviews. While Caesar Flickerman and Katniss in her gorgeous wedding dress are the main focus in the picture, our eyes are on the victor-tributes behind them. We're especially checking out those sky-high platform heels on Cashmere (we hope there were no twisted ankles, yikes!).

There's a small blurb in this week's issue (the Comic-Con preview issue) so check it out!

New "Catching Fire" Mockingjay Pin

Two years ago, Lionsgate was handing out Mockingjay pins at San Diego Comic-Con, and of course, this year they'll be doing the same. But hold up! There's a new design based on the Catching Fire version of the Mockingjay pin.

As you all know, your Welcome to District 12 staff will be heading to SDCC this year so you bet we're going to be heading to the Lionsgate booth for these. Make sure to show up early as they are more than likely to run out again.

Source: ComingSoon.net

Campaigning for Coin: Helen Mirren

By the talented Nikola-Nickart!

It's the FINAL edition of "Campaigning for Coin"! We'll be looking at Alma Coin hopefuls for the last time, and today we look at someone who has been mentioned time and time again over all the fansites -- Helen Mirren! 

*SPOILER ALERT!*


Welcome to District 12

Courtney/Tiffany: Helen Mirren is the first actress that immediately came to our mind when first reading about Coin in Mockingjay. Her look fits very well with Coin's description, and she's always been our number one pick. Some people say she's too old, but we think that's not a good enough reason to cut Helen Mirren out of the mix. First of all, casting for The Hunger Games has historically gone older than the book description (Lenny Kravitz, Donald Sutherland, etc.). Second, age in real life and age on the screen are not the same thing. We would prefer an older actress for Coin than a younger one. Nothing scares us more than a stern older lady with a too perfect haircut. We would also like to point out that many think Glenn Close is a great option for Coin. Guess what, friends?! She's only TWO YEARS younger than Helen Mirren. Regarding age, if Glenn Close could be the next Coin, why not Mirren? Lastly, since casting has been older for the actors and actresses, we think that since they went so old with Snow, they'll want a somewhat similar age range for Coin as the counterpart.

Now that we've gotten the age issue out of the way, Helen Mirren would be a spectacular choice on acting skills alone. She's played a ton of women in power, and has a very commanding presence. I bet she's got a whole closet devoted to all her acting awards, which goes with the casting trend of the adult actors. She would be a great match for Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss, something we are dying to see. It's no wonder she's a fan favorite for President Coin.

HG Fireside Chat

Adam: Is Helen Mirren too old? That's been the general complaint against one of England's greatest dames, and it's a valid one. But then -- Mirren has fought off aging with nearly as much proficiency as Katniss against the Careers. Mirren is also an extraordinary acting talent, and she has a proven track record of delivering a variety of complex characters with benevolent and sinister intentions. I'll admit, I have been a banner-waver for Mirren's consideration, and I think, though there are other extremely talented and capable actresses, none could match the aura and majesty of this Academy Award winner. (And if you're really concerned about age, you know these makeup people can shave off 20 years, right?)

Panem Propaganda

Molly: Helen Mirren has been bandied about all over this fandom as a top pick for President Coin. I didn’t have her in my mind as I was reading Mockingjay, and I have to admit that Jodie Foster is my One True Love for Coin. But ever since I saw the amazing “Mirren as Coin” edit by Nikola-Nikart on tumblr, I can’t get her out of my mind for the role. I think some roles would be genius with a newcomer (ahem, Annie). But this one, well, this one needs impact. We need someone in this role that can make us believe she could, with military precision, control a district for many years, underground, in secret while shepherding them through an epidemic
and masterminding a rebellion, and then intimidate the crap out of Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson, and most importantly, Jennifer Lawrence. She’s too old, you say? Please. Jennifer Lawrence is supposed to be 17 years old in Mockingjay. I think we can all suspend disbelief long enough to put Helen Mirren in there as a 50-something. Have you seen the woman in a bikini? (No, seriously, the red bikini. Go Helen!!) And the woman can freaking ACT. She would be the perfect foil for Donald Sutherland as President Snow. Helen Mirren? Yes, please!!

