Category Archives: Uncategorized
Leaving It Until Mockingjay
There are a several things I both look forward to and dread where it comes to the up coming adaptations of Mockingjay. Some of them are completely innocuous things, like are they going to get Katniss’ ill fitting shoes right? And then there’s big things like, are they going to adhere to the first person narrative that the novel was told in, and therefore show us Katniss’ trauma addled mind, with its swirls, and utterly terrifying imagery. Personally, I hope they do, like– I really really hope they do. And then there’s my most favorite thing in the world, okay not most, but pretty high up there– the casting of the remaining cast. I’m most nervous, of course, about the casting of three particular characters though, and they are unsurprisingly President Alma Coin, Captain (No First Name) Boggs, and finally Annie Cresta. People have certain performers in mind, I know they do– and I have to be honest, many of the names that are thrown out by your average book reader, and movie fan– are not who I would want to be cast in those roles at all.
Let’s start with Boggs, shall we? I’ve written probably around ten fan-casting articles about Boggs over the last almost two years, and I think they went over pretty well. Several of the actors who I wrote about even approved and thanked me, yep– behold the power of Twitter. Others have sadly retired, I’m talking about Wentworth Miller, who I wrote about a long long time ago. He’s transitioned to being a full-time screenwriter, sort of like our dear Danny Strong. If you’re at all sad about Went leaving acting behind, don’t be– he’s got a BA from Princeton in English literature, therefore he’s finally using his degree, and I’ll bet you money that his academically minded parents are very proud he’s using it after all of these years. Enough about Went!
Here’s my real deal: I’ve tried very hard to be open-minded where it comes to casting of this franchise over all, and Boggs is likely to be a casting decision that the casting director will take artistic license with. Meaning, they’re likely to scrap any or all racial, or ethnic indicators that Collins wrote about him, i.e. his blue eyes. The thought of this kind of bothers me, because I fear that they will cast a stereotype that I keep seeing repeatedly in film, television, and in people’s fan-casting ideas for this role, and also for others. Okay, so what is it? It’s the racial/ ethnic stereotype that a career military person, like Boggs, should be portrayed by a black actor, or a Latino actor. I don’t know where this stereotype came from, but it’s here, and it’s not going anywhere thanks to wonderfully inept films like Avatar, and shows like The Unit. What’s puzzling to me is this though, statistically speaking the military in the US is over 70% white, and only 18% black or Other. So, who do I point fingers at? Hollywood? Ignorance? Do people just want to cast this role ethnic to change things up, what? Or are people okay with Boggs being “token cast”? Call me racist, I dare you, I’ll just laugh at you.
Annie Cresta: We have heard nothing about this role being cast. We only know that Sam Claflin is playing Finnick with Annie Cresta as part of his back-story in mind, as indicated by several interviews Sam has done since he was cast, and since he wrapped on The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. That is literally all we know about Annie Cresta. So, I think I can safely say that because there’s been little to no acknowledgement of this character so far, the fan-casting of this role has stagnated, or is in a really weird ass funk. After Sam was cast as Finnick the name I saw the most, disturbingly, was Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey. I know why this happened on an intellectual level, but on an emotional one– I just sat back and went “say what?” And I said what, because Bergès-Frisbey has one of the thickest Spanish accents I have ever heard, and I have friends who are from Spain. So, to those who are in love with this idea, because Sam and her shared screen time in another franchise– please start thinking outside the box. I’m even thinking outside the box for this one, because oddly enough out of the three characters I’m writing about today, Annie Cresta is the only one I’m 100% on board with them casting with an ethnic actress! And yep, I think some people would put Bergès-Frisbey on an ethnic actress list, but– don’t make me point out that I can’t understand what she’s saying! Too late. I have no ideal for Annie, I just want someone who’s got off the charts chemistry with Sam, and who warms the cockles of my cold dark heart.
