The Hunger Games & Catching Fire Fan Ambassador Contest Continues! Now On Instagram

Your next opportunity to show your love for Catching Fire has just opened on Instagram. Photograph giving friends a copy of The Hunger Games, Catching Fire or Mockingjay books and tag it with the hashtag #readcatchingfire. You must ALSO tag an instagram friend with the challenge to read the book or participate in the sweepstakes and follow @scholastic on Instagram. 

You could win a hardcover edition of ‎CATCHING FIRE with an autographed bookplate from Suzanne Collins and a $50 gift card. Get all the details here: http://bit.ly/readcatchingfire. No purchase necessary, must be 13 years old to enter. Contest runs now through July 22, 2013. 

Lionsgate & Subway Team Up For 'Catching Fire'

Lionsgate announced today that they're teaming up with Subway as the exclusive restaurant promotional destination for Catching Fire and that the promotional tie-in will support Feeding America, a non-profit organization of nationwide food banks. 

The promo will include a special product line along with movie tie-in packaging and social media contests. There will be in store character standees, and fans are encouraged to photograph and share on social media for more opportunities to win prizes. 

The official press release:

MILFORD, Conn. and SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- SUBWAY(R) restaurants, the world's largest restaurant chain, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading global entertainment company, today announced that SUBWAY(R) will be the exclusive restaurant promotional destination for the film "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," the highly anticipated second installment of the global blockbuster "The Hunger Games" film franchise. "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" will open in theaters worldwide on November 22. SUBWAY(R) and Lionsgate will utilize their promotion to support Feeding America, a non-profit organization consisting of more than 200 food banks nationwide.

SUBWAY(R) restaurants in the U.S. and Canada will be fired up in anticipation of the film's release, with a number of promotional assets planned for in-store, social, online, and broadcast. A special product line will be featured with thematic ties to the film, along with specially marked packaging with codes encouraging customers to engage online for their chance to win prizes. SUBWAY(R) customers can also pose with their favorite character's standees in the restaurants and are invited to share photos on social media for additional chances to win.

"There's nothing hotter than 'The Hunger Games' franchise," said Michelle Cordial, Director of Marketing Development for SUBWAY(R) restaurants. "Being able to deliver exclusive 'Catching Fire' experiences to our Subway fans is something that Hunger Games enthusiasts can't find anywhere else."

"With SUBWAY joining as a promotional partner for 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire,' Lionsgate has found new ways to reach a larger audience of fans of the film franchise," said Paula Kupfer, Vice President of Promotions and Consumer Products for Lionsgate. "Beyond providing fans with unique film experiences, what makes this promotion truly special to the studio is our ability to work with SUBWAY to support Feeding America and help provide to those in need."

'Catching Fire' Costume Designer Trish Summerville & Costume Illustrator Phillip Boutte at Comic Con

Catching Fire costume designer Trish Summerville

Want more Catching Fire at this year's Comic Con? Well, you're in luck. Catching Fire costume designer Trish Summerville will be there on Saturday, July 20th at 4:40pm in Room 24ABC. Summerville is part of a panel called "Poppin' Some Tags" where she'll discus bringing Catching Fire's costumes to life. 

From Comic Con:

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).

Saturday July 20, 2013 4:30pm - 5:30pm 
Room 24ABC

Also appearing at Comic Con on is Phillip Boutte, the costume illustrator who did the concept designs for Catching Fire we told you about HERE. Phillip is part of a panel called "Welcome To The New Age" discussing the changing world of illustration in the digital 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 authorPeter Clines (Ex-Heros, Ex-Patriots).

Friday July 19, 2013 5:30pm - 6:30pm 
Room 24ABC

Thanks to HungerGamesTrilogy.net for the tip!

DETAILS: 'Catching Fire' At Comic Con

Comic Con has published their schedule and Lionsgate's Catching Fire and I, Frankenstein panel is set for Saturday, July 20th from 1:35-2:35pm in Hall H. 

I, Frankenstein stars Aaron Eckhart and Yvonne Strahovski appear with film director/writerStuart Beattie and graphic novel author/writer Kevin 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.

Saturday July 20, 2013 1:35pm - 2:35pm 
Hall H

No word yet on which cast members will attend the panel. 

Pictures From Amandla Stenberg's Hunger Games Screening For the Ubuntu Fund

We told you HERE all about Amandla Stenberg's Hunger Games Screening For a Cause raffle benefiting the Ubuntu Fund. Christina Dover (the lucky winner) and her friend joined Amandla, Jack Quaid, and Ian Nelson to watch The Hunger Games last Saturday night. Amandla shared these photos on her blog.

On Saturday night, Ian Nelson, Jack Quaid and the winners of the Ubuntu Fund raffle joined me at WME's screening room to watch The Hunger Games. I am very thankful to Christiana Dover (@christianalove), the winner of the raffle, for her contributions to this cause. I'd like to thank everyone who supported Ubuntu by buying a raffle ticket. Every dollar counts, and together we were able to raise over $900! This money will go towards the Ubuntu Center in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, where it will be used to provide care for the kids in need in the township. 

You can help Amandla support the Ubuntu Fund by watching a short video on her blog here. For every view, Zodiak Media donates $1 to the fund. 

