The Hunger Games Inspires One Tribute To Reveal Her Inner Cinna

In 2011, I was first introduced to The Hunger Games by my friend. She kept telling me that she believed that I would really like it but I continually pushed it aside because she loved Twilight and I couldn't care less about it. At that time I had also decided I was intensely against popular books because I didn't want to be incredibly mainstream (lame, I know).

At the end of 2011, we had to read any book of our choice in English class so I gave in and chose The Hunger Games. During that hour in class I instantly became hooked. I read from the second I got home from school until around 7pm and finished the entire book. I couldn't wait to get Catching Fire and Mockingjay so I begged my dad to take me to the bookstore. Luckily it was a Friday so the entirety of Saturday was spent finishing Catching Fire and Sunday on Mockingjay straight through.

The Hunger Games reignited my love of reading and got me through my difficult freshman year. To me, Katniss meant strength and getting through whatever obstacles are thrown your way. The Hunger Games showed me that no matter what you should keep fighting because hope is stronger than fear. 

Not only did The Hunger Games reignite my love for reading, but at the start of high school I was beginning to realize my true passion was fashion and costume design. Looking through The Hunger Games, Cinna and the clothing he created undoubtedly made a large impact. Without him, Katniss wouldn't have been able to capture the large amount of attention she received. 

This past year, my senior year of high school, I drew up a ton of costume ideas for Katniss throughout the trilogy and even made one of the dresses I designed. I was inspired by the phrase 'Girl on Fire' as well as Katniss' fiery personality and illustrated an entire collection for it. By thinking of different objects associated with fire like sparks, embers, coal, smoke and of course flames, I was able to envision numerous possible outfits Katniss may have worn throughout her journey.

 

For the dress I created, I used my design for Katniss' dress in Catching Fire where she spins in her wedding dress and becomes the Mockingjay. I channeled bird like qualities in the dress using feathers and lace and by giving the illusion of wings with sheer gold fabric. Of course to match the pin itself, I added gold accents in the skirt. 




The Hunger Games has not only made me a greater, stronger person, but assisted in helping me try and become better at what I love to do. 

You can say hello to Sarita on twitter @SaritaRoseS  and instagram at @saritarose.

This week in our 100 Days of Mockingjay celebration we're talking about Hunger Games cosplay, tattoos, make-up, hair and nail art. Find out how you can participate on social media and enter our giveaway for a Katniss cowl and black Mockingjay pin HERE.  

Look Inside Cinna's Sketchbook With Mockingjay Costume Designers Kurt & Bart

 

Costume designers Kurt and Bart gave Time an exclusive look inside Cinna's sketchbook from Mockingjay Part 1. Fans of the book will know that Cinna created a sketchbook for Katniss Everdeen's Mockingjay uniform. Kurt and Bart recreated it for the film, down to the last detail including Cinna's "I'm still betting on you."

They say creating the outfit through Cinna’s eyes was a helpful approach to the process. “He knew [Katniss] was to become not only an actual on-the-ground leader of a rebellion,” says Kurt, “but also the symbol of the revolution. Symbol and soldier was our mantra.” Kurt and Bart say they took inspiration from the armor collection at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as historical depictions of Joan of Arc. 

Kurt: In this drawing you can see one of the earlier versions of the shoulder armor which was a bit more stylized. The asymmetrical breast plate was informed by the gear worn in the Japanese martial art of archery Kyudo. We gave all of these hard armored parts a very subtle sheen of iridescent blue back which referenced the Mockingjay bird. The jacket itself was built almost like a corset with a woven maze of nylon webbing at the waist that when zipped gave Jen an even smaller waist.

Bart: The costume was built to be modular and at its base was a set of tactical combat fatigues featuring a jacket and pants. We designed this fatigue for maximum functionality. This sketch shows that base fatigues that are similar to the lean silhouette of the rest of our D13 soldiers in the film, but there are very considered design details specific to Katniss and her weapon of choice the bow and arrow.

Kurt: This drawing shows several studies of what would become her three finger shooting glove that was attached at the wrist and featured ballistic materials also found in the protective gear in the costume.

Bart: This drawing shows the way we shaped the wings to be close to the body which was nice because from the front you could just see the beginnings of that arc and how that pulled to the back. We had to also arrange the style lines of the feathers so that the sculpture didn’t get in the way of the quiver which had to occupy the same space. The quiver was ingeniously rigged to a channel that slid into a mount at the center of the back plate, thus making a shoulder strap obsolete. This page also shows how Cinna might paste together images that inform his process, images of the Mockingjay, an actual feather and strips of fabrics. Our Production Designer Phil Messina did a beautiful job making this into a really beautiful art prop for the film.

Kurt: Creating the wings we looked at and drew so many different kinds of feathers. We settled on a sculptural stylized version and this sketch shows a study in variations on the amount of beveling and possible finishes. There is a knifelike quality to the final feathers designed to catch the light in a very beautiful way without feel in too menacing.

Bart: This is another quick sketch page working out the silhouette as well as how an artist like Cinna would use his sketchbook almost like a mood board, utilizing bits and pieces of different inspirations. 

