Nina Jacobson and Francis Lawrence by TOM JAMIESON/STR
We were honored to be among a group of select fandom accounts that Lionsgate invited to Las Vegas for an exclusive 3 day trailer launch event for The Hunger Games:The Ballad of Songbirds And Snakes during CinemaCon. This fandom trip of a lifetime included a viewing of the first official trailer the day before anyone else at a private event within The Hunger Games Exhibition, and a Q&A with director Francis Lawence and producer Nina Jacobson.
This Q&A is a long one, but if you're a huge fan of the books and films there are so many details from Francis and Nina that you won't want to miss.
TV presenter Nikki Novak hosted the Q&A and took our questions afterward.
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: We shot [Ballad] last year in Germany and Poland. Very, very proud of it, and we wanted you guys to be the first ones to see the trailer.
NINA JACOBSON: It's so fun to watch them watch it.
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: I know.
NINA JACOBSON: That was so exciting watching you guys watch it. It was really thrilling.
NIKKI NOVAK: Yeah, we were watching all of you and it must be so rewarding. So first of all, congratulations to both of you. Just wanted to ask, you read Suzanne's book, and what was the vision? Like, how did you sort of go about tackling this new film and bringing in elements of the original, but then making it something completely new?
NINA JACOBSON: Well, I think one of the things that was so exciting about the book was that, on the one hand, it's so deeply steeped in the mythology of the original books and movies, and a story that everybody who's watched it or read it, knows so well.
And on the other hand, you know, Lucy Gray is the polar opposite of Katniss Everdeen. It doesn't feel like it's trying to duplicate. It's sort of striking out, and on one hand, it’s really new ground and a completely different visual language because it's a period movie. It's very different visually, which Francis can speak to. But also, she's such a different character.
And then, to see a young Snow, somebody who we've spent all of these movies fearing and loathing. And to understand who he was, and how he became who he was, was a really rewarding experience in book, and also really thrilling experience to bring it to life as a film.
NIKKI NOVAK: Francis, you and I were talking a little bit before we began about you meeting Rachel for the first time and having a four-hour meeting. I mean, it's so obvious. She is the real-life songbird, but why was she the person that you wanted for this film, and what did she bring to this film?
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: I mean, you know, one of the things is just that she's one of the most talented young actresses out there right now. But, you know, the character of Lucy Gray is a really tricky one, right? Because she's a mercurial character, right? So she's emotional, but she's also damaged, and she's lived quite a lot more honestly than the character of Snow has. But she also has to be a fantastic singer. And you know, Rachel's a phenomenal singer.
And so, yeah, we sat down and talked about the character and talked about the books and just had a fantastic meeting.
NIKKI NOVAK: And talk about casting Tom in the role. I mean, how many people did you see? And why was he the guy? I mean, you look at him, and he's extraordinary to look at, but he has such a presence. Yeah, I said it. [laugh]
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: [laugh]
NIKKI NOVAK: Thank you. [laugh]
FRANCIS LAWRENCE: No, I mean, we saw a lot of people, I will say. And there were, you know, a few people that sort of piqued our interest, and then, Tom kind of came out of the blue for us, honestly. We didn't really know much about him, didn't know who he was. And he came in, and we saw a reading of his with our casting director that was just great. I mean, he was magnetic, and he's so good at his craft. I mean, you know, he's an English actor. He's a Juilliard graduate. He really loves acting and really studies acting and really cares and really works. But also, there's the resemblance to Donald Sutherland. And so, you know, all those factors combined kind of made him the guy.
I'd also say that there's an element of him that is very controlled, which Snow is, and Donald is, that I liked very much for the role.
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