The Hunger Games

1. The Hunger Games By Alex Starr

2. Narrative & Genre Genre: • Sci – Fi, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance Themes: • Inequality between rich and poor • Suffering as entertainment • Love and Betrayal • Revolution and Uprising Conventions: • Futuristic and adventurous props, costume and scenery • Element of uncertainty (despite already being a book)

3. Current Affairs: • Similarities between what is happening in Afghanistan • People are starving, which leads to revolutions • Putsches against government • Living under a Dictatorship • Looking for Democracy • Political similarities to foreign current affairs News: • Controversial with the age certificate given to the the film • 12A when released (a 15 certificate edition was available) • Criticised heavily for amount of gore and graphic scenes

4. Funding & Finance • Budget: $80,000,000 (the film was completed under budget at $78,000,000) • Domestic Gross: $408,010,692 • Worldwide Gross: $684,510,692 • Studio: Lionsgate, Studio Canal • Originally had smaller budget, but used profits from novels and studio to boost the budget midway through production Executive Producers: • Robin Bissell: also know for Seabiscuit, Pleasantville • Suzanne Collins: is the author of the Hunger Games Series, has had little experience in film (Santa Baby, writer) • Louise Rosner: known for Mean Girls and Baby Mama

5. Development • Screenplay: written by Gary Ross (Director) and Suzanne Collins (Novelist) Gary Ross: Writing History includes Seabiscuit (2003), Pleasantville (1998), Big (1988) • Won BAFTA for best feature film (The Hunger Games, 2012) • Won Golden Satellite Award for best screenplay adaptation (Seabiscuit, 2003) • Won Razzie Award for worst screenplay (The Flintstones, 1994) • Won Saturn Award for best writer (Pleasantville, 1998) Suzanne Collins: Writing History includes full Hunger Games Series (2012 – 2015), The Mystery of Shelby Woo (TV series), Ticket out (2011) • Won Blimp award for best book (The Hunger Games, 2013) • Nominated for Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation (The Hunger Games, 2013) • Nominated for WGA Award for Best Animation (Santa Baby, 2003)

6. Production • STARS: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth Jenifer Lawrence: Plays Katnis Everdean, the protagonist of the series • Acting History: Silver Linings Playbook (2012), House at the end of the Street (2012), X-Men: First Class (2011) • Won Golden Globe (Silver Linings Playbook, 2012, American Hustle, 2013) • Has won over 60 Awards across her whole career so far • Was paid $500,000 for The Hunger Games • Was paid $10,000,000 for the sequel • Famously fell over when collecting her Golden Globe Locations: Entirely shot in USA

7. distribution • Certificate: 12A & 15 (there was controversy over the amount of gore and blood in the film, especially with the children, so 12 and 15 editions were made). www.thehungergames.co.uk

8. RELEASE DATES • USA: 12 March 2012 • UK: 23 March 2012 • (Most countries’ release date was the 23rd, including Italy, France, Australia and Germany) • Multiplex release (probably also Arthouse) • Box Office Takings (US) Opening Weekend: $152,535,747 Gross: $407,999,255

9. Audiences • www.hungergamestrilogy.net is a fanstie for the Hunger Games franchise, it includes forums, updates, fan of the week and organised events for the fans • IMDB users gave a star rating of 7.3 • Empire gave the film 4 stars (excellent) • Verdict: As thrilling and smart as it is terrifying. There have been a number of big-gun literary series brought to screen over the past decade. This slays them all.

10. Quotes • “May the odds be ever in your favour” – Katnis Everdeen • “Hope. It’s the only thing stronger than fear.” – President Snow • “A triumph of restraint” – Empire • “The action has to be compelling, urgent and it has to be in the first-person.” – Gary Ross