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 Behind The Scenes Mockingjay Part 1 Clip - Creating District 13

We've got another new clip from the Blu-ray special feature making-of documentary of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, "The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of MJ1." Courtesy of SlashFilm.com, this clip focuses on how Francis Lawrence, Production Designer Phil Messina, and set decorator Larry Dias created the underground world of District 13. 

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. More info and where to buy HERE. 

'Mockingjay Part 1', Jennifer Lawrence & Elizabeth Banks Nominated for MTV Movie Awards

MTV announced their 2015 MTV Movie Awards nominations this morning and Mockingjay Part 1 is up for 4 this year. 

Mockingjay Part 1 is nominated for Movie of the Year 

Jennifer Lawrence is nominated for Best Female Performance and Best Musical Moment 

Elizabeth Banks is nominated for Best On-Screen Transformation

You can vote as many times as you like from now until 6 PM ET on April 11, 2015 for all voting categories with the exception of "Movie Of The Year" which closes around 9:30 PM ET on April 12, 2015.

And, with any luck, we'll get another magical moment like this:

The Awards will broadcast live on MTV from Los Angeles Sunday, April 12 @ 8/7c hosted by comedian Amy Schumer.   

'Mockingjay Part 1' & Jennifer Lawrence Nominated for Saturn Awards

At least the Saturn Awards loves us! The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films have announced the nominations for the 41st Saturn Awards and Mockingjay Part 1 is in the running for two this year. 

Best Science Fiction Film - Mockingjay Part 1

Best Actress - Jennifer Lawrence

Last year Catching Fire was nominated for a whopping SEVEN awards and took home Best Costume Design for Trish Summerville. In 2013, Jennifer Lawrence won a Saturn Award for Best Actress in The Hunger Games. 

The winners will be announced at the 41st Annual Saturn Awards Ceremony on June 25, 2015.

Liam Hemsworth Cast in Independence Day Sequel

Liam and ID4 producer Harald Kloser

Congrats to Liam Hemsworth, who has just been officially cast in the upcoming Independence Day sequel. Most of you probably don't remember the original because it's actually almost 20 YEARS OLD! Can you believe that? Now I feel ancient. The 1996 original was a massive hit (2nd highest worldwide gross at the time) and starred Bill Pullman as the US President. Liam will play his son in the sequel. The movie, which is also being called Independence Day Forever, will be released June 24, 2016. 

New Josh Hutcherson Interview - ‘Anyone ever tell you you look a lot like that guy from The Hunger Games?’

Josh Hutcherson is gearing up for his new gig with Ron Howard and Canon, Project Imagination, which revolves around a consumer-created-trailer contest (see photos of Josh filming for the project here). He spoke with Vanity Fair about the project, what he dislikes most about fan interactions (hint: say something interesting to the guy!) and what he'll miss about his Hunger Games buds. 

“It’s sad,” [Josh Hutcherson] says of the end of The Hunger Games. Dressed in a white T-shirt, scruff creeping around his jawline and partway down his neck. “It’s been the most incredible experience making these movies. I’ve made friends that I’m going to have forever. Nothing is as bonding or as close an experience as filming a movie with someone. I’m going to miss that closeness, for sure.” He explains that the group involved in making the films—including co-stars Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth—has made a pact to re-unite at least every two years for a “group vacation [lasting] four to eight days.” They had initially decided to aim for an annual sojourn, but that seemed “a little unrealistic.” 

Hutcherson—who tweets and Instagrams on rare occasion—says that he, himself, doesn’t record very much in his daily life. “I don’t like to document my life in any way,” he says. “My life of work is documenting, when I’m filming. But when I’m in my own life, I want it to be undocumented . . . I like to live my own life and live in the moment. I think so many times you miss out on the real moments that are happening because you’re trying to capture it to save it for later.” What would he submit a trailer about, if he were going to enter the contest? Without flinching or pausing, he answers, “The process of an actor getting prepared and going to an audition. It’s such a normal thing that [actors] do all the time, and it’s such a horrible gut-wrenching experience. . . . It’s kind of cool to tell a story that’s normal for you but might not be normal for somebody else.” This interest in the behind-the-scenes aspect of filmmaking extends to his career ambitions, as well. Hutcherson is producing and starring in the Project Imagination film (“producing next to Ron Howard is definitely a great crash course in how to produce”), and says he wants to be a director, down the road, and is “starting to tip-toe in that direction.” When I ask what would happen if a trailer about a puppy wins, he jokes, “I can play anything. I’m very versatile.”

Hutcherson seems to be somewhat wary of the attention that his work in front of the camera has brought about. He says “the thing [he] dislikes the most’” is when fans approach him in public and ask, “‘Can I have a selfie?’ Click. ‘Thanks,’” and then walk away without saying anything to him. “You didn’t actually meet me,” he says. “All you did was get a photo. You could have Photoshopped me into that and it would have been the same experience for you.” He says, with a sly smile, that most people who approach him on the street can’t quite place him.

“My favorite thing is when they’re like, ‘Where’d you go to school? What’s your name? God, you look so familiar.’ . . . Sometimes people are like, ‘Anyone ever tell you you look a lot like that guy from The Hunger Games?’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, they tell me that a lot.’”

One person who Hutcherson was very happy approached him, though: Ethan Hawke. At the Oscars last week, Hawke walked over to Hutcherson to say hello, to his great delight. “I’ve admired [Hawke] for so long,” he says. “And he actually introduced himself to me. And I was like, ‘Whaaaat? What are you saying hi to me for?!’ It was really cool.”

New 'Mockingjay Part 1' Behind The Scenes Clips - Jennifer Lawrence & Weapons of Choice

We've got a couple more behind the scenes clips from Mockingjay Part 1 ahead of Friday's DVD and Blu-Ray release of the film! Moviefone recently posted a short clip from 'The Mockingjay Lives: The Making of Mockingjay: Part 1,' the 8-part documentary that is part of the blu-ray and iTunes digital HD special features. This clip is a little ode to Jennifer Lawrence.

Movies.com posted a great, exclusive behind the scenes look at the weapons of Mockingjay Part 1. This clip is not on any special features on any version of the dvd or blu-ray that we've reviewed. So, thanks Movies.com for this cool clip! Plus, it features more of stunt coordinator Sam Hargrave, which is an added bonus as far as we are concerned. 

Another new clip just came out today via JustJared.com. This clip features Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, and more stars of the film opening up about their unbreakable bond on and off set.

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. More info and where to buy HERE. 

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1' - Honest Trailer

Those of you who like YouTube are probably familiar with Screen Junkies and their Honest Trailer treatment of popular films. Well, it's Mockingjay Part 1's turn.