Jennifer Lawrence and Sam Claflin Talks About Their Characters in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

In a recent interview with Hufftington Post (via Teen Vogue), Jennifer Lawrence and Sam Claflin talks about their characters in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The two also discussed about their characters' interaction in the film as well as their physical training.

Jennifer, what did it feel like to revisit your character for the second time?
Jennifer Lawrence: It was kind of weird to go back because I had this idea when I first signed on to the franchise that it would get boring playing the same character. I've never done that -- I've always played a brand new character. Katniss is the same character but in completely new circumstances. She's changed.

Was it important for you to set a certain tone on set as the leading lady?
JL: Yeah, I needed everyone to know I was in charge. (Laughs) I just wanted everyone to be comfortable. When there are new people, it can get awkward, but everyone was so great -- including you, Sam.
Sam Claflin: I first bumped into you at stunt training. Your archery put me to shame. I was quite intimidated.
JL: By the sight of my face.
SC: Yea. It really put me off. (Laughs) No, obviously you are a good role model.

How will your characters interact with each other in the movie? You have a... complicated relationship.
JL: Finnick is the most seductive man in the Capitol. At first Katniss is very put off by him, but the more she learns about him, the more she starts to understand and respect him. They become weird friends.
SC: He has charm and charisma going for him, but deep down he has insecurities, which overshadow his "external beauty."

Sam, Finnick has a very physical role. How did you train?
SC: I had quite the journey. If you read the description of Finnick in the book, then pin my face next to that, there's quite a long way to go.
JL: He was drastically overweight.
SC: I was definitely not in shape. There was a lot of training involved. Months and months of eating the same meals every day. Omelet in the morning, protein shake in the afternoon. The same routine of gym and stunt training. I'm happy with the end result. I did the best I could.
JL: You can't diet on these movies. It's impossible.
SC: It's pretty tough.

You shot most of the movie in Atlanta but the arena scenes took place in Oahu. How was Hawaii?
JL: Oh, it was like a different movie. Try being stressed in Hawaii, I dare you.
SC: There's something about Hawaii where you step off the plane and you feel really chill. Spiritually, it was like a different film. The crew and cast were downsized and it felt more like a small family unit.
JL: We went swimming in between takes. We would go paddle boarding at lunch. It was amazing. But the scenes got a lot more intense. Things get terrifying.

There was a lot of paparazzi following you guys on this journey. Did that make it hard while you were filming intense scenes?
SC: They weren't around when we were doing scenes so much. It was worse during our downtime.
JL: I mean, paparazzi suck all the time. When you're working, it's distracting and when you're not working, it's annoying. I don't feel like anyone is entitled to know what we're doing on our weekends and for some reason, the world thinks they are. That's just how I feel.
SC: I was lucky. I didn't have to deal with it as much as her and Josh -- partly because no one knows who I am. I'm lucky.

Jennifer, have you given Sam any advice?
JL: I told him that everything's going to change really fast. I haven't really stopped working, which has been exhausting, but also a blessing because I don't have time to think about it.
SC: I've had a very busy year thus far and when this film comes out, we'll be in the middle of shooting the next one! It's going to be another busy year.

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Sam Claflin on Finnick Odair and His Training for Catching Fire

Sam Claflin was able to discuss his role as Finnick in "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," how he trained, and his reactions when he first knew he got the role. Watch the video below and see Sam discuss those things in his photoshoot with Teen Vogue.

TEEN VOGUE: Aloha, Sam! Congratulations on scoring the role of Finnick Odair. How did this all go down?

SAM CLAFLIN: Yeah, so they decided to go with me as opposed to any of the other young, hot, good-looking actors out there. [Laughs] I auditioned like everyone else. I didn’t know what it was for before I went in, and I hadn’t read the books. Looking at the page with a character named Finnick, I was like, Who the heck is Finnick? And then I saw Katniss on the page, and I was like, Ahh, OK, maybe this is The Hunger Games. Then they decided they would dye my hair blonde, and presto, there’s your Finnick Odair!

TV: Do you like your blonde hair?

SC: It’s definitely taking some getting used to. I have a tan and a six-pack now after four months of hard work. I feel slowly but surely like I am Finnick Odair.

TV: Your training sounds intense!

SC: From the moment I set foot in Atlanta, they had me at the gym, working out twice a day. And then stunt training, it’s nonstop. To be fair, I spend a lot of the film carrying an old lady on my back, as Finnick carries Mags for the majority of the arena scenes. I feel like every day of filming is a workout, running around Hawaii with little old Lynn Cohen on my back. As for my diet, I think I’ve eaten more chickens than there are in the world. [Laughs] I would eat chicken and asparagus for lunch and dinner, and for breakfast I’d have an omelet and oatmeal. And I had that every day for four months. I’ve talked to my friends and said, “Oh my God, I’m so depressed, I just want a burger.” And they’re like, “You don’t know how lucky you are to be doing what you are doing.”

TV: What makes Finnick such a great character to play?

SC: There are so many complexities to this character. Finnick has a tempestuous relationship with Katniss—she trusts him one minute, and the next she doesn’t. I love their relationship. Together they eventually realize they need each other to survive, and that is beautiful.

