At a recent press junket, Shadow and Act was present as the majority of the cast of "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1," spoke about the series and their experiences.
Here are some of the highlights:
Francis Lawrence (director), Nina Jacobson (producer), Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss Everdeen), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta Mellark), Liam Hemsworth (Gale Hawthorne), Julianne Moore (President Alma Coin), Donald Sutherland (President Coriolanus Snow), Natalie Dormer (Cressida), Mahershala Ali (Boggs), Sam Clafin (Finnick Odair), Willow Shields (Primrose Everdeen), and Jeffery Wright (Beetee Latier) were present for the conference.
On "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1"
Francis Lawrence: This half of Mockingjay is really about Katniss discovering what she means to people; all of the districts. And really taking on the responsibility of her role in this revolution. It gave us the opportunity to explore one of the facets of war, which is propaganda.
Fascism vs. Freedom and being caught in the middle. On the political and social sophistication of the books and films
Jennifer Lawrence: Katniss is representing the consequences of war. It’s not that she doesn’t believe in what President Coin wants. It’s not that she doesn’t believe that the Capitol is a terrible government that is only good for the one percent. But war is complicated, and it affects everyone on both sides. I think for Katniss being caught in the middle is feeling pain from both sides. There really is no right way to start or end a war.
Julianne Moore: When I read [the books] I was really struck by the political allegory, and that is very unusual in YA. The thing about dystopia is that what is posits is whether or not we have free will as human beings. And for adolescents in particular, that’s a time when that idea is looming pretty large because you haven’t had free will. You’re in your parents’ house and you’re looking to… who you’re going to be as human being. So here you have this central character who is trying to decide who she is going to be personally, and who she is going to be politically; and it’s fascinating. It’s really wonderful. Suzanne Collins also sets up this idea about the difference between freedom and totalitarianism, and how you move from one system to another. I think it’s amazing and it speaks to not just me, but millions of people.
Donald Sutherland: The allegory is evident. When I first read the script I truly wanted to be apart of this project so that I could look back at the end of my life, which is very close, and say I was a piece of this. Because for me how she has presented this dilemma to young people, and demanded from them a resolution; demanded from them participation that could change things. Because the world that my generation is leaving everyone is a disaster in every respect; politically, socially and economically. I hope that it would be a catalyst for young people. To get them off the seat of their pants …that someone from Occupy or wherever use these films to generate from young people an energy that will take them into the voting booths of the United States in 2016 and make people responsible, politicians responsible for their words and their actions.
On the lack of physical action scenes in the film
Jennifer Lawrence: There was a lot less action in this movie. [Katniss] is in a very different place emotionally at the beginning of this movie, and the Games have completely changed her. She has to completely rebuild herself. There wasn’t time for much action. Instead, there was just time for her reaction to everything.
Finish reading at Shadow and Act.
xoxoxo Chocolate Girl in the City xoxoxox