No New Info in the 'Mockingjay' Article From SFX Magazine

"Hunger Games 3: All You Need to Know" was splashed across the top of the latest issue of SFX Magazine. Unfortunately inside there's no new Mockingjay information, it's basically a catch-up (albeit one with major spoilers). Don't play with our poor Mockingjay news-starved emotions, SFX!

And I don't even need to tell you how we feel about "Hunger Games 3." You'll make it up to us later, right guys?

From SFX:

What's Katniss Up To Now?
When we last saw the bowing belle of District 12, she was being carted off by rebels to the fabled-and-decidedly-unwiped-out District 13. So expect Katniss to spend a goodly portion of Mockingjay Part 1 mulling over her new propaganda role in the revolution - as the iconic Mockingjay - before inevitably taking a leading role in the decisive battle against President Snow and the Capitol, a battle that'll take a devastating personal toll on our Kat.

So we'll get to see District 13 this time...
Yep, and it's there that the reluctant pin-up Katniss meets a whole new set of characters.  Chief among these are the propaganda team, led by Natalie Dormer's shaven-headed Cressida alongside Messalla (Evan Ross) and photojournos Castor and Pollux (Wes Chatham and Elden Henson). Another fan-favourite is Kat's bodyguard Boggs (Mahershala Ali) who'll lead a climactic sortie into the Capitol.

Who's pulling the revolutionary strings?
Every revolution needs its Lenin - but is Alma Coin its Stalin? The biggest addition to Panem's expanding role of characters is Coin, District 13's president. When casting the role - as with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jeffrey Wright - Team Hunger Games have pushed the button marked "class in a morally ambiguous glass": Julianne Moore.

Sounds like things are really about to, er, catch fire...
With the grand finale getting split, [we'll bet $5] on the big movie axe landing just as Katniss - on that major assignment to the Capitol - finds herself taking charge of the big push to President Snow's house: the book's biggest setpiece in the absence of the usual Hunger Games.
"The Capitol IS the arena," suggests director Francis Lawrence, who'll now get to kick off the otherwise action-light Part 2 with the majority of the battle's intense warfare. In retaliation, we'd reckon the book's other skirmishes - the rescuing of (brainwarped) Peeta, the hoverbomber assault on District 8 - become heftier action beats.

Surely some people won't make it out alive
Katniss' little sister Prim, due to a tragic ending at the Capitol battle's finale, will live to see at least another movie, we think. "I'm just trying to avoid thinking about it right now," says actress Willow Shields. "It's one of those scenes that I feel is going to be one of those really sad days, but it could be really cool to shoot."

How are they adapting to the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman?
The awful news of Philip Seymour Hoffman's passing inevitably caused the Hunger Games team some some issues. While he'd finished his Part 1 scenes as secret rebel leader Plutarch Heavensbee, he still had filming left to do on the franchise's finale. They're not recasting though, with sources suggesting they'll go down the digital double route, with some judicious character-shifting.

When to expect it?
Mockingjay Part 1 will be out on November 21 2014 with Part 2 out one year later.

Thousands Lined up for the 'Mockingjay' Casting Call in Berlin

Tributes at the Mockingjay casting call in Berlin. Photo courtesy Berlin MorgenpostThousands of people queued up for the Mockingjay casting call at the Delphi Movie Palace in Berlin today. According to Berlin Morgenpost, over 3500 people were funneled through the theater by 11:00am today and the line was still growing. We've translated the article for you here but keep in mind that we're not expert German translators, so it may be a bit rough! And they aren't stating "officially" that this casting is for Mockingjay but it seems like pretty common knowledge unofficially.

Photo courtesy Focus online

From Berlin Morgenpost (translated):

The human chain, hundreds of meters long, snakes down the street to the Delphi Film Theatre. People of all colors: blond, dark, light-skinned, Asian, dark-skinned, tall, short. They all hope to be part of a major Hollywood production.

The Berlin-based agency "Film Faces" is doing the extras casting. The first to arrive came two hours before admission. Wwin brothers Burkhard and Stefan Klimek have been in line longer, "For the past eight hours we've been here", says Burkhard, "but it's still fun. The weather is beautiful, the people are nice."