President Alma Coin: Oh dear god, are you all still here? I know how fickle, and fleeting people’s attention is on the Internet, so if you’re still reading this, kudos. Alma Coin is a little bit of a hot button topic for me, much like Boggs, but in her case I’m a stickler for a multitude of things about her casting. In my head, or my head canon, which is backed up by Mockingjay I might add, I’ve always thought of Coin as a woman who physically is not how many people have been seeming to imagine her. Let’s go over a few things about District Thirteen: It’s population for over 70 years has been living under ground, this means little to no sun damage has befallen them, and to me this means a lot of them do not look their age. Sun damage increases the aging process for many people, and if you’ve lived your life in an underground complex for 50 years, your skin is probably that of someone 15 years younger who actually sees the sun on a regular basis. Thirteen is a very regimented society, people are scheduled to within an inch of their lives, all the way down to when they eat, what they eat, when they sleep, and where they’re allowed to go. I’d even posit that part of the regimentation for the population is strict exercise regimes for everyone. If you 
can also recall, District Thirteen experienced a devastating health epidemic several years before Katniss and co. showed up, it rendered some people scarred both inside and out, i.e. many people have pock scars on their faces, and are infertile because of the disease. In my head District Thirteen is like District Two without the blood lust. So with all of that in mind when I imagine Alma Coin, a woman in her early 50s, I picture a woman who’s in pique condition physically, she’s un-scarred by the epidemic, although she may have been laid barren because of it, and also because she never had children, she probably looks younger than she actually is. Then there’s the unfounded idea that she’s unattractive. I don’t see that, in fact I see the exact opposite, I see Alma Coin as someone who District Thirteen rallied behind because she’s a symbol of their ideal. Strong, intelligent, and yes– beautiful. Beauty and brains, basically Coin is the Evil Queen from Snow White, or Cinderella‘s step mother, beautiful, cunning– totally fucked in the head.
And nope, I don’t mean the Disney versions, I mean the Grimm’s.
Them There Eyes
So Dead
There’s this phrase that I’ve been hearing far too much for my liking lately, and the phrase is “this fandom is so dead.” Sometimes there are variations to the phrase, like “this fandom is dead…” but that’s not really that much of a change, because it’s just as impacting, just as negative, because the meaning is the same, as well as– um completely misused! I don’t know if any of you out there have ever experienced a fandom actually dying, but I have, and even when a fandom dies, it never really does, especially if it’s a community based around a television series.
Me, I’m a life long X-Phile, that’s a devout fan of The X-Files, which is a television series that premiered 20 years ago this year. It was ground breaking, it was innovative, it was smart, it was thought-provoking, it was scary, emotional, sexy, and hilarious, it was in many ways one of my best friends. Yes, I just called a television show a friend, but it’s true, it was there every Friday night on Fox, until of course it was moved to Sunday nights where it was the ending anchor piece to the night’s line-up of comedies like The Simpson’s, and I think for a time That ’70s Show. Sunday is where I hung out with it for
almost 9 years, Sunday night was a ritual of anticipating hanging out with my good friends Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, Byers, Langly, Frohike (pronounced Fro-hickey), Alex Krykec, (Cry-check), Marita, The Cigarette Smoking Man, The Well Manicured Man, Mr. X. Deep Throat, and yes, even Agent Pendrell, who was sadly never given a first name. That’s until it ended in 2002, and that’s when the lull began, unless you count 2008 when a horrible film that I’m pretending didn’t actually happen, was made and released. However, even after that disastrous film that didn’t happen in my world, even though a friend gave me a copy of it, and I never watched it, because lalalala, stupid movie was stupid– the fandom hasn’t died. You know what it’s doing? It’s napping!
Which is what’s happening with The Hunger Games fandom! It’s napping, or dormant if you prefer. Dead to me means literally and figurativly unable to be revived, no one cares about it anymore, it’s buried, gathering dust, it’s just dead. By that definition The Hunger Games is not dead, because I don’t know if you’re aware of this or not, but we’ve got three 
forth coming films to look forward to, none of them are being put on a shelf, we’re not waiting around 5 years to hear if Katniss’ story will be completed– we know that we’re going to get those three films. So, next time I see someone say “this fandom is dead” I may not be able to control myself, because dead means lifeless, dead means we have absolutely nothing to look forward to, that we’re watching the stars of our favorite whatever do other projects, tuning into them doing interviews on late night talks shows, and hoping, and praying that they get asked a question about that project you wish they would revisit. That is not us! Seriously, it’s not, and while things may be quiet, and a little bit sleepy right now it was only last month that we got out first teaser trailer, which trended on Twitter for a while I recall, and now it’s been viewed 25,054,284 via Youtube. We also got a brand new site launched for our use, and our pleasure, that’s not dead like behavior, that’s very much so alive behavior.