'Catching Fire' Could Gross More Than 900 Million Worldwide

Variety reports that one industry analyst predicts Catching Fire will gross $900 million worldwide. This is also boosting Lionsgate's stock to an all time high.

Piper Jaffray said Tuesday it recommended the stock as its favorite mid-cap name in 2013 and singled out Catching Fire, due out Nov. 22.

“While the second Hunger Games film is an obvious catalyst, we see a number of other interesting initiatives across the company that will drive value,” analyst James Marsh wrote. “The film release slate is looking deeper (Red 2, Ender’s Game, Divergent), we like the odds of a Twilight extension, and international distribution deal economics are improving. 

David Miller of BRiley & Co. issued a similarly bullish report and repeated his $34 target, predicting that Catching Fire will gross $900 million worldwide. That’s 22% above the $691 million gross for The Hunger Games, will Miller noting that the popularity of the Hunger Games book trilogy has “exploded” overseas since last year’s release of the first film.

Read more at Variety

Woody Harrelson on Being Part of 'The Hunger Games' Franchise: "I love it"

Woody Harrelson spoke with ShortList while promoting his movie Now You See Me, and revealed that he "really loves" being part of The Hunger Games franchise. 

Photo by Matt Sayles/AP

And then, of course, there’s The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Can you tell us how that’s coming along?

I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard it’s looking great.

How does it feel for you to be part of a big juggernaut franchise? It’s the first time you’ve…

...it’s the first time I’ve been a part of something that’s a hit [laughs].

No, it’s just that being part of a huge blockbuster is not something people would associate with you.

I love it. I really love it. I said no at first. But the director called me and he said, “You’ve got to do this for me, I don’t have a second choice.” He was so passionate about it, and I thought, “Well if you want me to do it that bad, I’ll do it.” Just one conversation made me throw the dice. That was it, and now I’m part of this incredible franchise.

Were you surprised by how big it became?

Yes I was. I didn’t know what I was stepping into.

A lot of people have said Hollywood is relying too much on big franchises at the moment. Do you think that’s true?

Well, Hollywood is so many diverse things; you have indies that I love. But when you’re looking at studios, they need to make money. They’re giant corporations, so I understand that in getting something that is working, you stick with it. Most times, sequels aren’t as good as the original, and I hope that’s not the case for The Hunger Games. I haven’t seen it, but if it is as good, why not? I don’t have a moral issue with it, I get the idea. F*ck it. Do it.

Read the rest of the article at ShortList.com

Campaigning For Coin: Jessica Tuck

This edition of the Hunger Games fan site series "Campaigning For Coin" focuses on Jessica Tuck. Every Tuesday and Thursday, the fan sites will be sharing opinions on different actresses we think may (or may not) be right for the role of President Alma Coin in Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2. As always, be warned: Spoilers!

Jessica Tuck is an American actress known for her roles as Megan Gordon Harrison on One Life to Live, Gillian Gray on Judging Amy, and Nan Flanagan on True Blood. 

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.

HG Fireside Chat

Savanna: Of all the potential Coins that we’ve discussed so far, Jessica Tuck is definitely my favorite! She comes very, very close to the fuzzy mental image of Coin that I developed while reading Mockingjay, and I think her look would really be perfect for the role. Tuck’s character on True Blood, Nan Flanagan, is a vampire rights activist and figure of authority in the vampire community. Although she always appears calm and poised in her public appearances, she’s quite ruthless and agenda-pushing behind the scenes. Remind you of anyone? While Flanagan and Coin are obviously very, very different, seeing how effectively Tuck portrays that “type” has convinced me that she would have no trouble bringing Coin to life and making her every bit as compelling as she is on the page. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the powers that be will want to bring in an A-lister to play Coin, and Tuck — while an absolutely gifted actress — is simply not at that level.

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!

Panem Propaganda

Arowana: Well Jessica Tuck definitely has THE AUTHORITY (Boom! True Blood joke straight off the bat) to play Alma Coin. As Nan Flanagan in True Blood, Tuck has already demonstrated that she has the stones to play a character that appears to be a fine upstanding leader of a segregated community, only to morph into someone quite unpleasant once the cameras turn off. The more I thought about this casting, the more I realised the parallels between Flanagan and Coin and the more I liked it. Flanagan isn’t afraid of a bit of collateral damage in her vision of the future, just like Coin, and in fact (Series 4 Spoiler Ahead) shortly before her decline, she too reveals a desire to overthrow the leadership status quo. Jessica Tuck performs this with spectacular ruthlessness and a steely authoritative stare. Keep in mind that Coin has brought her District through a survival-threatening disease outbreak already, and holds them tightly under a tattooed routine with heavy restrictions on all kinds of rations. She’s a scary lady with eyes the colour of “slush that you wish would melt away”, which I can see in Jessica Tuck. Of course, this might mean that Alma’s ulterior motives will be clearer sooner but let’s also remember that this woman played Sharpay and Ryan’s mother in High School Musical 2 and 3, and any woman who can withstand that girl can believably rule a nation.

Welcome to District 12

Courtney/Tiffany: Jessica Tuck is in the correct age range for Coin, but this choice isn’t one of those ‘wow’ choices we would like for such a big role. We know some fan sites really love her for Coin so we trust their judgement in acting ability, however she’s doesn’t have as much film experience as we would like. Her character on True Blood has many Coin qualities as well but we just don’t think she’s a big enough name for such a large role.