Research Project: Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Research Project: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Film

What is the synopsis?

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

Who was the director and what other films have they made/directed?

Francis Lawrence, He directed, Constantine, I am legend, and water for elephants.

How much was the budget?

$130–140 million

Which companies made the film?

Lionsgate and Color Force

Where was it filmed?

Atlanta, Georgia and then moved to Hawaii, to shoot the arena scene. Ringwood, New Jersey shooting District 12. With the base camp set up at Executive Park off North Druid Hills Road, filming also occurred at the Goat Farm Arts Center.

What camera was used for the cinematography? What were the benefits of using this camera?

Digital Intermediate
IMAX
Panavision
Super 35

Who are the main actors and what else have they been in?

Jennifer Lawerence: Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, Like Crazy

Liam Hemsworth: The Expendables, The Last Song, Knowing

Josh Hutcherson: Epic, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Bridge To Terabithia

Which company did the visual effects for the film?  What type of effects did they create?

Double Negative (visual effects)

Fuel VFX (visual effects)

Gentle Giant Studios

Hybride Technologies

Method Studios (visual effects)

Rodeo FX (visual effects)

Weta Digital (visual effects)

Whiskytree (visual effects)

Which studio/s distributed the film in the UK, USA and Europe?

Lionsgate Home Entertainment = UK and USA

Belga Home Video

Universal Pictures International

Studio Canal

Independent Films

Belga Films

Where was it distributed? (Which countries has it been released in?)

UK, USA, Belgium, Singapore, Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Hungary, Netherlands, Japan, Cambodia, Bolivia, France, Germany, Mongolia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Brazil, Portugal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Middle East

What country is the film from? (explain your answer)

The film is from the US, and has been funded by a US based company as well-Lionsgate.

Which film festival’s has appeared in?

Rome Film Festival

Cannes Film Festival

Hollywood Film Festival

What awards has it received (if any)?

Costume Designers Guild Awards 

Excellence in Fantasy Film
Trish Summerville 

Hollywood Film Festival

Song of the Year
For the song "Atlas".

People’s choice awards

Favorite Year End Movie

In what formats is it available to watch now?

DVD, Blu-ray, iTunes

Website

Genre: Adventure, Thriller, Action since the background is red which connotes fire and suits the cover of the DVD. It blends in with black to show a dark and villain side.

Target Audience: 17 – 22 predominately females.

Are there any intertextual references?

Website:There are intertextual references because it has well known celebrities to be playing the roles. The book is also very well know that it doesn’t need references as the target audience will know what the film is going to be about.

What methods are used to ‘sell’ the film?

Website:The methods used to sell the film are that it says ‘now available on Blue-Ray, DVD and Digital HD’ which is manageable for the audience to find. As well as this it has links to the trailer, special effects and to enter the actual website.

What information do they give you about the film?

Website: The slogan ‘it begins with a spark’ relates to the fact that the movie involves fire and trailer that is placed in the website you can see the two main characters in fire. This means that the fire plays an important role for the characters.

Are they successful at making you want to see the film? Why?

Website: Yes, because they put the merchandise on the front screen and the trailer besides it. As well as this it shows the links to the trailer, special effects and to enter the actual website.

What other ways was the film promoted – give at least 3 examples.

Website: Billboards, TV and radio

The Trailer

Genre: Action, teen-romance

Target Audience: 17-22 years old

Tells us that this film is going to be about action based in a dystopian sci-fi world

Intertextual References: none, as it is part of a trilogy that is already well-known to its audience

What methods are used to ‘sell’ the film?

They use slogans during the trailer such as ‘the event the world has been waiting for’

They have also used visual effects that help to make the movie look exciting and intense, as the pace becomes quicker.

What information do they give you about the film?

The information they give us about the film is that it is a continuation from the first movie, whereas now it seems that tensions has increased and another hunger games is set to begin, only this time it would be different. We see the heroine facing more battles and trying to protect her family

Are they successful at making you want to see the film? Why?

They are successful at making me want to see the film because of the way to trailer has been constructed. There is a lot of action included in the trailer that helps to make the movie look exciting and also relatable as it includes hints of friendship, romance and family relationships which helps to appeal towards its audience.

What other ways was the film promoted – give at least 3 examples.

Billboards, Merchandise, Radio

What do they tell you about the film? Genre, target audience?

POSTER: That the genre would be action due to the fire, and the fact that the main girl is holding a bow and arrow connoting violence. The target audience would be teenagers aged 16+ as the main character is a teenager, therefore it is relatable.

Are there any intertextual references?

POSTER: There are no intertextual references perhaps due to the fact that it is so well known, as it is based on the novel which has been out since 2009, so it has already built up a fan base.

What methods are used to ‘sell’ the film?

POSTER: The main actress who is the famous ‘Jennifer Lawrence’, and due to the colours of the poster, with the red, it stands out.

What information do they give you about the film?

POSTER: With the slogan ‘Remember who the enemy is’, it would give the audience a clue, as to what the film is. With the ‘mocking jay’ logo at the background, it would relate to the previous film, and due to it burning, it would refer to a sort of rebellious stage. 

Are they successful at making you want to see the film? Why?

POSTER: The main actress would make me see the film, as she is well known. Also because it is the continuation of the first film, so therefore, I would watch the second one.

What other ways was the film promoted – give at least 3 examples.

Billboards, Merchandise, Radio