So, if you have the urge to use the word dead to describe this fandom before, say 2016– do yourself the favor, and don’t.
Photobombs, and Fashion
So, Jennifer Lawrence is kind of our resident girl crush du jour here at Victor’s Village. I honestly can’t count how many times Twiffidy or The Girl With The Pearl have gushed over their adoration for her, and I don’t think I’m immune to this kind of behavior either. So, when our dear Mockingjay attends a high profile fashion gala in the fashion capital of the United States, otherwise known as New York City, we pay attention. Or, at least we pay attention to the sound bites, and a few of the pictures, and of course above all, the GIF sets. Jennifer did in fact attend a high profile fashion event in New York City this week, which means she got a break from standing around naked, whilst being painted blue. Yep, Jen’s currently working on the new X-Men film, so going to New York to attend The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute exhibit and gala, was in fact a break– a very glam break. I mean, damn girl, look at you, with your veil, and your perfectly quaffed hair, and the matte red lips, just, daaaamn.
And that’s not even a photo that shows us the gown she had on. I think it’s time to profusely thank none other than Rachel Zoe, Jennifer’s stylist, for helping pick out this look. That is unless my wires are crossed, and Zoe is no longer the brain behind the looks Jennifer dawns whilst attending public events. If that’s the case, then I would sincerely like to know who is, so I can fan-girl them like the broke fashionista that I am. No really, I have veils like that in my collection, vintage ones, they never get warn though– ’cause they’re vintage.
It really is quite an evolution we’ve witnessed where it comes to Jennifer’s public attendance styling. Think way way back when her Oscar gown was chosen for comfort over 
style. I think she in fact described it as a giant tank top, which makes me wonder why it required her to wear two sets of Spanx to achieve that streamlined look. Poor dear, just– poor poor dear. Anyway, I personally would like to applaud Jennifer for stepping it up over the last couple of years, she’s come a long way since she landed in Hollywood. Yes, all the way from playing an overly enthusiastic school mascot on Monk, to being the girl who photobombed Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), herself on the red carpet, yes– in view of the world at large. Get down girl, don’t stop being your weird self.
Does she care? Probably not, but that’s why we like her.
Them There Eyes
They’ve Been Facebooked!
There’s a lot to be said about social media, “it’s a fad,” “it’s totally necessary,” “it’s a waste of time,” “no one cares what you had for breakfast, stop tweeting!” Yep, all of that and a few other choice phrases have probably been thrown out where it comes to that big bad thing called social media. Me though, I think it’s great, but today is not about me, nope not at all, today is about several people who just happen to be part of The Hunger Games family, who have either just joined a new aspect of the social media phenomena, or have stepped up and reaffirmed their apparent affection for it. First up, I cannot believe she finally caved, but it is our own Mockingjay her self, Jennifer Lawrence! That’s right, around the same time that HungerGamesExplorer officially launched, Jennifer launched an official Facebook page, and according to the page the lady’s been on Facebook since 2008. Not even kidding, scroll down on her page, and you’ll see it plain as the nose on my face, she’s
Oh yeah, she also made this little tiny list!
had a Facebook since 2008, just like the rest of us! I find this telling, especially since she’s said in interviews that she finds social media to be kind of ridiculous, which I can agree with on some level, and disagree with on an entirely different one. social media is simply something that cannot be ignored in this day and age, connectedness is just something we do now, and those who are in the public sphere who embrace this, let’s face it, not new development tend to be liked more by the public. Okay, unless you’re Chris Brown, or Kanye West. In Jennifer’s case though, she’s barely dipped her toes into the water, because her Facebook is kind of empty at this point, and in desperate need of some TLC where it comes to Inter-web-y interaction. Perhaps her team will pick up on this need in a few weeks, until this imagined revelation though expect it to remain pretty sparse.