The 49-year-olds have acting experience. What are their chances of success? "Well, we have the twin advantage," they say at the same time and have to laugh.

The agency had sent out the first casting call for gaunt Mediterranean or Asian-looking men with eccentric, character faces and tattoos. The twins have long black hair and easygoing faces.

Shortly before 10:00 am it begins. Agency head Johanna Ragwitz starts the process. "And nobody has to sing and dance," she calls out to the crowd, which now pushes into the cinema. Fill in the application form, take a photo, and you're done. "Is Dieter here?", calls a young man. "No, and Heidi's not here either" answers Ragwitz.

They're referring to Dieter Bohlen, the judge of StarSearch Germany and Model-mom Heidi Klum. Inside there is the registration list. Categories on the list: eye color, hair color, hair length. "Hair length" asks Stefan Klimek. "Maybe one meter," his brother comes to the rescue. The dress size question triggers a frown and shrug.

Actually, the movie they're casting is not official yet. The rumor has spread anyway. It is said to be Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2, the third and fourth "Hunger Games" films. Actress Jennifer Lawrence announced at the premiere of Catching Fire that they'd be shooting in Berlin soon.

However, the casting Agency and Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam remain silent on what film is actually being cast. Also, access to the movie theater, where the candidates are getting photographed, remains restricted only to those applying. Actually, the agency allowed access at first, but shortly thereafter restricted access.

Shortly after 11:00am, police estimate that 3,500 people have already been funneled through the cinema.

Video of the queue for the Mockingjay casting in Berlin today.

Read the original casting call post here.

'Mockingjay' Wraps in Atlanta

According to Mockingjay producer Nina Jacobson, filming has wrapped in Atlanta. They'll head to Europe soon to shoot in Paris and Berlin. Filming is expected to continue until early June.

Marian Green, our District 9 female tribute in Catching Fire was also busy on twitter today! She revealed that she's also been working on Mockingjay. We're assuming it's as a stunt woman or stunt double but we'll have to wait and see.

Update on 2014-04-19 19:06 by Dan McCall

Francis Lawrence addd his thanks to the Atlanta Mockingjay crew with this tweet on Saturday:

It's Officially Not Official! No 'Mockingjay' Teaser Trailer at Cannes

Sooooo, this morning a very nice Cannes Film Festival blog, Cannes Coverage, posted a tweet that said they had confirmed a Mockingjay teaser trailer would debut at Cannes. We also know from this January Variety article that there will be a Mockingjay marketing presence at the film festival, but it's NEVER been confirmed that a trailer will be released there. Just speculation and hope (and we have certainly been guilty of both here at Panempropaganda).

Lionsgate has confirmed with us this morning that there will NOT be a trailer shown at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Adam Vary of Buzzfeed also confirmed with the studio (see his tweet here) that there is no Mockingjay teaser trailer planned for the festival.

FYI, studios deal behind the scenes at the Cannes Film Festival to acquire films and sell existing properties to foreign buyers. Cannes is basically the marketplace for the international film industry. Lionsgate will certainly present something to foreign film distributors at the festival. Lionsgate marketing head Tim Palen:

“A big part of the second film [Catching Fire] was growing the franchise, and the greatest potential was international,” he says. “We did a major presentation to distributors in Cannes, and did six premieres outside the U.S. And we still have room to grow. We’ve matched Iron Man 3 on domestic, but we can do better on international.”

What does this mean for fans? Cannes is a huge show - last year there was a massive Catching Fire beach party to celebrate the Covergirl partnership, lots of marketing presence and red carpet appearances by Jennifer Lawrence, Sam Claflin, Liam Hemsworth and Francis Lawrence. But it was all very hush-hush right up until early May. So, if you like pretty cast pictures and marketing reveals (hey - we LOVE them!) the Cannes Film Festival could be a bonanza for you this year.

But no Mockingjay teaser trailer at Cannes. At least that's the "official" word for now.

First Casting Call For 'Mockingjay' In Berlin!