The Hob

Amanda: I'm pretty sure Helen Mirren is one of those actresses who needs no introduction. Everyone knows who she is, what she looks like, and that she's been nominated for more acting awards than seems humanly possible....even if you've somehow never seen one of her movies. Which is basically the boat I'm in. Almost embarrassingly, I think the only movie I've ever seen Helen in is Red. But you know what, I'd still be more than happy to have her as Coin! I don't think anyone can argue against her acting ability and amazing reputation among her peers. She's older than I pictured Coin, but I could get over that in a matter of minutes because I'm pretty sure she could masterfully pull off Coin's cool, calm, determined, authoritative demeanor. I certainly wouldn't be the casting director to tell her "no" if she wanted the role!

Victor's Village

Kait: Helen Mirren is an extraordinary talent. There's no doubt about it! But there's one thing that she's not... and that's Alma Coin. Despite her talent, Mirren is significantly older than the middle-aged character described in the books at age 68. There are plenty of incidents in which we can put character vs. actor age aside, but this just isn't one of them. She's really great at playing hard-edged authority figures, so she gets suggested for all the roles of this nature and after a while, it feels like typecasting. And while she has a voice that commands authority, she has the type of on-screen presence that would likely make the audience guess that Coin's intentions aren't purely helpful and ruin the fun of the ambigious character arc. We're not dissing the Dame! We love her! Just not for this role.

The Hunger Games Fan Guide to Comic-Con 2013

COMIC-CON IS UPON US!

Are you ready for the insanity?! Have no fear, we are here to give you a Hunger Games guide to Comic-Con! Last year, Lionsgate had a booth debuting the motion poster and gave out Mockingjay pins, and that was it. This year, Lionsgate has come fully prepared with a panel and hopefully some autograph opportunities. Lionsgate has yet to announce their plans for their booth, swag, or signings so we'll definitely let you know when that information comes out. Now that The Hunger Games name has had time to gather a huge following, there's more for fans to enjoy than just what Lionsgate has to offer. Here's the lowdown on THG happenings followed by advice for attendees by the Welcome to District 12 team!

BOOTHS

Lionsgate - no information yet on the booth number or details! Check back soon!

Smart Pop Books -

• Smart Pop will be giving away Panem Companion district buttons—one each day (Capitol through District 4)—so readers can represent their district of choice

•  Their prize wheel includes a chance to win all 5 of this year’s buttons in a collectible bag.
• Booth visitors can enter to win all five of movie tie-in titles, including copies of The Girl Who Was on Fire – Movie Edition and The Panem Companion. To enter,  just ask to scan your badge!
•  Two Hunger Games-related pieces will be featured in their free 144-page preview volume (available both at the booth and the freebie table while supplies last): an excerpt from V. Arrow’s The Panem Companion, along with some behind-the-scenes details about putting together the e-book only extra movie content for The Girl Who Was on Fire – Movie Edition

Lastly, check our panel section below as V. Arrow will be a panelist in “Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World”.

For more information about Smart Pop at Comic-Con, check their website!

PANELS

Thursday - July 18th

4:00pm - 5:00pm Room 5AB
The Digital Bits - Bluray Producers

Bill Hunt, Adam Jahnke, and Todd Doogan of The Digital Bits.com host a panel discussion and Q&A with leading independent and indie studio producers of Blu-ray extras. Panelists include Brian Ward(Shout!/Scream Factory), Charles de Lauzirika (Pain and Gain,Prometheus, The Amazing Spider-Man), Robert Meyer Burnett (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Enterprise), Cliff Stephenson(Escape Plan, The Vatican Tapes, The Hunger Games), Eric D. Wilkinson(of Kino Lorber), Warner Archive, and others.