Now, Ms. Lawrence isn’t the only top billing cast member who has embraced the social media draw, and succumbed to its power, because Josh Hutcherson even has a Facebook dedicated specifically to all things a fan of his needs to know! Or wants to know? I’m not exactly sure on this, but I think Josh might be the person in charge of this page, because all posts seems to be written from his P.O.V, which I think is awesome– because it gives it a more personal touch. Josh is clearly no stranger to the need for using social media, and he seems to have picked a favorite tool, which is Facebook. True, he has a Twitter, but he uses it sparingly, which I can respect, but still not so secretly wish he used it a tiny bit more– ’cause honing your Twitter skills is almost becoming an art form in and of its self.
Not surprising in the least, many other members of The Hunger Games family have Twitter accounts, and Facebook pages, most recently however two members of the Catching Fire cast launched official Facebook pages. Bruno Gunn launched his in the last 
week or so, and he’s planning to use it much like Josh Hutcherson uses his Facebook, in other words to post on current and up coming career projects, I’d also wholly expect some Catching Fire behind the scenes photos to pop up once the film is released. Bruno previously had an other Facebook page, and if you followed that one, you know he’s pretty deft with the social media interaction, sadly that account has been put to bed, and the new one will in time take its place in a more actively professional capacity. However, If you’re hankering for more social media Inter-web-y action from Bruno, he also launched a WhoSay account recently, and he’s been using it frequently lately, so go follow him there if you so will, and as always he’s an active Twitter and Instagram user. Last but not least Stephanie Leigh Schlund, AKA our volatile, and sexy Cashmere launched an official Facebook just this week as well.
Have at it y’all, it’s a veritable feast of social media goodness out there! And also, if you didn’t know it already, Victor’s Village has a Facebook page, a Twitter, a Pinterest, and of course a Tumblr.
Them There Eyes
Behind the Scenes Dudes
As you all know by now, I’m kind of really into the behind the scenes stuff where it comes to film making. I know for a lot of people they are kind of forgotten elements, or not even forgotten more like oblivious elements. However after taking basically 5 years worth of continuous film studies courses, yeah– the people who make the films we love and adore so much are not to be ignored, not even a little bit. Okay, you can ignore them, but I reserve the right to judge you for not knowing that one person didn’t just stick a camera somewhere, and asked a bunch of people to memorize some lines, and say them into said camera. Which brings us to now, and the obsessive nature in which we examine nearly every aspect of the making of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by going with the scraps of information we have access to. In my case, IMDb.com is my new best friend, and it probably owes me cash at this point in our relationship, or something, perhaps it owes me sex, who knows! Anyway behind the scenes people I am currently fascinated with though, ’cause that is the point of this article, are the men whose names have taken up residency under the production titles of Production Design, and Art Direction, basically the areas of film production that house some of my most favoritist things– set design! Yep, set design being the aspect of film production that involves all that fancy stuff called furniture, and set dressings, i.e, the fun stuff! Okay, fun for me.
All right, so these are the dudes who are in charge of everything that we see in the background, or– these are the people who are in charge of the over all look of the film where it comes to set design. Do not be confused, these people do not decide how the film will be shot, that aspect of the production is in the hands of the cinematographer, the lighting department, the editors, and the director. Okay, so here they are! Philip Messina is back as the head of production design, he was at the helm for The Hunger Games, so anyone who was worried about continuity where it comes to that aspect of the series, rest easy– same guy’s in charge, it’s not going to be like watching The Wizard of Oz, and then Return to Oz, which look nothing alike, because they were made almost 50 years apart
One of these dudes worked on Crystal Skull. I don’t judge.
from each other, have an entirely different look, feel, oh– and cast. What I think is comforting, or intriguing about Mr. Messina though, is his body of work outside of The Hunger Games, I’ll name some projects off, and if you haven’t seen them, watch them ASAP. He worked on the pilot episode of Freaks and Geeks, which was a short-lived, critically acclaimed, and over all cult hit series on NBC, look it up and be amazed by the roster of people who worked on this sadly short-lived project. Next we’ve got Erin Brokovich, then we’ve got Traffic, and then Ocean’s Eleven, and 8 Mile, then Solaris (no, I have not seen the original), ooh, then Ocean’s Twelve, which I did not see, so just like you I’m going to have to go watch it ASAP, what else? The Good German, Che: Part Two, The Last Airbender, and then Machine Gun Preacher. There are a couple of lemons on this list, like Airbender, but I’m going to say this– Airbender looked amazing, and that was his job, and he did it well.
