Suzanne Collins and Francis Lawrence Talk to Time Magazine Part 3

With The Hunger Games: Catching Fire opening in theaters on Friday, Nov. 22, TIME book critic Lev Grossman recently sat down for a long and wide-ranging conversation with Hunger Games creator-writer Suzanne Collins and Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence.

This is the third in a five-part series:

The descriptions of combat in the arena are so visceral, so graphic – how did you know how far you could go, in terms of describing violence to a young audience?
Suzanne Collins: I think probably my own experience as a child. I had been exposed to these things very early through history, through my father.  He I think knew the level that was acceptable at different ages to explore a different topic or something with this. That was probably my guideline through all nine of the books.

I think that it’s very uncomfortable for people to talk to children about war. And so they don’t because it’s easier not to. But then you have young people at 18 who are enlisting in the army and they really don’t have the slightest idea what they’re getting into.  I think we put our children at an enormous disadvantage by not educating them in war, by not letting them understand about it from a very early age. It’s not about scaring them. The stories didn’t scare me when I was a child, and in these cases they’re fictionalized. Gregor is set in a fantasy world and The Hunger Games is set far in the future. I don’t get the sense that the young readers are frightened by them. I think they’re intrigued by them and in some ways I think they’re relieved to see the topic discussed.

Francis Lawrence: Yeah, and to see you not hold back.  I think that’s also part of it.  It’s that you don’t hold back; you show the consequences.

SC: It’s something we should be having dialogues about a lot earlier with our children.  It exists, but people get uncomfortable and they don’t know how to talk about it.  There are children soldiers all around the world right now who are 9, 10, carrying arms, forced to be at war and whatnot.  Can our children not even read a fictional story about it?  I think they can.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of the series. More of Part 3 after the jump.

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Suzanne Collins and Francis Lawrence Talk to Time Magazine Part 2

Check out Part 2 of Time's 5 part interview with Catching Fire author Suzanne Collins and the movie's director Francis Lawrence. Read Part 1 HERE.

TIME: Francis, what sold you on Catching Fire? What made you want to make this movie?
Francis Lawrence: The stories in general I loved. The theme and the idea of the consequence of war and what that does to people and how people are affected by war and by violence. I just thought that there’s not many of these YA stories that really come from a real idea and a strong, topical, relatable idea. Then I had the opportunity with Catching Fire to sort of open the world up. Part of what I love to do is creation, and there was a bunch of world creation done in the first one, but there was more opportunity — we were going to see more of the Capitol, more of 12, lots of other districts. There was a brand-new arena that had nothing to do with the first arena. So there was a lot visually for me to sink my teeth into.

Did you feel as though you wanted to keep to the same kind of visual style and visual vocabulary that [Hunger Games director] Gary [Ross] had established?
FL: I think it would have been a little bit of a mistake to entirely throw out an approach to a movie when it’s a franchise. I would never do that to a franchise. But in saying that, I thought there were some opportunities to open up the scope in terms of the costumes and the visual effects and just geography in general. I liked Gary’s naturalistic approach. I have my own version of it, my own style. I don’t shoot the way he does, I choose different kinds of lenses, and part of that is to feel more intimate with characters while still maintaining a sense of place. So I have a different approach, but I kept the same production designer on, because he designed the Capitol, and those aesthetics should carry through. And even the other districts, there should still be aesthetic unity all the way through that I wanted to make sure we maintained.

Read more after the jump.

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Jena Malone and Sam Claflin at the Catching Fire Premiere in Toronto

Sam Claflin and Jena Malone made their way from Los Angeles to Toronto today for the Catching Fire premiere in Canada! The whirlwind tour continues.

Josh Hutcherson on SNL - Promo Reel

Josh Hutcherson hosts Saturday Night Live this weekend with musical guest HAIM. Catch the episode Saturday, November 23 at 11:30/10:30c! Check out the promo reel.

VIDEO: Jeffrey Wright Talks Catching Fire on Chelsea Lately

Jeffrey Wright appeared on Chelsea Lately last night to talk about the infamous cricket-filled Tiffany box he gave to Jennifer Lawrence and going "commando."

VIDEO: Elizabeth Banks on Ellen

Elizabeth Banks was on Ellen to promote The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, talking about the film’s intensity and wearing Effie Trinket’s wardrobe. 

Josh Hutcherson Talks 'Catching Fire' on GMA

Josh Hutcherson took a red eye right after the Catching Fire premiere last night to get to New York in time for a bunch of appearances this week. First up, GMA. Josh talks about Catching Fire, praises the cast and crew, talks about how Peeta has grown, his relationship with Katniss, how he relates to Peeta and what Jennifer Lawrence is really like. They also showed a clip with Peeta and Katniss on the train to the Capitol.

VIDEO: 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire' Los Angeles Red Carpet Interviews

The cast of Catching Fire did SO many interviews on the red carpet last night. Check out a round up of them!

 Videos from MTV, Access Hollywood, PopSugar and E! Online after the jump!

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