New York Magazine's Interview with Francis Lawrence

New York Magazine published an article on the recent surge in popularity of the Young Adult genre. In addition to several others, Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence was included in those being interviewed - and of course, there are a couple bits about the upcoming film.

A few popular YA books have struggled recently as film adaptations, like Mortal Instruments and Beautiful Creatures. Why does Hunger Games work?
Author Suzanne Collins was raised in a military family, so she grew up learning about the consequences of war. Even though it’s sort of an alternate world, it’s still relatable.

You have all these pedigree actors coming in, from Philip Seymour Hoffman in Catching Fire to Julianne Moore in Mockingjay. You could have had no-name actors, and the fans would have accepted that.
If you can have Philip Seymour Hoffman, get Philip Seymour Hoffman! And he loved the books, so he signed on. Same with Jeffrey Wright. Same with Julianne. If you can just get those amazing actors, then that’s 80 percent of my job.

The first film skimped a little on showing us the strategy behind the Katniss-Peeta love story. 
I felt the same. I felt the love story in general was, um, a bit buried in the first one. I wanted to bring the love story to the surface. And when I say love story, I mean the triangle.

Happy Birthday Woody Harrelson & Philip Seymour Hoffman

A big Happy Birthday to our Haymitch and our Plutarch! Woody Harrelson and Philip Seymour Hoffman celebrate their birthdays today. Our best to both of these amazing actors!

Rumor: 'Catching Fire' at Cannes?

Showbiz 411 is reporting that there could be some footage shown and some kind of presentation for Catching Fire at the Cannes Film Festival May 15-26, 2013.

 

From Showbiz 411:

But what else? I can tell you exclusively that at least footage and some kind of presentation will be made for the second chapter of The Hunger Games, called Catching Fire. This is a good way to get newly crowned Best Actress Jennifer Lawrence into Cannes, along with castmates like Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Toby Jones.

This is a rumor until confirmed by Lionsgate. 

The Hunger Games Cast Parties On Oscar Night

Jennifer Lawrence wasn't the only Hunger Games cast member celebrating last night. Elizabeth Banks, Leven Rambin, and Philip Seymour Hoffman all made the rounds at the Oscar parties.

Elizabeth Banks and Philip Seymour Hoffman attended Vanity Fair's party at the Sunset Tower Hotel

Leven Rambin hit Elton John's Oscar viewing party at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman On Catching Fire & The Importance of The Hunger Games

Agence France-Presse/Getty Image

We love this post on Philip Seymour Hoffman in the Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog. Of course you all know he's playing Plutarch Heavensbee, Head Gamemaker in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. But it was wonderful to read what a fan he is of Suzanne Collins' books and how committed he is to the story.

From the Wall Street Journal:

“It’s unbelievable what this woman has done,” the actor said in an interview. “She literally tells our modern history of war and the awful things that have happened through these science-fiction novels. In the modern day, we send children off to die to protect our way of life, basically. It’s very powerful the way she does it.”

His amazement at Collins’s books made him say, “I’m in. I want to be a part of that,” he said. Despite the film’s bloody premise, he said the full story gives a very different message than simply “kids who kill each other.” According to him, if the films are done well, they are something kids should see.

Hoffman said since his role in the Catching Fire book isn’t very big — Plutarch Heavensbee takes over from Seneca Crane as Head Gamekmaker. But the film’s writers added more to his character. Then when he films Mockingjay, everything changes.

“I’m looking forward to the next two [films], because his job becomes very different,” Hoffman said of Plutarch’s role. “The story becomes very different and everyone will see what happens.”