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Friday July 19th

2:00pm - 3:00pm Room 29A

Why Fanfiction is Taking Over the World

Fanfiction has recently moved into the spotlight, with fic authors getting impressive book deals and Amazon announcing Kindle Worlds. But there's a lot more to the story than Fifty Shades of Grey. Panelists Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Christina Lauren (tby789 and LolaShoes, Beautiful Bastard), Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires, Weather Wardens), V. Arrow (aimmyarrowshigh, The Panem Companion), and Heidi Tandy (heidi8, Organization for Transformative Works) discuss how fan writing-from missing scenes to remixes and crossovers-and other fanworks re-imagine the boundaries of everything from sexuality and gender to character and authorship. They'll discuss the way fan culture is challenging today's entertainment and publishing industry norms, and consider the value a noncommercial creative space can bring to emerging and even professional writers and artists. Moderated by Anne Jamison (Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World).

5:30pm - 6:30pm Room 24ABC

Welcome to the New Age

Top costume illustrators from the Costume Designers Guild IATSE Local 892 talk about their latest projects and the changing world of illustration in the digital and 3D age, followed by a Q&A. Featured panelists are Keith Christensen (Man of Steel, Star Wars 7, Tomorrowland), Phillip Boutte Jr. (Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Man of Steel), Constantine Sekeris (Star Trek, G.I. Joe: Retaliation), Alan Villanueva (Oz, the Great & Powerful, Enders Game, Defiance), and Christian Cordella (Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier, Oblivion, 300: Rise of an Empire). Moderated by author Peter Clines (Ex-Heros, Ex-Patriots).

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Saturday July 20th

11:00am - 12:00pm Room 23ABC

When Grrls Fall in Love

From The Hunger Games' Katniss to Divergent's Tris, no one knows how to give a solid ass-kicking like a YA novel heroine. But when these young ladies aren't saving the world, overthrowing powerful regimes, or slaying everything from zombies to dragons, they still find time for romance. Cassandra Clare (The Mortal Instruments), Ally Condie(Matched), Veronica Roth (Divergent), Holly Black (The Coldest Girl in Coldtown), Marissa Meyer (Scarlet), Lissa Price (Starters), and Veronica Wolff (The Watchers) discuss the delicate balance between killing and kissing, and what it takes to properly woo a YA heroine. Moderated by Sherri Smith (Orleans).

1:35pm - 2:35pm Hall H

Lionsgate - Featuring I, Frankenstein and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart and Yvonne Strahovski appear with film director/writer Stuart Beattie and graphic novel author/writerKevin Grevioux. Plus, the cast of the highly anticipated second installment of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire comes to Hall H for the first time. Panel moderated by Fandango chief correspondent Dave Karger. Never-before-seen footage is showcased from both films. Includes Q&A opportunity.

Guests: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, *Jena Malone*, Willow Shields, and director Francis Lawrence.

4:30pm - 5:30pm Room 24ABC

Poppin' Some Tags

Celebrity costume designers from Costume Designers Guild IATSE Local 892 dish the dirt on designing and bringing to fruition the costumes for today's hottest blockbusters. Featured panelists are Trish Summerville (Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), Gary Jones (Oz, the Great and Powerful), Christine Bieslin-Clark (TRON, Watchmen, 300), Isis Mussenden (Wolverine, Chronicles of Narnia), and Mayes Rubeo (WWZ, Avatar). Moderated by actor Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Sons of Anarchy).

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Autographs

No word yet on autograph schedule....

Comic-Con Wisdom from the Ladies

Luckily, all of us here at Welcome to District 12 will be attending this years' Comic-Con. This includes Courtney and Tiffany as well our events correspondent Denise! To close out our Comic-Con guide, we each have some advice to offer to Hunger Games fans who will be attending!

Tiffany

Q:What advice do you have for THG fans attending, who perhaps, have never gone before?

A: I've never gone before too! Though I've been in San Diego during SDCC so I am familiar with what the atmosphere is like. Be prepared to be around a lot of people, and don't get too stuck in your plans because they will change. Most of all, have fun!

Q: What are you looking forward to (THG related)?

A: I'm most looking forward to the trailer debut (we predicted this a while back!). I'm also hoping/predicting they may announce Coin's casting since it would be a prime time for Lionsgate since all eyes (fans and entertainment media) will be on them for the panel.