Who’s next!? Ah yes, John Collins is back as supervising art director, um– personally his dossier makes me nervous for our children, so I’m just going to skip to the men whose names are underneath his! Adam Davis’ dossier doesn’t make me nervous, it kind of piques my interest a little, ’cause hey– looky there he worked on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and ooh, he was the assistant art director on Super 8. But, ew, he worked on a Jessica Simpson filmed concert, oh well– we can’t all be perfect, besides Francis Lawrence our director extraordinaire is practically the music video king. What’s, I mean who’s next, why it’s Robert Fechtman, who no one has likely heard of, which is sad, because this man has had a diverse career. I’m serious, this man has worked on films that span genres, and 
budget limits, and just, here are a few just so you get a taste– on Star Trek: Into Darkness he was a set designer, Pineapple Express he was assistant art director, Mirror Mirror he was a set designer, he worked on Memoirs of a Geasha, The Aviator, The Holiday, both Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End, Constantine (ah ha, where he met Francis Lawrence!), Three Kings, and my favorite worst bad action movie of the 90s, Starship Troopers. Safely I believe I can say, the man’s ability to design a myriad of different kinds of sets, is probably up there with some of the greatest artists whose work now adorns postcards, and dorm rooms.
Last name! We’re at the last name, and he’s got a whole title and category reserved just for him. He must feel really special. His name is, Larry Dias, and he is the head set decorator, meaning he’s in charge of the small details the I like to stare at for hours, and contemplate their over all meaning, because just like him– I am special too. Back to Larry, who just like Mr. Fechtman, has had a diverse career. Larry unlike Fechtman is a one of the returnees from the original Hunger Games camp, but that won’t stop me from re-examining and marveling over the fact that he worked on Serenity, The Village, and Inception. Nope, not at all.
I’m just going to say it guys, no wonder the Snow-val Office was so impeccably designed, and– our beloved Catching Fire I think is in very safe hands.
Them There Eyes
Something’s Happening
You heard me, or read me, yeah read is better in this context, but something is happening! Sure, we’ve speculated, pondered, and of course joked– this is Victor’s Village in case you forgot. Wait, what have we joked, pondered, and speculated about!? Oh, yeah, TheHungerGamesExplorer.com! Yeah, yeah, that thing, which will forever be TheHungerGames-Sexplorer to us, because we like to pretend Sigmund Freud doesn’t exist, but Tyrion Lannister does, actually Freud doesn’t exist– because he’s dead, therefore we win! What do we win though? The ability to not care that we think TheHungerGamesExplorer.com is secretly a Hunger Games fan-fiction, and fan-art archive geared towards all things sexy-times! Just imagine all that fish-net themed Playgirl-esque photoshopping! But, on a realistic note, we know it’s not that at all, but it would still tickle us a tiny bit if it was.
Anyway, today’s hullabaloo (yeah, it’s 1965 in my head), was about that thing that I swear I’ve written out about ten times by now, and my fingers are hurting because of it! TheHungerGamesExplorer, quick say it 10 times and fast! Turns out it’s definitely going to be playing an integral role in the viral marketing campaign that’s being slowly revealed to us. Today I woke up to news of the newest development with it by Facebook message, and then promptly when on a quick search for more information. By now hopefully you all are up to speed, and if you’re not here’s the deal. TheHungerGamesExplorer is looking like it’ll be a combination of the attempted innovation of CapitolCouture on Tumblr, which really turned out to be rather static, and a better suited film themed web-site focused around The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Slowly we’re going to be teased new materials (photo
The 1st Still
stills for now), which we have to unlock with our conceded, and collective efforts in tweeting the Twitter hashtag #HungerGamesExplorer as well as #CatchingFire. Over the next couple of weeks more and more materials will be revealed to us, the official launch of the site, i.e. not just a front page, will be happening after the first teaser trailer premieres this coming Sunday on MTV. Another interesting factoid surrounding this new leg of the promotional campaign is that it’s entirely international. Yep, we’ve become complacent in thinking that all news Hunger Games comes out around 10 am Pacific Standard Time, nope– not this time around. There will be no rhyme or reason to the release of these materials, just us tweeting the shit out of those hashtags. So, if 1,000 people in Guam are going to town on both those hashtags, new materials just might pop up at a reasonable time for them, but not for say– me, because they’re about 17 hours ahead of me, yay them. So, keep your eyes peeled folks! Personally I hope this site proves to be more interactive, and less about pictures, and graphics. It is a site made to promote a film, therefore I stubbornly hope they’ll include audio visuals, i.e. perhaps use the site to premiere music videos from the film’s soundtrack, clips from the film, behind the scenes interview clips with the cast, crew, and director, and my favorite idea that just popped into my head– an interview with the film score composer, because I am a film score dork. I just want more, y’know?
So, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages… Let the games begin! And follow me into madness by staring at this GIF for 20 minutes!
Them There Eyes
The Big Bucks
I’m about to lay the truth on you like no one has ever laid the truth on you before. Contrary to popular belief none of us here at Victor’s Village, or any other fan-site, or blog dedicated to The Hunger Games are paid by The Powers That Be, otherwise known as Lionsgate Studios. I know, I know– but many of us got to go to the world premiere of The Hunger Games in Los Angeles, and we also occasionally have awesome merchandise to give out during contests! Gotta say though, none of that is evidence that supports the notion that we’re in any way, shape, or form monetarily connected to the people who own the rights to The Hunger Games. We are, and will always simply be this, fans. We may be a little different from your average fan of the series, because we have taken our passion to a higher level than simply reblogging GIF sets on Tumblr, or tweeting that we can’t wait to see the film again, or how much we love Peeta, or Katniss, or Finnick, or even Buttercup. Nope, we have blogs, we have sites that we pay for the rights to own the domain names of with our own money, we have podcasts, Google alerts up the ass, and we have extra flat rate mailers in our closets just in case we’re running a contest, and one of you out there has won something from our prize stores. There’s one thing about us though that I think we can share on some level, we’re unabashedly, unequivocally in love with The Hunger Games trilogy, some of us might even go so far as to say we’re obsessed.
So, the next time
someone’s mind stumbles upon the thought that we’re paid for all this work, which it is work, do not ever forget that, and that we’re just talking things up because it’s all about the money, stop your self. Here’s the deal though; we may not be paid for our time, our energy, and our efforts, but we are rewarded everyday, or at least every week by the thought, the indicative proof that we’re not alone in our passion by interacting with you out there, as well as fellow fan-site runners, and bloggers, and that the time we take out of everyday, the time we take away from our families, from our pets, our real life jobs, are appreciated both by you out there reading our articles, listening to us on podcasts, subscribing to our Twitter-feeds, site alerts, that cast members from the franchise are willing to engage with us, and that Lionsgate Studios does care about what we have to say, and that they do give us kindness by paying attention, and gifting us premiere tickets. Mostly it’s about the fact that we’re not just yelling into a giant black void. This is what they call being paid the big bucks, because the bucks are invisible, and you can imagine them to be enormous, and with so many zeroes tacked on at the end.
The funny will be back next week.
Them There Eyes
As Yet To Be Cast
That time again folks, yes, the time in which there’s nothing to report on having to do with our dear, beloved, wonderful, fantastic (how many more adjectives can I slip in here?), stupendous, shiny, franchise. And that means one thing for little ol’ me– fan-casting. I think I’ve said it before, but I’m never going to stop fan-casting this franchise, and truth be told, I’ll probably continue to fan-cast the series until they do a remake in about 15 to 20 years. In that case, I’ll say it now, Jake Gyllenhaal would be a fantastic Haymitch or Boggs in about 15 to 20 years, ’cause I don’t see that man losing his acting chops, or his ability to look good in a uniform for about 50 more years. Therefore, that inevitable zombie apocalypse better not happen. You hear me super germs? Gyllenhaal has to play one of those two roles in the remakes, throw in Maggie for good measure as well, she’d make an awesome President Coin! In reality though, or at least the portions of my mind that come up with all of this magic, there are only a few actors who are eligible to portray the remaining cast in this current go at The Hunger Games.