 

The first extras casting call has gone out for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay in Berlin! Our friends at Mockingjay.net first discovered this post in a German newspaper Berliner Morgenpost. I've re-translated it here for you so it's a little bit easier to read and understand. Such exciting news! German tributes - let us know if you get a peek at any of the filming.

From Berliner Morgenpost:

Hollywood returns to the region – and many can join. The casting agents of Berlin agency “Film Faces” are looking for approximately 1000 extras for an international film which shoots in the early summer at, among other places,studio Babelsberg in Potsdam. The applicants should have “character” faces, as the agency said. The men must be between 18 and 65 years, and of foreign nationality – for example African, Asians, south Europeans and Middle-Eastern as well as African-Americans.

The casting call boasts working alongside actress Jennifer Lawrence (23) in the American science fiction film, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. At the German premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Lawrence announced she’d be returning soon to Berlin. That time is finally here. Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 are being shot in different locations around Berlin and Brandenberg. Studio Babelsberg have already started pre-production on the project. Studio spokesman Eike Wolf did not want to confirm this for “privacy reasons” however.

"Film Faces" will be casting for extras 26 April in Berlin at the Delphi Movie Palace. Those picked should expect one to three days of shooting.

VIDEO: Sam Claflin on His 'Mockingjay' Annie Cresta, "Stef Dawson and I Are Like Best of Mates"

Sam Claflin recently told Digital Spy that he and his co-star Stef Dawson (who plays Finnick's love Annie Cresta) are, "like best of mates."

Sam Claflin bonded with his The Hunger Games: Mockingjay co-star Stef Dawson over Twitter before the pair became good friends.

"We got in touch via tweet immediately when the news broke," revealed Claflin, who will play District 4 tribute Finnick Odair opposite Dawson's Annie Cresta in the franchise's two-part finale.

"The moment she set foot on the Mockingjay set, the two of us are like best of mates. She's great."

Is Lionsgate Using Our Designs in Their Propaganda Posters?

Panem banners from the Mockingjay set in AtlantaIt's been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, color us flattered! New photos from the set of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay feature a propaganda poster that is flatteringly close to the one our site co-founder and Art Director Dan McCall designed for our site back in 2012. I guess The Capitol is always watching! Hey Lionsgate, need an art director for your marketing campaign? Call me!

Our original propaganda designs by Dan McCall

If you dig these designs you can get them on all kinds of different products in our Cafe Press store HERE.

New 'Mockingjay' Set Photos Feature Jennifer Lawrence, Capitol Citizens, Peacekeepers

Hooray! New Mockingjay set photos are here! Thanks to the Daily Mail we have a peek at The Hunger Games: Mockingjay set in Atlanta and a tiny sliver of Jennifer Lawrence's beautiful mug inside a voluminous hood (most of the pics feature her stunt double), some Peacekeepers and Capitol citizens.

Looks like Jackson Spidell, who played our District 10 tribute in Catching Fire and was Sam Claflin's stunt double is also playing a Peacekeeper in Mockingjay. He has his helmet off in the photo below.

The large stone objects above are called Czech hedgehogs. They are an anti-tank defense that were widely used by Soviets in World War II. Czech hedgehogs were especially effective in urban combat, where a single hedgehog could block an entire street. They became a symbol of "defence at all cost" in the Soviet Union. Sounds like a perfect fit for The Capitol. (thanks to our followers Don Carpenter and Liam Baker for this info!)

Swan House Preps For 'Mockingjay' Return

Swan House stood in for President Snow's mansion in the Catching Fire party sceneAccess Atlanta's Jennifer Brett was on the Mockingjay set today and she spoke with Jeffrey Ellis of Atlanta Creative Studios, the team responsible for transforming Swan House into President Snow's mansion. Mockingjay will return to film at Swan House in the next week or so.

Workers are putting in long hours to ready Swan House for Mockingjay. All photos Jennifer Brett/AccessAtlanta

From Access Atlanta:

President Snow has some sumptuous accommodations awaiting him in Buckhead as Mockingjay continues filming in Atlanta.

The elegant Swan House, site of a good bit of filming for Catching Fire, is readying for the return of the Hunger Games series.