Q: What are you most looking forward to (non-THG related)?

A: Doctor Who! It's the 50th anniversary this year so I'm hoping they do something really special.

Denise

Q:What advice do you have for THG fans attending, who perhaps, have never gone before?

A: First of all, get your badge on Wednesday at the Town and Country Hotel if you have 4 Day Passes without Preview Night, because the lines for the passes the same day are LONG!

Catch up on as much sleep as you can, when you can. You are going to be insanely sleep deprived the entire weekend. This also helps if you want to go to any panels, especially ones in Hall H, where Catching Fire is going to be, you will have to camp out if you even want to get INTO the hall in time.
     

If you are going to panels, make sure to go to comiccon2013.sched.org to create your own schedule. You will be able to see every panel and pick and choose which ones catch your interests. Tip for this: try and pick the room that has the most panels you like because the lines to get into panel rooms are very long and you won't be able to panel hop.
     

Also, be prepared to not get into panels or an autograph session for both scheduling and availability reasons. Comic Con is jam packed with fans who love the same movies/shows/books/comics that you do and they only have so many spaces available.

The food at the convention center is very expensive! Bring snacks and water! There will also be food trucks at Petco Park across the street from the Convention Center should you have time to get away for some grub.

Q: What are you looking forward to (THG related)?

A: I am extremely excited to see the cast (whoever might be there!) interacting with each other and the fans. I hope we will find out who Coin is! *fingers crossed for Helen Mirren*

Q: What are you most looking forward to (non-THG related)?

A: South Park: The Stick of Truth is a HUGE draw for me for two reasons: Matt Stone and Trey Parker. I ADORE these men and they are heroes of mine.

Also, Game of Thrones panel! After the insanity that was the Red Wedding, I can't wait to hear about what's coming up next season! Also to see the Mother of Dragons in person will make my year.

Courtney

Q:What advice do you have for THG fans attending, who perhaps, have never gone before?

A: Denise covered some GREAT tips, and I completely back them up. Denise and I used to go to the con a few years running before it became the behemoth that is now, and aside from being a crazy-awesome nerd party, it is THE BIGGEST gathering of human beings you will probably ever see. Throw away your need for personal space because that will be a rare occurrence. 

The convention room floor is HUUUGE! Toward the middle are the big studio booths, so thats where the most traffic is. If there is an autograph session going on, GET OUT OF THERE! Everyone stops to see the stars, and its just like the pit at a rock show without the crowd surfing. If you do plan on getting autographs at a big studio booth, get there CRAZY early. They only autograph for a limited time, so better to be safe than sorry.

The WB booth has GREAT bags to give away in the morning, so if you manage to hit the floor when it opens go straight there. These bags are as big as I am, you can use them the whole convention, and you can fit all the swag you get in there. 

Also, give the smaller booths some love! They have merchandise, activities, raffles, swag, or great fandom opportunites. Don't forget to visit comic booths too! It's important to support comic retailers, the very reason Comic-Con exists!

Play nice! We're all there for the same reason, there's no need to push or shove. Also, treat the cosplayers with respect. They spent a lot of time and money on their outfits, and nothing says they HAVE to take a picture with you (though they probably will). They have a schedule to adhere to just like you do!

Q: What are you looking forward to (THG related)?

A: Aside from the trailer debut (I hope not too spoilery), I am excited for the panel itself. I can't wait to see what talent will be there, and see the Q&A. It's always insightful and sometimes hilarious to see the interaction between the actors and the fans. Hope you all submitted great questions!

Q: What are you most looking forward to (non-THG related)?

Anything Stick of Truth related!! Trey Parker and Matt Stone are my heroes, and I would do just about anything to meet them. Aside from that, I might just pee my pants at the Game of Thrones panel. TOO MUCH AWESOME!

SEE YOU THERE!

Stay tuned as we will be updating this post with more THG related information as we get it. Keep an eye out for us too on the floor. We will be wearing black tank tops with our website name, so if you see us say hello and introduce yourself!!

