'Mockingjay Part 2' Production Notes Released

The massively long Mockingjay Part 2 production notes have been released. You can read the full document HERE. There are some really great nuggets within those 97 pages including cast and crew interviews and the film's credits. Probably some *SPOIERS* in here for those who haven't read the books.

Some of our favorite bits:

The toast babies (Katniss and Peeta's kids) are, as expected, being played by Jennifer Lawrence's nephews Bear and Theodore Lawrence. 

Francis Lawrence praises Josh Hutcherson's performance as Peeta Mellark:

Francis Lawrence says Josh Hutcherson’s willingness to go the edge in this new incarnation of Peeta was impressive. “He really blew me away in this film because he was so incredible at showing how tormented Peeta is in his current state. I know Josh so well, but watching him in these scenes, I didn’t recognize any part of him,” remarks the director.

Josh on playing Peeta in MJ2:

“Peeta’s always been known as being the down-to-earth, grounded, honest guy. But now he’s out of his
mind, I had to turn that inside out,” he says. “It shows a lot about the real feelings that Katniss has for Peeta that she still fights for him and believes in him even in this state.

Jennifer Lawrence talks about Katniss and Peeta's relationship:

Somebody being brainwashed to think that you’re an evil mutt is a hell of a strain to put on a relationship. They have to start over.

Nina Jacobson on Katniss and Peeta:

“She has her moments with Gale in this film, but even he can see through her,” Jacobson muses. “Her heart is stuck on Peeta. She can’t let him go, even now, and I think that’s pretty poignant.”

and on her committmentto remaining faithfull to Suzanne Collins' books:

“I have such profound respect for Suzanne and I love the books so much and understand how fans feel about them,” Jacobson closes. “So from the start, we had a total commitment to do right by the books and deliver cinematic storytelling at the highest level. That was a huge thing to aspire to do, but I never could have forgiven myself if we’d gotten it wrong. We had an obligation to come through for people and it’s been an incredible experience. I hope we will continue to talk about all the incredibly relevant things this entire story is about: human society, the costs of war, the exploitation of tragedy for entertainment and the dangers of losing our individual narratives in tyrannical times. It’s a story for the ages.”

What Francis Lawrence is most excited about:

One of the things that I’m most excited about is the film’s final scene,” says Francis Lawrence. “There was a really strong feeling on the set when we got to the scene – a feeling that all the history of all these characters through the course of these four movies had built up to this singular moment. I hope audiences really feel that history and also a sense of the future. Everything that has happened to Katniss and all the themes of the story have wound together to come down to this final glimpse of her world, so it was very important that we really get to live inside it.

Our thanks to QuarterQuell for the production notes!

New Mockingjay Part 2 Stills & Behind the Scenes Details From Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson in LA Times

LA times posted some gorgeous (and heartbreaking *EVERLARK*) new stills from Mockingjay Part 2 today. In the article, Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson give us some behind the scenes details about the rebels' charge on the Capitol.

"This is a building that we found outside of Paris," Lawrence said. "If you know the books, there's a sequence where they set off a trap with toxic oil, this black sludge that comes pouring down onto them. This is just after that sequence. In the movie, this has all been digitally enhanced and the whole bottom half of this courtyard has been covered in a black, hardened tar. The place is called Abraxas. When we knew we had to go deep into the Capitol we wanted to try to find as many real, immersive environments as possible. So we went on a search for architecture around the world that was aesthetically what we needed. We wanted that cross between brutalism and classicism." 

Together Katniss and her team must maneuver through a maze of deadly booby traps set by their oppressors. "Katniss and the squad are moving further into the Capitol," Lawrence explained. "And Boggs — the character played by Mahershala Ali, right — is holding a device called a 'holo' that has a database of the known pods and traps. But obviously others have been added, so we don't know if holo can see them all."

Although the film's setting has changed from the arena of the Hunger Games to the streets of the Capitol, one thing remains constant: Katniss' weapon of choice. But how well does a bow and arrow work when her team is forced into the sewers beneath the opulent city? "Katniss is pretty effective with it," Lawrence said. "And Gale with his crossbow, he's actually pretty effective [as well]. It's kind of fun because Gale's got their incendiary arrows which they're using to light up the tunnels."

But the fun doesn't last long, "As they make their way through the Capitol, some of them make it, and some of them don't," Jacobson said. "This moment with [Katniss] and Peeta [Josh Hutcherson] is a big turning point, this is her trying to bring him back to her. Everything that they are going through in this assault is pushing him to the limit." Clearly Katniss still has a connection to the former prisoner Peeta, "He's falling apart, and she's trying to keep him with them," Lawrence said. "And they have to keep moving. So this is actually a very fast, urgent moment that's not totally tender, although there's some tenderness to it."

No doubt this final stand will cost many Panem citizens their lives, but judgment day has arrived, all the way to the front steps of the dictator's door. "That is Snow's mansion," Jacobson hinted. "There's still quite a bit of reckoning to be done."

Tim Palen: Photographs from The Hunger Games Exhibit Opening at the Leica Gallery LA

Photo via superphilnomenal on instagram

Selections from Tim Palen: Photographs from The Hunger Games are on display at the LeicaGalleryLA 10/28-10/31. Last night there was an opening reception and twitter and instagram were buzzing with photos from the exhibit.  