Catching Fire filmed in areas including the dining room, an outside courtyard and an upstairs room in scenes featuring Donald Sutherland's character, President Snow, along with lead Jennifer Lawrence's character, Katniss Everdeen and others.

This time, workers are prepping a downstairs room to serve as Snow's quarters. The room, normally stately and sort of subdued, has been rendered positively resplendent by Jeffery Ellis and his team at Atlanta Creative Studios.

Jeffrey Ellis preps a room in the Swan House for Mockingjay filming. Photo by Jeenifer Brett/Access Atlanta"We've been busting it," he said, and by that he means working long and hard hours. Initially he thought workers could spray-paint the ceiling and do the detail work by hand. But the Swan House and spray paint have nothing in common. All the work must be done by hand, to protect the interior of the home, on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center.

"They said, you're not spray-painting anything!" Ellis said. He also worked on Catching Fire, and other projects have included The Walking Dead, Zombieland, Stomp the Yard and a number of Tyler Perry productions. He also does corporate work but enjoys the hustle of movie-set design.

"The time element" is the biggest challenge, he said. "They keep changing it. You'll finish and they'll say, 'what about this?'"

There's a joke among folks in his line of work:

Q: How many artistic directors does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Does it have to be a lightbulb? Could we try something else?

You get the idea.

Mockingjay is due to return in the next week or so, and as Ellis' team works inside, a crew outside is prepping some of the exterior areas. The outside of the Swan House was featured extensively in Catching Fire party scenes but Ellis wasn't able to say exactly what will be going on this time. He did salute everyone at the Swan House.

"All the people here are great," he said.

Josh Hutcherson "Called To Set" - Misses Kentucky Sports Radio Appearance

Josh at the UK game in December '13

Josh Hutcherson missed his scheduled Kentucky Sports Radio appearance this morning because, as his mom relayed to fans listening to the show, he was "called to shoot a scene" on the Mockingjay set in Atlanta. Josh's mom Michelle was on the broadcast and couldn't patch him through to the show.

The only consolation if you wasted TWO HOURS waiting for Josh's voice is that's he's back on the Mockingjay set! He's BACK ON THE MOCKINGJAY SET!!

A little birdy tells us Josh was on set today to film a movie exclusive scene from Mockingjay Part 1. Possibly some behind the scenes footage of Peeta in the Capitol? *cue sobbing*

Natalie Dormer Featured in GQ's April Issue

Image courtesy sylviagetyourheadouttheoven.tumblr.comNatalie Dormer is featured in the April issue of GQ and talks a bit about her transformation into "bad-ass" documentarian Cressida for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2.

Image courtesy sylviagetyourheadouttheoven.tumblr.comShout out to the clipper-happy groomers at The Hunger Games: Mockingjay who shaved half of Dormer's head for her role as "bad-ass" documentarian Cressida. (She'll be in both finale installments.) She didn't mourn very long for her lost mane before moving, she says, into "Phase 'Rock It Out.'"
In other words, despite her milkmaid face and her rosebud mouth - usually fridge magnet askew - the buzz cut gives her a "shitload of attitude." Which is good because that's kind of her thing.

The recovering tomboy and adrenaline junkie lives like the kind of action-movie lead she hopes to be someday. She's currently training for the London marathon, would rather you NOT open difficult jars for her, thanks, and picked up a scuba diving addiction after filming an underwater crash scene at some "post-Iron Curtain leisure center" (her words) in the Czech Republic. "I love going out of my comfort zone. I LIVE to go out of my comfort zone," she says. Obviously, you have quieter years than others - you don't go jumping out of a plane every day."

'Mockingjay' Moving Back To Swan House + Last Chance Extras Casting

According to Access Atlanta, Mockingjay will return to The Swan House very soon to film additional scenes:
 
The historic building on the grounds of the Atlanta History Center was the site for a good bit of filming for "Catching Fire," the second in the "Hunger Games" series. Elaborate party scenes were filmed on the grounds and interior scenes were filmed in the dining room. An upstairs room served as President Snow's office.

The series finale, "Mockingjay," which will be split into two movies, returns in a few weeks. The Swan House staff is readying for the movie's return by emptying out the living room on the main level, close to the dining room.