As for those fans who are unable to make it, we will be live blogging as much as we possibly can!
We will be sticking to Twitter and Instagram for the most part:

Our Twitter
Our Instagram
Tiffany on Twitter
Denise on Twitter

New Catching Fire still from EW!

Check out this new still that's in the upcoming Comic-Con issue of Entertainment Weekly! We hope Lionsgate will officially unveil this still soon so we can see all the glorious detail!

Source: @epnebelle via DWTC

Campaigning for Coin: Helen Hunt

It's another edition of "Campaigning for Coin"! We're looking at Alma Coin hopefuls, and today we look at Helen Hunt. As you read these posts, please comment on who your fan cast for Coin is! 

*SPOILER ALERT!*


Welcome to District 12

Courtney/Tiffany: Helen Hunt is a great choice for Lionsgate and fits the criteria for what they've been looking for in casting Coin hopefuls. She's a seasoned Oscar-winning actress who has played strong women, not so strong women, and isn't type cast in evil-ly roles. As Coin, you might not assume whether she is good or evil. Lastly, Helen Hunt and Philip Seymour Hoffman have a history in being in the best movie ever (TWISTER!!) so there's that too.

Down With The Capitol

Flo: The first thing I think about when I think about Helen Hunt is Twister. And I can't quite explain why that sold me on her for playing Coin, but it did. In talking with a friend, we came up with the realization that Helen Hunt usually plays characters who are strong...but also broken. There is a depth and complexity to how she plays her roles -- you can always tell that something more is brewing underneath. I think this quality is perfect for Coin. Hunt would nail it at the beginning, where we can see a strong woman who has built something big from nothing in 13....but at the same time, I think she could pull it off where she'd give you the feeling -- just the feeling -- that something is not quite as it seems with her. Then at the end of Mockingjay, when Katniss -- and we -- recognize what it is that is really motivating her: as the drama gets more intense and the stakes get higher she will slowly start showing the underneath. I think she would do it well.

HG Girl on Fire

Sheila: Jessica Tuck is one of my favorite fan casting choices to play President Coin. Best known to me as Nan Flanagan (the Vampire Spokesperson) in HBO's True Blood series, Jessica is easily able to play someone in a position of authority with a great deal of political power, while having an agenda behind her agenda. On screen she easily plays the part of the well spoken politician, but behind the scenes switches her persona to be one of the most ruthless vampires they have on the show. Jessica's character does what she does to get the job done and doesn't apologize for it. She believes in her power and her right to wield it. In my opinion, if Jessica's ability to play this type of character doesn't scream President Coin, I'm not sure what does.

Mockingjay.net

Crystal: I admit, the news about Julianne Moore possibly being Coin depressed me. Jessica Tuck has been the Coin in my head for at least a couple of years now. If you're not sure who she is by name, she plays Nan Flanagan on True Blood and boy is she awesome at being curt, cold, and to-the-point. No matter who is cast for the part, if it's not Jessica Tuck, I'll probably keep seeing her as Coin. I'll probably even pretend it's her while watching the movies, that's how badly I want her to be Coin!

HG Girl on Fire

Colleen: I have a hard time picturing Helen Hunt as Alma Coin. I still picture her as the mother to AnnaSophia Robb’s Bethany Hamilton in Soul Surfer, trying to be strong & take care of her family through a crisis. Or as football-loving Tami Maida in Quarterback Princess, who just wants the opportunity to play football like one of the guys. The characters Helen Hunt portrays are strong, but not cruel or manipulative. She just seems too kind and honest to be the calculating Alma Coin. She doesn’t have the dictatorial attitude of Alma Coin, nor does she seem believable as someone who would do anything & everything to achieve her goals.

Mockingjay.net

Tiffany: When it comes to Helen Hunt I have mixed feeling about her acting abilities. I REALLY liked her in "The Sessions", "As Good As It Gets" and "Pay It Forward". "Twister" was a fun movie but nothing to really show off her acting abilties.I have yet to see her in something that could prove to me that she would make a great "Coin". A performance so different that it would stand out from the rest to prove to me that she could play a role as challenging as "Coin". I feel like it would take a stronger actress to play "Coin", not just in acting ability but in the way she holds herself as a person. I actually think that Helen Hunt has too kind of a face. I know she is a good age for this role but she just doesn't look it. Nor do I think she could act it at this point in her career.