Bart: This is the fashion version of the Mockingjay. I swear that I have shortened the legs three times on this drawing and I know they are still ridiculous.

Kurt: This drawing features the revamp of the Mockingjay pin in a black powder coat to match the armor. Our fantastic prop designer Drew Petrotta came up with the black design which really was the final piece of the puzzle.

Mockingjay Part 1 is now available for digital download. Find all the info you need on where to get it HERE. 

Mockingjay Part 1 will be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD on March 6. Our Mockingjay DVD and Blu-Ray guide and where to buy is HERE. 

NEW 'Mockingjay Part 1' Behind The Scenes Clip - Katniss' Mockingjay Suit

ANOTHER new Mockingjay Part 1 behid the scenes clip has been introduced on Yahoo today featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Kurt and Bart talking about the inspiration and creation of Katniss' Mockingjay suit! Check it out above. And see the Mockingjay costume sketches from Cinna's sketchbook in Mockingjay Part 1 below!

Mockingjay Part 1 is available digitally on Feb. 17, before being released on Blu-ray, DVD, and VOD on March 6. More info and where to buy HERE. 

VIDEO: Elizabeth Banks and Lenny Kravitz on GMA

Elizabeth Banks and Lenny Kravitz stopped by Good Morning America to talk Catching Fire, Effie and Cinna today.

Seventeen Magazine's 10 Secrets from Catching Fire Cast

American teen magazine Seventeen recently featured an article entitled "10 Secrets from the Catching Fire Cast." 

Josh and Jennifer Swapped MAJOR Kiss Spit!

 

"When I watched the playback of the kiss between Jennifer and me, there was this slobber string and it was so gross! In the moment, I didn't realize what was going on."

—Josh Hutcherson, Peeta

 

They Played a Goofy Game!
 

"We had this funny game we used to play on set. I don't even know how it started! Basically, somebody would make the 'OK' sign with their hand and would hold it down real low, and if somebody saw it, they stuck their finger in it. It sounds ridiculous, but it went on the entire shoot!

—Lenny Kravitz, Cinna

What Josh Brought Everywhere
 

"I don't have a good luck charm I bring on set, but I did bring my speaker set! I brought my portable wireless speaker set because I have to have music everywhere."

—Josh Hutcherson, Peeta

How the Tributes Trained
 

"We did a lot of martial arts training. There's a lot of choreography where I'm spinning around and whipping these [knives] and rolling around. It was taxing, but it was a lot of fun!"

—Alan Ritchson, Gloss


 The Costume Lenny Kept!
 

"I kept one thing from the set. There's a leather jacket that Cinna wore in some scenes, and I had to have it. I made sure that it went with me."

—Lenny Kravitz, Cinna


 Peeta's Makeup Prep Routine
 

"It took 20 minutes [to do my face makeup] on days where I had a bad breakout—which happened a lot on set! Covering up my tattoos adds another hour and a half.

—Josh Hutcherson, Peeta

How They Bonded Off Camera
 

"We had a lot of down time on set, so the Tributes and I would all hang out together and watch movies. Alan Ritchson [who plays Gloss] and I shared a trailer, so people migrated toward us. Our trailer always had someone in it!"

—Stephanie Leigh Schlund, Cashmere

 

The Longest Scene to Film
 

"The Cornucopia scene took us weeks and weeks to shoot. It's kind of funny because what could be just five seconds on-screen in the movie probably took us a week and a half to film. For me, it's a month of memories, but some of the segments are going to go by so fast!" 

—Alan Ritchson, Gloss

You can read it for yourself here, at Seventeen.com. 

Lenny Kravitz on Cinna's Exit From 'The Hunger Games' Series

Our Cinna and renaissance man, Lenny Kravitz was just featured in an article on THR.com in which he discusses his design firm Kravitz Design, Inc and his new set design for Queen Latifah's upcoming talk show. While we absolutely LOVE Lenny's design sensibility, we were REALLY intrigued by the tiny Catching Fire tidbit at the end of the article. SPOILER ALERT!

In Catching Fire, out Nov. 22, his fashion-designer character, Cinna, will meet a violent end.

"After my death scene, everyone's like, 'Oh shit, you're not coming back!' But you move on," he laughs. "It was fun while it lasted." While filming, he also was recording a new album, due out in the spring, at night. "Basically, I didn't sleep for about a month. But I was high off of the creativity," he says. "That sustained me."

Be sure to read the rest of the article and catch up on all of Lenny's design projects here.

HQ Versions of 'Catching Fire' Stills from The NECA Calendar

We've got scans of the 2014 Catching Fire NECA Calendar for you! Here are the NEW stills from the calendar. The rest you've seen before HERE and HERE.

Purchase the calendar HERE.

VIDEO: Lenny Kravitz On GMA

Lenny Kravitz stopped by GMA this morning to talk about his role in The Butler. 

He doesn't get a chance to talk about Catching Fire, but does say being a part of The Hunger Games franchise is "an amazing gift."

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