Additionally, CLCasting, who have been doing most of the extras casting for Mockingjay Parts 1 & 2, have announced a "Last Chance" opportunity for casting in the "Untitled Trilogy" (which we all know is MJ). The types they need are things like "GREAT LOOKING MEN AND WOMEN" for a "Mansion" scene, "Peacekeepers," and "Council Men and Women." All of these parts shoot between March 26th and April 17th, which is supposedly the last day of shooting in Atlanta.   

Sounds like they could be shooting the scenes in Mockingjay where Katniss and Snow have their final confrontation in his quarters, where Katniss reaches City Circle and Snow Mansion, and maybe even you-know-what (major twist) scene on the front lawn of Snow Mansion.  And if you don't, go back and read Chapter 26.

Director Francis Lawrence talks about this particular scene in the Catching Fire filmmaker commentary:

"It was fun to design the entrance to [Snow's] house that will become key in the next movies, in Mockingjay. The entrance from the square - there's a big scene that takes place in Mockingjay right outside the house here."

Thanks to our friend strawberrycupcakeprincess for the tip!

Producer Nina Jacobson Tweets a Photo of Buttercup On The Mockingjay Set

Who knew a picture of a CAT could give me so many feels?! Mockingjay producer Nina Jacobson tweeted this set photo of Prim's beloved cat with the caption, "Resting between takes." Awwww!

Win a Trip To The Set of 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay'!

You could witness movie making live and in person on the set of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay!

For a small donation to the Kristen Ann Carr Fund, you will be entered to win a trip for you and a guest to Atlanta to spend a day with producer Jon Kilik on the set! (flights and two night hotel accommodations included)

Jon will personally show you around, introduce you to some of the cast members who are working that day, watch behind the scenes and have lunch with you on set!

*The Hunger Games: Mockingjay set visit experience will take place on April 14, 15 or 16. Enter HERE by April 4th.

Mockingjay's Boggs Talks Jennifer Lawrence and Philip Seymour Hoffman

Mahershala Ali (Boggs) spoke with Vulture about his current role as Remy Danton on House of Cards, and they also managed to sneak in a couple of questions about Mockingjay.

You’re also in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. Does Jennifer Lawrence fall down a lot on set?

[Laughs.] No, she stays on her feet on set, unless it’s written that she falls down. And I’d have to say that, out of everyone, she’s the coolest.

Can you talk at all about the rewrites that had to happen after Philip Seymour Hoffman died?

There’s one scene in particular that he really has to be in, and I think they’re going to address that with new technology that’s available to them now. But other than that, he’d already shot a lot of the stuff in part one and some key scenes in part two. He just was really wonderful to work with. Such an education coming to work and seeing him break down scenes and make suggestions and just raise the bar — like, take something that is almost a throwaway line and make it into something that is so much more important than what it was even intended to be. I’ve never seen anyone — and I’ve had the opportunity to work with some really terrific actors in my time — but Philip Seymour Hoffman is definitely the best I ever had the opportunity to work with.

Read the article at Vulture.com

Francis Lawrence Talks about the Loss of Philip Seymour Hoffman

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence spoke with USA Today about the sudden loss of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman:

The Atlanta cast and crew of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay were devastated when they learned of cast member Phillip Seymour Hoffman's sudden death, says director Francis Lawrence.

"It was obviously very rough for all of us," Lawrence tells USA TODAY. "He was a friend. He was an amazing actor, an iconic actor. He was someone I really looked up to."

On the Atlanta set, filmmakers gave shocked and bereaved cast and crew members time to process their grief. "We shut down for a day to give people time to deal with the sudden shock of it all. And to try and sort of figure things out a little bit," says Lawrence.

After coming back to work, the entire cast and crew gathered for a special moment to pay respects to Hoffman.

"We as a cast and crew definitely honored him," says Lawrence. "We gathered everyone together and had a big moment for him. We still think about him every day. It's hard not to imagine him being here."

"It's something so sudden, so shocking," Lawrence added.

