Suzanne Collins Talks About The Movie Script

Lionsgate just posted this on the official Facebook page:

Now that the filming of The Hunger Games has begun, I've been getting a lot of questions about the script, so I thought I might share a little of my experience with you. Back in early 2010, Color Force and Lionsgate began the process of adapting the book to the screen and I wrote the first draft of the script. After that, we brought on veteran screenwriter Billy Ray to further develop the piece. Not only has he written and directed excellent films like Shattered Glass and Breach, he was a complete pleasure to work with. Amazingly talented, collaborative, and always respectful of the book. His adaptation further explored the world of Panem and its inhabitants. As though I wasn't lucky enough, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Gary Ross, known for his wonderful works such as Seabiscuit and Pleasantville, came on board.

As part of his creative process, he wrote a subsequent draft which incorporated his incredible directorial vision of the film. And then he very generously invited me in to work with him on it. We had an immediate and exhilarating creative connection that brought the script to the first day of shooting. Of course, the piece will naturally continue to evolve through the filming, as the actors bring the characters to life, as the entire crew brings their significant talents to the piece, as the editors work with Gary to best realize his vision. The final draft will be on the screen next March.

So that's been the script process, and as an author, I'm truly grateful for the journey.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

Suzanne Collins

source the-hunger-games

Rue's Lullaby with voice and guitar by Elly

Lyrics taken from The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. wait for the harmony! I like harmony. I'm just a fan who thought it would be fun to interpret what that song would sound like as more than just lyrics.

One night I just sat down and it didn't take too long to throw some chords together. I didn't record more than a couple times so I realize it's not perfect. It's my first video (well not really video) but I hope that you enjoy it. If you don't enjoy, then go read the hunger games and enjoy that instead, and if you don't enjoy that... well.....then I just don't understand you.

Lyrics! :

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your eyes
And when they open, the sun will rise

Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet--
--and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away

Here it's safe, and here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet--
-- and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.

Here is the place where I love you.

Suzanne Collins on writing a 'Hunger Games' movie: 'You have to let things go'

A gutsy bow-and-arrow wielding 16-year-old rules the best-seller charts these days — Katniss Everdeen, the tough-as-nails star of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy. The series’ first book (Hunger Games) alone has more than 2.9 million copies in print and spent over 100 consecutive weeks on the New York Times list. Collins (one of EW’s 2010 Entertainers of the Year) dreamed up Games a few years ago while channel surfing, when images of reality TV and the Iraq war melded in her head. Her books’ dystopian world features a government that does whatever it takes to control its citizens, even holding an annual lottery that pits the unlucky winners — all children — against one another, fighting to the death in an outdoor arena while the country watches on TV. Collins, who’s gotten some flak for the kid-on-kid violence in the three books (Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay), has responded by pointing to the powerful anti-war message in her story. And she also notes that not everyone sees the books as war novels. “People view the books differently — as romance, as dystopian, as action adventure, as political,” she tells EW. “So there seems to be more than one way into the story.”

If somehow you still have not heard of Katniss and her District 12 cohorts, you will soon. Now that the book series is finished (with Mockingjay‘s publication in August), all eyes are on the upcoming Hunger Games movies. The first film, which will be helmed by Seabiscuit director Gary Ross, isn’t due out until 2012, but fans are already arguing feverishly over who should play Katniss on the big screen — Kaya Scodelario? Alexandra Daddario? Emma Watson? Fortunately, Collins, a seasoned scriptwriter with several kids’ shows under her belt, wrote the first draft of the screenplay herself and says Lionsgate, who acquired the books, has “established a dialogue with me, making me feel my input was valuable and welcome.”

“Obviously, you have to let things go,” she says of the process, “but it’s more than a question of condensation. You want to preserve the essence while making the film stand on its own. It’s an art in itself.”

source: ew.com

Hunger Games Movie – Auditions and Writing

The word is that auditions have started for The Hunger Games movie. The Hunger Games Trilogy fansite posted on their facebook page this morning that they’ve had confirmation that casting is underway. But they also say that it seems that if you do want to audition you’ll need an agent. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring you more information as soon as possible.

In the meantime Entertainment Weekly has spoken to Suzanne Collins about The Hunger Games movie. Ms Collins defends the kid-on-kid violence in the three books, pointing to the powerful anti-war message in the story. She also told EW that she recognises that not everyone sees the books as war novels.

“People view the books differently — as romance, as dystopian, as action adventure, as political,” she tells EW. “So there seems to be more than one way into the story.”

Ms Collins wrote the first draft of the screenplay herself and explained that while Lionsgate acquired the books they established a dialogue with her, to get her input and feedback. “Obviously, you have to let things go,” she says of the process, “but it’s more than a question of condensation. You want to preserve the essence while making the film stand on its own. It’s an art in itself.”

myhungergames.com

Suzanne Collins on 2010 Entertainer of The Year List!

There’s a new girl in town, and her name is Katniss Everdeen, the savvy, gutsy, bow and- arrow-wielding heroine of the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay). Katniss is the brainchild of Suzanne Collins, 48, the children’s-book author who dreamed up Games a few years ago while channel surfing, when images of reality TV and the Iraq war melded in her head. From that flash of inspiration, Collins fashioned the dystopian world of the Hunger Games, where an authoritarian Capitol forces its districts to hand over two “tributes” each year—teens who must fight to the death in an outdoor arena while the country watches on TV. If that sounds graphic, it is, and Collins has been criticized by some for the kid-on-kid violence. But the privacy-loving author, who granted EW a rare interview, believes the books pack a powerful antiwar message. “My dad was career Air Force, a Vietnam vet, and a doctor of political science,” she explains. “He felt very strongly about educating his children about war. And in turn, I feel drawn to creating stories for kids that might help them understand it.”

All three books have burned up the charts. The Hunger Games alone has more than 2.9 million copies in print and spent over 100 consecutive weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Now that the series is finished (Collins says, definitively, that Katniss’ story “was concluded in Mockingjay”), all eyes are on the upcoming movies. Lionsgate optioned The Hunger Games, and Collins, a seasoned scriptwriter with several kids’ shows under her belt, wrote the first draft of the screenplay. “Adapting a book into a two-hour viewing experience is a challenge,” she says. “You want to preserve the essence while making the film stand on its own.” With the script completed, fans are arguing feverishly over who should play Katniss—but the film, tentatively scheduled for 2012, hasn’t been cast. And though Collins has yet to meet Games’ director, Gary Ross, “we’ve spoken twice on the phone, and I think he’s going to be terrific. He’s full of genuine excitement; when he talks about a scene, you can’t help visualizing it. I can’t wait to see his vision come to life on the screen.”
source Entertainment Weekly - via mockingjay.net

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