TV: What can we expect from Finnick? Can you give us a little teaser?

SC: All I can say is I try very hard and hopefully I won’t disappoint people. He’s a very charming physical being, and hopefully he will be exactly what people read in the book and I won’t be doing an injustice. I purposefully did not want to watch anything I’ve done so far; I actually don’t like looking at my face, so I don’t like watching myself on the screen. It’s an insecurity thing I have. I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, I think, and I strive for perfection. The reason I’m an actor is because I’ll never be able to be perfect. I hope people enjoy my interpretation. Hopefully we’ll make a bigger and better one this time around.

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Hunger Games Movie's Cato Talks Pranks and Getting the Role

Here is an article from Teen Vogue on its interview with Alexander Ludwig, the actor who plays Cato in the Hunger Games.

In The Hunger Games, he plays one of the film's most menacing villains: As Cato, a so-called "career Tribute"—a boy raised practically from birth to excel in the murderous contest at the center of this dystopian story—Alexander Ludwig wields his sword with ominous efficiency.

But in real life, it appears, the Vancouver-raised 19-year-old is about as intimidating as a teddy bear. For proof, consider his anecdote about life on the set of this spring's most anticipated movie. "One day," he says, "I was totally sweaty and exhausted after a day of fighting, and I walked into my trailer. I'd already taken off my costume, so I was just in my briefs, and I couldn't find my clothes anywhere! Amandla [Stenberg], who plays Rue, and Jackie [Emerson], who plays Foxface, had hidden them in the fridge."

So it's no surprise that Alexander—a drama major at the University of Southern California who starred in 2009's Race to Witch Mountain—originally auditioned for the part of softhearted Peeta (a role that eventually went to Josh Hutcherson). But when the film's director, Gary Ross, asked him to consider playing the heavy, he agreed without hesitation. "I've never been a bad guy before," he explains, "so I loved the idea." Then he says one thing that his brutish character might agree with: "It's been an honor just to be a part of this."

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Jacqueline Emerson "Foxface" Answers Twitter Questions from Fans Via Teen Vogue

Jacque Emerson, the actress who will play Foxface at the upcoming Hunger Games movie, answers questions from fans from Twitter via Teen Vogue. Here are her answers to the questions.

@Margo15: Did you act out Foxface as you perceived in the book?

The great thing about Foxface is that there isn't a lot in the book. I had a lot of liberty to explore the character and her back-story. I definitely tried to stay as true to the character as I could.

 

@Biigiimeow: What do you think of the books?

Love them. I was a huge fan before I got cast. I think they're really smart.

@Lilbalbi: What was the best part about being involved with the games and working with everyone on set?

Probably meeting everyone. I got to learn so much because every one of my castmates was unbelievably talented. We became such a tight knit family.

@SassyDianaMarie: Foxface is a very independent character. A loner. Any parallels between the two regarding such?

Foxface really figures out the game analytically. She's a critical thinker. If I were ever in the Games, I would think of them that way; I wouldn't go in and fight and try to kill people. I'd think: How can I best beat the games from a mental standpoint? (But I would be running and hiding a lot!)

@daniellenuss: What character would you have liked to play if you didn't land the role of Foxface?

Obviously Katniss is such a strong female lead. We don't have enough of those right now in books and stories. She's an inspirational character. I can't think of anyone who would play her better than Jen. I'd love to play Rue in another universe where I looked more like the character! She's the emotional heart of the story. Caesar Flickerman would be so much fun, because Stanley Tucci is so amazing. Effie would be such a fun character to play, too!

@kissmemissmeXO: Jackie, how long have you acted, and was it a surprise when you got your role in The Hunger Games?

I have been acting since I was six years old and tried out for a production of "Annie." I was completely surprised and unbelievably excited when I got cast! I definitely jumped on my bed a bit...

@a_pittigher: Ask her about her experience with the cast and what she plans to do from here on out.

My experience with the cast was really great. We all became a tight-knit family in the months we were filming together. I'm releasing my new music video really soon (announcing the release date shortly) and I have a couple other projects in the works! I'm really excited! I also am planning on going to college.

Trivia: Jackie is already accepted to Stanford University (where she hopes to major in Performing Arts and Asian Studies).

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New Rue and Glimmer Stills from Teen Vogue Magazine

Hunger Games cast featured in Teen Vogue (March 2012 issue):

On the intense training

Amandla Stenberg: “They would bench-press me as a workout … I was one of their favorite weights!”

On auditioning for the movie

Isabelle Fuhrman: “I read the series thirteen times! … I said to my mom, ‘[Auditioning] is like The Hunger Games. I’m going to win and be in this movie.”

On choosing to play another character in the movie

Leven Rambin chooses Peeta: “It’s a cool duplicity. He has to maintain a front with careers and not offend Katniss. And also be this confident showman.”

Isabelle chooses Haymitch: “It’d be a challenge. He’s hiding a lot more than he lets on.”

Amandla chooses Clove: “I liked Rue and Foxface, but after shooting and seeing Isabelle in action, I think Clove’s character is really cool … even though she’s totally menacing.”

Thanks thehob.org

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