Role call of who is left to be cast! Captain (he doesn’t have a first name, because Suzanne Collins likes to leave that up to actors 80% of the time, apparently), Boggs, President Alma Coin, Annie Cresta, Fulvia Cardew, Doctor Aurelius, Tigris, Cressida, Leeg 1, and Leeg 2, Lyme, Pollux, and Castor. I know with all my intellectual capacity that when these roles are cast officially, that they’ll likely surpass our expectations, but until then we speculate, or I speculate–over, and over again. When I started this practice though, things we’re a bit different, i.e. the cast figurehead is now an Academy Award winner, and then there’s the whole Phillip Seymour Hoffman thing. All that tied up neat with a little bow is a pretty package, but who’s going to fill the gun hand of Captain Boggs, who’s going to fill the severe bob of President Coin, whose plump cheeks tattooed with silver vines will sit, and smirk in a judgmental manner at Katniss Everdeen all whilst in character as Fulvia Cardew? I have no clue, but man do I like to imagine some amazing people in those roles.
I’ve been thinking about putting this actors name into the hat for years, but I’ve kind of 
liked keeping it to myself, sort of as a little mental treat. His name is Michael Cudlitz, and he’s one of the stars of one of the best dramas on TV (at least in my opinion), Southland. I’ve watched his work for years, and I don’t just mean on Southland, I mean going back all the way to Band Of Brothers, or the first time I saw him– Six Feet Under. Don’t mind me though, I have a mind that picks up on people who were in one episode of a long time favorite series, see them 15 years later on something I watch regularly now, and end up flailing on the couch going “I know them, I know them!” However with Michael Cudlitz I was more than pleased to see him pop up on series’ like Nip/Tuck, Prison Break, and might I add that his performance on Prison Break was something I still think about today, and it happened over 5 years ago! He’s also had guest spots on Lost, Bones, and now finally he’s one of the stars of Southland. Southland has afforded him ample material for him to metaphorically sink his teeth into. About Cudlitz’s character, he’s a veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, a beat-cop who is content to remain a beat-cop until he retires. His character is layered, like one of those insane bean dips I’ve only ever heard about, or if you prefer– deep dish pizza. Maybe I should tell you his name while I’m at it, Officer John Cooper, I don’t even know where to start with this guy: For one, he’s a recovering addict (pain killers), he’s a training officer, or was– so he’s had to be an authority figure to those outside the squad car, and the poor sod sitting next to him in the squad car, he can be a massive dick, or basically the epitome of a-typical masculinity, and then turn a corner and be the most gentle soul since Babe all whilst consoling, or engaging an injured woman stuck under a tour bus, or a mentally impaired lady confused about where her husband has gone off to, oh, and he’s a closeted gay man. Everything Michael Cudlitz has had to do as
Cooper, is like Jennifer Lawrence’s extended audition tape, aka Winter’s Bone. John Cooper isn’t Boggs though, much like how Ree Dolly isn’t Katniss Everdeen, but aspects of their character arcs, and personalities can be seen in Jennifer’s portrayal of Katniss, or for Cudlitz, be seen in his potential portrayal of Boggs. Physically Cudlitz is what Suzanne Collins described, tall, impeccable posture, blue eyes, middle-aged. People who have read the series have later tacked on that they imagined Boggs to be muscular as well, which I tend to agree with, luckily Cudlitz foots the bill in that manner. However, then there’s the matter of availability, which is frankly getting ahead of ourselves– fortunately I know that Southland just wrapped its 5th season, so he’s wide open until the next, or until he takes a role in something else during the hiatus.
There we go! Michael Cudlitz, number 8, or something, of over 100 people on my list for Boggs. It’s going be a long few months, prepare yourselves.
One Year
The film adaptation of The Hunger Games is one year old. I know to everyone in the US its anniversary is the 23rd of March, but it’s world premiere actually happened on the 12th of March, and then it slowly rolled out to the masses on the 21st, the 22nd, the 23rd, the 28th, the 30th, and on, and on, and on it was released all over the world, ending in Japan on the 28th of September, 2012. I was one of the lucky few who saw The Hunger Games at its world premiere, so to me it had its birthday last week, but a year ago tonight I was sitting in a movie theatre twenty minutes away from where I sit now, with my former room-mate, her boyfriend, and a smattering of friends of theirs. I’d already seen the film the week before, and I was both anticipating experiencing my friend’s reaction, the audience’s reaction, who I was hoping would react differently to the Hollywood one, and my own reaction, because I made the mistake of wearing these extreme faux lashes to the world premiere, and spent the whole night with my eyes set in a permanent look of surprise, so they wouldn’t constantly brush against my glasses (it’s more annoying than you might think). So, I was simply looking forward to seeing the film again.