My Hunger Games

Jacqui: What comes to mind when you think of Helen Hunt? For me, the girl next door, or the nice woman. I don't see her as Alma Coin, mostly because I don't see a huge range in what she has done so far. In fact, it's hard for me to see her as much more than Paul Reiser's wife (Jamie Buchman) in "Mad About You". She has played some touching roles in movies such as Pay it Forward and Cast Away and she's had some great reviews for her latest movie, The Sessions. I have to admit though that I kind of shrug as I just can't get past thinking that she's just too damn sweet. She's OK, even pretty good, but for me, just not great.

Panem Propaganda

Molly: Helen Hunt has been out of the limelight for a while. Working as an actress since she was a child, she became well known for her award winning role as Jamie in the 90’s sitcom Mad About You, then went on to movie stardom in films such as As Good As It Gets, Pay It Forward, and Cast Away. She came back with a vengeance last year after being nominated for an Academy Award for her turn as sex surrogate Cheryl in The Sessions. (Also memorable to this fandom because it we’ll forever think of it as “Jennifer’s Academy Awards.”) So for me, it would be perfect timing for Helen Hunt to play Alma Coin. She has the look that could edge easily into icy severity, and she definitely has the acting chops: she’s one of only 2 women in history to have won an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Golden Globe in one year. But that’s me. Arowana says: I hate this idea with the fire of a thousand suns because Helen Hunt is the downtrodden woman forced to make out with Hollywood's creeps (Jack Nicholson, Mel Gibson). She's a Princess! Not a Prim Murderer! Now if at any point they decide to do a Jack Nicholson Campaign For Coin, I have a lot of opinions on that too! I'm just saying he would be better for the role than Helen Hunt. Apart from that I'm totally with Molly in every way.

The Hob

Lee: Helen Hunt is definitely a versatile actress. Though most, if not all, of her roles have been portraying vulnerable women, they've also been infused with highly intelligent and focused characters. She might be able to physically embody Coin - with white blonde hair and sharp blue eyes, I can see where she would look like a good candidate for the role. However, I just don't see her in the role of President Coin. Ms. Hunt's characters historically have been so full of an internal, emotional life, I just don't imagine her as Coin - her innate humanity is in every line, which is completely counter to what a memorable President Coin performance should be.

Victor's Village

Rebekah: When I think of Helen Hunt in the role of Alma Coin I get happy flutters in my stomach. To start things off you should all know I've been a Helen Hunt fan since the '80s, when she graced us with her presence in Girls Just Want To Have Fun, and forever made us wonder just how to do such wonderful things with our hair. Seriously, check out Helen's hair in that film, it's epic. However, to everyone else Helen's claim to fame is likely Mad About You, the sit-com she starred in for nine years, and won four Golden Globe for. If you were born in the '90s though, Mad About You probably never crossed your path, which makes me sad in my soul, because it was a very well done show, it had amazing guest stars like Carol Burnett, and probably one of the best sibling dynamic relationships depicted in its 28 minute format. Anyway, Mad About You was an awesome show, and it was awesome in part because of Helen's talent. Since Mad About You went off the air in 1999, Helen's made a name for her self by doing a butt load of drama, and surprise surprise-- she's won, and has been nominated for her dramatic work numerous times. Truth be told, Helen Hunt is kind of an ideal candidate for Coin to me, and mostly due in part to her incredibly diverse dossier. Like Julianne Moore who was featured some weeks ago, Helen hasn't played the same type of character twice outside of her regular gig on Mad About You. So, push comes to shove, out of the collection of women who have been covered in this series, I say Helen Hunt is one of the best names to come out of the woodwork, and I'd love to see her rise to the challenge of going head to head with Jennifer Lawrence.