Photo via @Variety_DMcNary

Dave McNary from Variety spoke with Tim Palen at the opening (and shared these pics on twitter) who said, "Taking shots of Jennifer Lawrence is easy; she's amazing." Above is Palen's favorite of the photos from the exhibit.

Josh Dickey from Mashable shared the following photos to twitter last night and spotted Liam Hemsworth, Francis Lawrence and  Evan Ross at the party.

I would like one for my living room thankyouverymuch. 

Don't have Tim Palen: Photographs From The Hunger Games yet? You are in luck! The kind folks at Assouline are offering our readers 10% off of their online order when you use the code HUNGER10 at checkout. Head over to Assouline.com to order. 

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 Official TV Spot – “Epic Finale”

A new Mockingjay Part 2 TV spot made it's official debut tonight during game 1 of the World Series on Fox Sports. Check out "Epic Finale" and enjoy that extended Everlark kiss. 

Sam Claflin on The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence & Social Media in The Guardian

Sam Claflin is featured in a new fashion shoot and interview with The Guardian. In the interview Sam touched on everything from filming The Hunger Games movies to social media and Jennifer Lawrence's fame. 

On Mockingjay Part 2:

"Yeah, we had a refresher screening the other day, which was helpful. Before that I couldn’t really remember who I played or what I said,” he jokes. “But I think it’s a great climax to the series. It feels like the end of an era. I was sad to see it end, but also happy."

On filming The Hunger Games movies:

"It was a bit like being on holiday with your friends. A lot of the time I was just running around Hawaii with Jen and Josh [Hutcherson] and Lynn Cohen." 

On the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman:

“I probably shouldn’t talk about it much,” says Claflin. “But it hit us all very hard. It was very unexpected, very sad. He was not only a hero to millions, but a personal hero of mine. The way he did something with every role. It’s so upsetting that you’ll never see him in a new film.” 

On the loneliness of filming:

“I’ve definitely experienced the loneliness of the job. During the first Hunger Games we were out in Atlanta for six months. I was in a hotel, and all I had for company was a box set of Friends. In a way it was helpful that I had to be in such good shape: for months my routine went gym-chicken-bed-gym-chicken-bed-work, repeat.”

On his casting as Finnick Odair:

“You read the books and my character’s meant to look like a kind of Greek god. I wouldn’t have cast me: a pale, English, overweight, stubbled kid. I like a beer and a burger. I got nominated for a ‘Best topless scene’ against Zac Efron. I mean, how am I going to compete with Zac Efron?”

On Jennifer Lawrence and social media:

“Jen, bless her, puts up with a lot. It’s frightening to see that kind of thing, the idea that you can’t have a private life. I keep a Twitter and Instagram page because I don’t want to invite people into my world too much. It’s my way of letting the fans think they are seeing my real life, but in reality I’m pushing them away.”

On social media and his responsibility to his younger fans:  

“A lot of my followers are at an age where they aren’t able to drink or get tattoos or anything, and there’s a duty to them that lots of people don’t pay attention to. For example I’m going to a mate’s house tonight, but I’m not going to tweet pictures of myself drunk. The music industry is so messed up – look at someone like Miley Cyrus, who is just sex and drugs. The thought that one day my kid might look up to someone like that is…” he trails off and shakes his head.

On being thought of as a heartthrob:

“I hate being offered heart-throb after heart-throb,” he says, only half-joking. “It is something that stresses me out about the industry that because you’ve done one part you can’t do any others – you want to say: ‘I act, you know. I can pretend.’

The Hunger Games Twitter Movie Viewing Parties

The Hunger Games official twitter is hosting a series of Friday night THG movie viewing parties starting next Friday, October 30th. If you have twitter, be sure to join in the next 3 consecutive Friday nights and watch/tweet along with The Hunger Games to win prizes including exclusive pins, tickets and a surprise. 

Giveaways for TheHungerGames Viewing Parties will be worldwide unless otherwise stated! 

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2' TV Special ‘Jet To The Set: The Hunger Games’ to Air on Oct 29th

A fan-fueled television special on one of the most successful global film franchises of all-time, The Hunger Games, will premiere on Pop with JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES on Thursday, October 29 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. 

Hosted by TV personality Carly Steel (CBS’ “Entertainment Tonight”) and Hollywood insider and style guru Laurie Feltheimer (“Hot in Hollywood”), JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES is a mix of travel, adventure and pop culture. Filmed in Atlanta, the primary location of The Hunger Games films, the show will feature behind-the-scenes access to set locations, including The Victor’s Training Center, President Snow’s Mansion and the 75^th Hunger Games Cornucopia.  Viewers will witness Laurie’s incredible transformation to Effie Trinket with make-up and special effects, and watch Carly perfect her archery skills. 

The one hour special will also include a never before seen clip from Mockingjay Part 2, as well as exclusive interviews with lead cast members Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth.  

JET TO THE SET: THE HUNGER GAMES will also feature special appearances by Patina Miller (Commander Paylor) and more who give us the authentic lowdown on Atlanta.

The Hunger Games Franchise DVD/Blu-Ray Trailer

Look at those babies!

To get you ready for Mockingjay Part 2, Lionsgate has put together a Hunger Games Franchise DVD/Blu-ray trailer with behind the scenes footage from all 3 previous films. 

As I'm sure all of our readers already know (and probably own, in several different formats!) The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay Part 1 are all available on DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital HD to get the full experience - with hours of behind the scenes extras included.