At the Movies: The Hunger Games News and Tidbits...

Oh, to be a PA or extra on this set... Seriously, this job, even with long hours and hot weather, would be a dream to work on!!!!


EW debuted the first photo of Katniss:

I hope this picture teaches people not to judge until they see a finished product. This picture reads Katniss from the look all the way to the accessories!


Speaking of cast, anyone heard about Cinna yet? I'm looking forward to seeing who is going to play the fashionista.


As far as Haymitch is concerned, I'm not a hugeWoody Harrelson, so I'm a bit worried. The casting directors must have seen some sparkle in his audition, though...


Add Johannafan's YT page to your links! She has video of what seems to be the Disctrict 12 train station and maybe District 12 itself! (Possibly from the Shelby/Hickory, NC set)


Currently, Hunger Games is filming in Hildebran, NC.


Extras have been hired!!!


The Hunger Games Trilogy website has a ton of great info about the books, movie, etc. Check it out!

At The Movies... The Hunger Games Edition

At The Movies... is something I'm trying out. Christmas 2010 I received a subscription to 'The Hollywood Reporter'. It is a collection of entertainment news, reviews, and award spotlights. One of my favorite sections in the magazine has to do with new deals and cast details for pre-production projects. At The Movies... will feature some of the fun info I learn week to week from this magazine and the web in general. Comments in parenthesis are my own opinions. Enjoy!


A quick casting update! Peeta and Gale have finally been cast for the upcoming Hunger Games movie! Here's a quick run down of the three leading characters!


Jennifer Lawrence has been cast as Katniss.

Josh Hutcherson has been cast as Peeta.

Liam Hemsworth has been cast as Gale.

Producers have gone on to defend their decisions here on the LA Times website.


I hear a lot of negative feedback is being tossed around about the casting of this movie. However, I disagree. I think this is a fine cast of actors. One thing I think people are forgetting is the magic of the make up and hair people. Just because actress Jennifer Lawrence is a blonde now, it doesn't mean she'll be a blonde in the movie.  I won't even comment on the silliness of those saying she has the wrong complexion... That all being said, I haven't seen her act and that is what worries me most. I hope she can pull off Katniss properly!!


I love Josh Hutcherson as Peeta. Even when he was in 'Zuthera' or the train wreck that was 'The Vampire's Assistant', you could tell he could act. This just might be his time to shine! Plus, it helps that he seems to like the books and character already.  I think he'll be a great Peeta!


Oh, Gale... Sorry, but you were never real competition (in my opinion)!  I've never seen Liam Hemsworth act, but honestly, he definitely looks the part to me! (Why did Miley C. break up with him????)  It seems I wasn't too off the wall with my fantasy cast when it comes to Gale, however, as Paul Wesley and Liam Hemsworth have very similar looks!


Now let's hope we see Robert Downey Jr and James McAvoy in the next casting notice!!!


What are your thoughts on the leads of 'The Hunger Games'?

At The Movies...

At The Movies... is something I'm trying out. Christmas 2010 I received a subscription to 'The Hollywood Reporter'. It is a collection of entertainment news, reviews, and award spotlights. One of my favorite sections in the magazine has to do with new deals and cast details for pre-production projects. At The Movies... will feature some of the fun info I learn week to week from this magazine and the web in general. Comments in parenthesis are my own opinions. Enjoy!

I couldn't find anything in the Reporter that mentioned YA books and movies this week, but found some interesting info about some other franchise films...


-Did you know 'Men in Black 3' went into production with only the first act (of three) written and finalized? The premise of MIB3 is this, Agent J (Will Smith) goes back in time to 1969 and has various encounters with important people from that time. Why he goes back in time, I have no idea. Also, where does that leave Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). The dynamics between J and K seem like a major draw for audiences so how will he play into this third movie? And getting back to the topic on hand, they went into shooting with only one act written and have now halted production because actor Will Smith doesn't like the rest of the script. (I can only see problems with going at a movie this way. First, this is a time travel movie. All the elements need to be perfect and planned out in advance. One wrong move and the movie can very easily make no sense. Think 'The Lake House' with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Good movie, but it made no sense at all. MIB3, by shooting the first act already has locked itself into a series of events that would be very costly to re-shoot if they decide to make any major changes to the ending... If that makes sense. Plus, I'm all for actors being versatile in the industry, but if you're hired as an actor or even as an actor/producer, let the scriptwriters and directors do their thing and don't interfere to the point of halting production. Just do the job your hired for and do it well.)


-Blog 'Speakeasy' interviewed the creaters of 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' and announced the cast list for the main characters of their new animated sequel series 'Legend of Korra'. Check out the cast listing HERE. (I cannot wait to see this!!!)


-Narniaweb highlighted an interesting quote found in an interview with Micheal Flaherty about 'The Chronicles of Narnia' movies. He touches on making 'The Magicians Nephew' next in the line up. Narniaweb highlights it HERE. (I find the idea that the more popular books gross more quite interesting for some reason. I would have never guessed that 'The Magicians Nephew' is the second most popular book in the series.)


This week I saw via Netflix 'Letters to Juliet'. You know what? I actually enjoyed this film quite a bit. It's essentially your basic popcorn chick flick. Here's a summery of the movie taken from IMDB, "An American girl on vacation in Italy finds an unanswered "letter to Juliet" -- one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover's Verona courtyard, which are typically answered by a the "secretaries of Juliet" -- and she goes on a quest to find the lovers referenced in the letter."