I don’t think I like teenage audiences. Maybe it’s because I hadn’t experienced a teenage audience since I was a teenager myself. No, wait– I hated teenage audiences when I was a teen as well. I have distinct memories of thinking the screamers at concerts were inappropriate, and I experienced some of the worst screamers of the 90s– Hanson fans, and they were insane, I tell ya’. What’s possibly more annoying than screamers though, are the boys and girls who collectively go “ooooooh” when ever an intimate moment
happened/ happens in a film, or even a play. It ruins the moment, the mood, the lull, and it rips you right out of the fantasy world you’re immersed in, and then are confronted with, well– a room full of giggles, snickers, and hormones. Yeah, these kinds of behaviors were witnessed on the 23rd of March, 2012– and it made me hope the DVD would be released sooner rather than later, perhaps so I could get a better look at the costumes, or Josh’s roots. Anyway, memories are fading thankfully– and I do have that DVD copy I craved so much. I also have had in-depth looks at the costumes, and possibly Josh’s roots.
242 days until Catching Fire.
Them There Eyes
Rebel-lious
It’s an odd day in Hunger Games franchise news-dome, and all because there’s no Liam Hemsworth tidbits to relate! There’s other ridiculousness however, which either tickles you greatly, or makes you scratch your head and say, “what?” Today something resembling news broke, and it is that the comedienne Rebel Wilson allegedly has had a meeting with Lionsgate about her taking a role in Mockingjay. There are all kinds of questions behind this so-called development in the much awaited, and anticipated casting of Mockingjay, and the first question that crossed my proverbial lips was “are you serious?” Let me be crystal clear on one thing, I like Rebel Wilson, I’ve seen Pitch Perfect, Bridesmaids, and Bachelorette, and I think she’s an apt comedienne, a talented singer, and savvy lady person– but do I think she fits in the array of actors that already make up the existing cast of The Hunger Games franchise? Not so much.
Rebel, all dolled up and ready for a fight– to prove herself?
Friends of mine, and fellow fans as well, have speculated that if there’s any legitimacy to Rebel’s statements, she’s only “right” for a very small number of roles. Aside from the Capitol citizen with the sausage, and going by her statement that the role is a Capitol citizen, she could be up for the role of Cressida: The rebel Capitol citizen who’s the director of all those notorious propos made to be broadcast to the districts, and later hacked onto the air in the Capitol. She’s described as a young woman with a shaved head, and green vine tattoos. So, for all intents and purposes her physical description is as vague as basically every other secondary character invented by Suzanne Collins. Next we have Fulvia Cardew, aka Plutarch Heavensbee’s uptight assistant. Fulvia’s physical description is vague, (I know– such a surprise), plump cheeks, and silver tattoos gracing said plump cheeks. Rebel’s no Skinny Minnie, we know this, and I don’t begrudge her her size– she’s what I like to call normal, and it’s a welcome sight to those of us who haven’t worn single digit sized jeans in almost a decade. Fulvia is the only character I can realistically see her being up for, but I’m still extremely wary of the thought as I would initially see her casting as a gimmick. All that being said some of the best actors out there make their bread and butter with comedic roles and projects, whilst interspersing or finally being offered dramatic opportunities, and more often than not they do fantastic jobs. Think Robin Williams, Jamie Foxx, Billy Crystal, Albert Brooks, Steve Martin, Jack Lemmon, Danny DeVito, Whoopie Goldberg, Jim Carrey, Mo’nique, Bill Murray, and Patton Oswalt. So, while I’m all twisty and worried, I know that if Rebel is anything like her more seasoned counterparts, she’s probably more than capable of doing a sobbingly moving job in serious work, because comedians are the worlds best observers, and interpreters of human behavior, and the human condition.
You literally have just witnessed my coming to terms with, and being okay with Rebel Wilson being possibly cast in Mockingjay. But only if she’s Fulvia.
Them There Eyes
