By: debbie lynn elias
During the recent press junket for THE HUNGER GAMES, I had a chance to ask some of the actors what the experience of making THE HUNGER GAMES meant to them, and what they took away from it. After much reflection, here’s what they had to say:
Alexander Ludwig (Cato): “That’s a great question. For myself, in playing a villain, that is really a mind-set that you have to work on. That’s not just something that comes easy. When I play good guys, that’s much more natural for me. I’d like to think I’m a bit of a good person. But, it definitely takes a lot of work and lots of research and really creating a backstory for your character, especially if you’re playing a villain, so that you have something to go off of.”
Isabelle Fuhrman (Clove): “I learned a lot about my craft. I learned a lot about the psychology aspect of playing a bad character. I’ve played a bad character before, but one for completely different reasons. I had to figure out who she was and where she came from and what circumstances she had to overcome that caused her to become so disturbed.”
Amandla Stenberg (Rue): “I think I also learned about acting. Also, Jen [Lawrence] became a really great mentor to me. She was someone I could lean on. If I had a different idea about the scene than [director] Gary [Ross] or anyone else, she would explain it to me, and then it would be crystal clear. I really learned about Rue and how, in her big scene, even though she’s extremely scared, she’s also trying to be brave for Katniss because she wants Katniss to go on and win the Games. So, that became something that I really understood, and I really got into that scene, after that.”
Liam Hemsworth (Gale): ” Every job I do, I learn more. To be able to work with an actress like Jennifer [Lawrence] and a director like Gary [Ross], I’ve learned more again. Every job, I’m learning more. I’m very thankful to be where I am and to be working and busy.”
Josh Hutcherson (Peeta): “Every experience on this film was so much fun. For me, it’s great to see a movie that has such an intense subject and an intense dramatic storyline that can still be done in a fun way. We had such a good time on set. Working with amazing people, you continue to learn and develop yourself, as an actor and as a person. As much as I learned about myself as an actor, I learned even more as a person, just working with great people, like Jennifer [Lawrence] and Woody [Harrelson] and Lenny [Kravitz], and everybody. They were just really good human beings. It was just a great experience.”
Elizabeth Banks (Effie): “Jennifer Lawrence is a fucking ridiculously crazy-good actress.”
Wes Bentley (Seneca): “Yeah, that’s definitely true. She blew me away. To carry a movie on subtlety is amazing.”
Lenny Kravitz (Cinna): “Obviously the film is great and it’s THE HUNGER GAMES, but what I came away with is that it’s just so satisfying to do a great project with great people. Every day was fun. I’m not used to movie sets. This is new for me, so I didn’t know what to expect. I thought there would be divas and drama and actor stuff, but everybody was cool. There was a great feeling on set, every day. We all really liked each other. I asked people on the set, ’Is this normal? From what I heard about acting stuff, this is not normal.’ [Elizabeth] was supposed to be storming off and being a bitch. [Wes] was supposed to be a recluse in his trailer, not speaking to anybody. But, everybody was so nice. For me, I’m all about experiences. It’s great to do things that are big and wonderful, but if you’re not enjoying it and it’s not a good vibe, then what’s the point? So, I went home with this great feeling of, ’Wow! I just made this blockbuster film with all these great actors, and it was so much fun.’ It was wonderful.”
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