This is pretty much your standard romantic comedy/road trip movie. I loved the setting. Even if you're not crazy about the premise, the Tuscany countryside they used for the film is gorgeous. Siena, where much of this movie takes place, is one of my favorite places in the world. Well, it is my favorite place in the world. It's so pretty and the filmakers did a good job at showing viewers how awesome it is.


I recommend this for your next chick flick night! It's cute and should make you smile!


That's it for this short edition of 'At the Movies'. See ya next week!

At The Movies...

At The Movies... is something I'm trying out. Christmas 2010 I received a subscription to 'The Hollywood Reporter'. It is a collection of entertainment news, reviews, and award spotlights. One of my favorite sections in the magazine has to do with new deals and cast details for pre-production projects. At The Movies... will feature some of the fun info I learn week to week from this magazine and the web in general. Comments in parenthesis are my own opinions. Enjoy!

- Jennifer Lawrence looks to have been offered the role of Katniss in the future adaptation of 'The Hunger Games'. Alongside her title role, Josh Hutcherson looks to be stepping into play Peeta. I haven't heard anything about Gale's character, but that maybe because Gale isn't a huge player in the novels until the final book in the trilogy. (The more I think of Josh H. as Peeta, the more I'm okay with it. I'd like to see him play a nice guy!)


- Susanna White (Nanny McPhee 2) may be directing the adaptation of 'The Host' after the original director dropped out. Various articles are saying that this movie is running into more than a few hiccups. (I *really* want to see this movie, as I find 'The Host' better than the the final three books in the 'Twilight Saga'. If they're really having trouble fleshing out the amazing story, they can hire me on as a producer!)


- According to the 'Vampire Academy' movie producers facebook page, they're still alive and well and are still working on getting the 'Vampire Academy' novels on the big screen. (I'm looking forward to seeing this series. Course, I'll have to deal with a lot of Dimitri, but as long as he's pretty, I guess it will be okay!)


- According to IMDB, the 'Enders Game' movie now has a 2013 release date. Don't take this as a hard and firm date, this movie has been in pre-production for years. ('Enders Game' is one of the few adult sci-fi books I've ever enjoyed. I'm looking forward to this... If it ever gets released!)


- Walden Media is looking to produce 'The Magicians Nephew' next in the Narnia line up. They're looking for funding now. (Honestly, I would have preferred 'The Silver Chair' to take advantage of the Eustace character while he's young, but I guess 'The Magicians Nephew' could be good, too. I haven't read that in forever.)


- This might be old news for you, but it's new news for me! Did you know that Miley Cyrus is attached to the adaptation of 'Wake' (as in the YA trilogy) by Lisa McCann? I didn't. (I can't say I've enjoyed watching Hannah Montana (oops, Miley Cyrus) in anything... It sounds like a definite case of 'read the book first'!)


- Also, I just read that a 'Septimus Heap: Magyk' movie is in the works! (Of all the fantastic series out there, they choose this one? Okay, a little harsh. It may be a good movie. Not my kind of book, though.)


This weekend, I watched 'Bandslam'. You may remember the adverts for it making it look like a remake of High School Musical. I was all set to not like this movie, but you know what? It was actually quite entertaining! It follows a high school boy who's pretty much an outsider due to a dark family secret. He also happens to be a musical genius (in a cool rock way). After starting at a new school, he gets pulled into playing producer for local band that makes it their goal to win the town's 'bandslam'.


The movie turned out to be very quirky and more of a coming of age tale than a corny 'glee-like' movie. It's not even a musical, really. And Vanessa Hudgens role in the film?  She's a side character, which was fine with me.  I don't mind her in 'High School Musical', but she has yet to prove herself as an actress who warrants $10 movie tickets...


And that's it for this week! See ya around!

At The Movies...

At The Movies... is something I'm trying out. Christmas 2010 I received a subscription to 'The Hollywood Reporter'. It is a collection of entertainment news, reviews, and award spotlights. One of my favorite sections in the magazine has to do with new deals and cast details for pre-production projects. At The Movies... will feature some of the fun info I learn week to week from this magazine and the web in general.  Comments in parenthesis are my own opinions.  Enjoy!

-Ian McKellen has officially signed on to play Gandalf in 'The Hobbit'.
-Ellijah Wood, Donald Sutherland, and Eddie Lizzard have signed onto act in the adaptation of 'Treasure Island'.
-The Movie Adaptation of 'Firelight' has a writer-- Nick Pustay. (Should be good if he sticks with the story!)
-Henry Caville will be playing Superman/Clark Kent in the new reboot. (I didn't find the first movie all that bad!)
-Somehow, 7th Heaven star Geoff Stults got another acting job in a television spin-off of Bones. (Who would have thought!)
-James Franco is in talks to play Oz, the Great and Powerful in Disney's prequel to 'The Wizard of Oz'. He's the third actor offered the role. (Personally, I'd prefer Robert Downey Jr or Johnny Depp over Franco, but they both passed.)
-Kristen Stewart is playing Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman. (Looks like we're in for a depressing Snow White tale.)
-Michelle Pfeiffer has signed on to 'Dark Shadows' opposite Johnny Depp. (Yay!)


I found this article the other day that was actually kind of interesting. Seems that Britain has an event called World Book Night where volunteers handed out free books. Some feared it was the wrong move and would "devalue" books, but in reality it helped turn sales up!


Till next time!