Hoffman starred as head gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The Academy Award winner had been shooting his role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 in Atlanta. A European shoot was to follow.

Hoffman's death is not expected to affect therelease dates of Mockingjay, Part 1 on November 21and Mockingjay, Part 2 on November 20, 2015.

Lawrence said Hoffman was "mostly finished" with his work on the Mockingjay set.

"There was very, very little that was left. Even if (Hoffman) had a number of days left," says Lawrence. "Most of those moments were appearances in other scenes. Most of his dialogue was done."

Clearly, working with the loss of the key character will lead to some continued difficulties.

"We're still figuring some of that out," says Lawrence.

Natalie Dormer on 'Mockingjay' and the "Joy of Being Around Jen and the Boys."

Natalie Dormer talked to Stephen Milton of Independent.ie about being a "hostage" in the recent Atlanta "Snow-apocalypse" in Atlanta while filming Mockingjay. She also spoke a little about working with the cast and shaving her head for the role. Sounds like production will wrap in June:

I anticipate Natalie Dormer will soon regale me with smug woes of sweltering brows and peeling sunburn when she answers her hotel room phone in Atlanta.

"Are you joking," she dolefully chuckles, "we're in a declared state of emergency here. It's 'Snow-apocalypse'. I'm a total hostage."

Admittedly, it's February and the Northern US has been experiencing a 'mild' touch of the Arctic conditions of late. Though one figures the steamy Peach State would escape the chill.

And, turns out, the production team of the new Hunger Games chapter, Mockingjay, was also of the same mind.

"Shooting's come to a complete halt. And I wouldn't mind but I'm now sporting half a shaven head. The need for woolly hats has never been greater."

The cupid bow-lipped siren – initially known for a flounced-up searing portrayal of Anne Boleyn in The Tudors and then, transcending the 16th century for Game of Thrones middle age of yore as Margaery Tyrell, Prince Joffrey's affiance – has flipped the bird to her 'bodiced' typecast by giving half her noggin the blade one treatment for the upcoming role as freedom fighter, Cressida, in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2.

Debuting the look at the SAG awards last month, it magnified her feline features, showcasing a comfortable versatility.

And Natalie, who stars alongside Brenda Fricker in this weekend's release, A Long Way from Home, was actually willing to go fully bald for the cause.

"When I got the job a few months ago, it was under the condition that I was going to lose all my hair, which I'd made my peace with. "Thankfully, a U-turn meant I only lost half, which was a huge bonus.

"But it's just a colossal production to be a part of and the joy of being able to get physical and run around with Jen [Lawrence] and the boys, is fantastic and long overdue for me. It's frustrating when you're Margaery Tyrell and the likelihood of getting a sword in your hand is pretty low."

Shooting continues in Atlanta until the end of March, before moving to Paris and Berlin, with a wrap date looking to be around the beginning of June.

Read more from the article about Natalie's roles in Game of Thrones and A Long Way From Home HERE.

Julianne Moore on 'Mockingjay' - "We have a Huge Responsibility"

Julianne Moore has admitted that her role as President Alma Coin in the upcoming The Hunger Games: Mockingjay comes with a "huge responsibility to the book".

"There are some things that have been written that the fans are adamant be there," Moore told Digital Spy exclusively. "We're taking that responsibility very seriously."

Moore also said playing US politician Sarah Palin in Game Change didn't influence her portrayal of Mockingjay's ruthless President.

"They don't have a whole lot to do with one another. When you're playing a real person, all your research is really about how that person speaks and moves and is physically."

'Mockingjay' Producer Nina Jacobson Tweets About Tigris!

Mockingjay Part 1 & 2 producer Nina Jacobson has been teasing the crap out of us this week and we LOVE it! She already got us totally riled up with her white rose tweet yesterday, and today she pretty much confirmed that Tigris will be a part of Mockingjay (almost certainly Part 2). Tigris is a small but key character and it's great to see that she's going to make it to the screen. No casting has been officially confirmed yet, but I certainly can't wait to see how they bring her to life!

Update on 2014-02-28 17:46 by Dan McCall

Another Tigris Tweet! Check out Nina's latest update about Tigris in the Mockingay movies.