The Hunger Games: Official Illustrated Movie Companion Read Online Free PDF Page A

that Gary had very early on,” says producer Jon Kilik. “He wanted Cinna to be not only a stylist but somebody who has a lot of style. And nobody in this world has more style, more charm, more charisma than Lenny Kravitz.”

    Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) in his signature plain black shirt.
     
    Kravitz, who had just appeared in the Oscar®-nominated film
Precious
, was delighted to join the team. “Gary Ross called me while I was in the studio recording my album, and said, ‘I’m doing this movie,
The Hunger Games.
I’d like you to play the part of Cinna. And if you want the part, you’ve got it. You don’t have to audition.’ That was quite an amazing phone call, because I’ve only made a couple of films — it was just beautiful to get a role like that,” Kravitz says.

The young actors playing the tributes came from many places and many backgrounds. Some were seasoned actors, with experience in television or commercials or smaller films, while others were complete unknowns. What they had in common was an enthusiasm for the film as well as a sense that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
    Alexander Ludwig was excited to get the role of Cato, a Career Tribute from District 2. He remembers really connecting with the role. “When I finally met Gary and he offered me the role of Cato, it was a no-brainer, because I was just such a big fan.”
    Isabelle Fuhrman, the actress who plays Clove, was passionate about the books long before getting cast in the movie. “
The Hunger Games
is my all-time favorite book series, and I was the biggest book buff that you would ever possibly meet. I turned all my friends on to reading it. When I heard it was being made into a movie, I freaked out. I thought,
I have got to be in this movie
.”
    Fuhrman originally auditioned for Katniss, but was told she was too young for the role. “I got a call a week later. They wanted me to audition for Clove. I read with Debra Zane, who’s the sweetest person I’ve ever met.” Fuhrman didn’t have to wait long to find out if she got cast. She was at lunch with her mother when her agent called with the good news. She was so happy that she burst into tears. “People are staring, and I’m trying to make it seem like it’s not a big deal, and I’m crying my eyes out, I’m so excited. Everyone was like, ‘Who’s this crazy little fourteen-year-old girl crying her eyes out at a vegan restaurant?’”
    Jack Quaid, who plays Marvel, recalls, “The audition was kind of weird because it was the first audition I’d ever walked into where the first thing they said to me was ‘Choose your weapon.’ They had a box — there was a crossbow-y type thing, a big knife, and a gun. So I just picked up the big knife and I did the audition and, right about then, I knew this was going to be something cool. I go to NYU and I was in this class a few weeks later when I got the call that I got the part and I was flabbergasted. So . . . I’ll have a unique story to tell about what I did with my summer vacation.”
    Twelve-year-old Amandla Stenberg’s audition was a little different. “I went to Gary’s house, and for the audition I’d actually dressed up and I’d been rolled around in dirt, like Rue in the Games. So I was all dressed with all my dirt and my leaves in my hair and everything, and when I got to Gary’s house — well, he has a really nice house. I didn’t want to sit on anything, because I didn’t want to get anything dirty! I went in and I felt really good about it, and then I got a call from my agent saying, ‘What are you doing this summer?’ and I was like, ‘Not much. Why?’ and she said, ‘Because you booked
The Hunger Games,
’ and I was screaming and squealing, ‘I’m Rue!’ and it was so exciting.”
    Jacqueline Emerson, who plays Foxface, remembers, “
The Hunger Games
was my all-school read at school, and I read the first book, and I just fell in love with the whole series. Then I found out there was gonna be a