Want to ask Jennifer Lawrence if she dreams of shooting her hackers in the heart? Curious how director Francis Lawrence handled the challenge of splitting Mockingjay into two films? Desperate for a sneak peek?
You can do all that and more today on the social media events of #ASKMOCKINGJAY.
At its heart, the The Hunger Games trilogy is a story about media. Author Suzanne Collins famously came up with the idea of children fighting to the death on television as she flipped channels between reality TV shows and war coverage.
Today, Lionsgate is marking the premiere of Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 with #ASKMOCKINGJAY, a social media campaign spanning Twitter, Reddit, Facebook and more. We'll be live-blogging the scheduled events, which include chances to see new footage and connect with the cast online.
10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET: Reddit AMA with Natalie Dormer, who plays Cressida.
11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET: Twitter chat with director Francis Lawrence.
4 p.m. PT / 7 p.m. ET: Facebook fan event with the cast of Mockingjay and a new clip.
6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET: Yahoo and Tumblr livestream from the LA premiere, along with new footage from the film.
These events follow Lionsgate's legacy of pioneering social media film marketing. The New York Times detailed the "inexpensive digital initiatives" the studio used for the first Hunger Games film in 2012, an effort that's still considered the model for driving social engagement around a film franchise.
Back then, 800,000 fans created ID cards for the dystopian dictatorship of Panem where the trilogy takes place, for example. When Lionsgate released a poster in puzzle form on Twitter, it trended within minutes as fans rushed to put it together.
For this film, the trilogy's second-to-last, Lionsgate created sleek posters of the of the rebel fighters and leaders. It's also maintained an immersive Capitol website since the launch of the first film, featuring news reports, propaganda and even weather forecasts.
Check back throughout the day for updates and highlights of today's social events. May the odds of getting a reply from the stars be ever in your favor.
Crying and tying a knot challenged Sam Claflin
In his first scene as Finnick, he has to cry and tie a knot simultaneously. "As you know, as a man, doing two things at once was very difficult," he joked.
Hemsworth couldn't do the most dangerous stunts
He said he filmed fight scenes and "hard action" sequences, but the stunt team wouldn't let him rappel down a hundred foot wall. Of course, he ended up breaking his ankle while running.
'Jennifer's normally the one who would fall over in any place possible'
The crew was surprised when Liam Hemsworth broke his ankle on set.
Heroism is hard, says producer Nina Jacobson
Mockingjay - Part 1 shows "how hard it is to actually step up and be a hero. It's a hard journey," she said.
[img src="http://admin.mashable.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Screen-Shot-2014-11-17-at-6.33.45-PM.png" caption=""how hard it is to actually step up and be a hero. It's a hard journey"" credit="Facebook fan event " alt=""]
'Katniss really starts to fight back for the first time' in this scene, says director Francis Lawrence
New Mockingjay clip! New Mockingjay clip!
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Lawrence: 'I'm sweating profusely'
"Those were words, and I strung them all together and so I feel that I can stop talking," she said, endearingly awkward as ever.
'I still need to show up on set and do what feels real,'
JLaw gave a rambling reply to how she stays connected to Katniss Everdeen.
Donald Sutherland's mysterious answer
Sutherland was asked whether he'd be friends with his character President Snow if they ever met. "I have met him. And I was fired. We weren't very friendly," he deadpanned.
Julianne Moore: President Alma Coin 'believes in equality for her people,' but how does she progress?
Moore wanted to show Coin's "political evolution," which ends with her in a "not so altruistic place."
Josh Hutcherson stole a locket from the Catching Fire set
Producer Nina Jacobson said she'd let him off the hook this time.
The #AskMockingjay Facebook event is here!
Better late than never? Dave Karger leads the cast through answering fans' questions.
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The #AskMockingjay Facebook event is delayed. Blame the Capitol.
The #AskMockingjay Facebook Fan Event is on its way! Stand by... #BlameTheCapitol— Mockingjay - Part 1 (@TheHungerGames) November 18, 2014
Seems like the Capitol is working hard at bringing down the #AskMockingjay Fan event. :)— 3 Days|Mockingjay (@RebelKatniss) November 18, 2014
He doesn't know what a HG sequel would look like. Yet.
.@IMDb @rhayneashleyido That is a tricky question. I love the world and love all involved but don't quite know how to do it...not yet.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Bringing the propaganda war to life was a challenge
.@IMDb @vohguish Bringing the propaganda war to life in part 1 was tricky. We can't just hear about. We have to see it.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Suzanne Collins writes the truth
.@IMDb @pedrohribeiro13 I absolutely believe that she wrote about truths in our world... past and present— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Katniss is his favorite character. Obviously
.@IMDb @hungershades @TheHungerGames C'mon... it's Katniss. She is the heart of the stories. There are no HGames w/out her— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
He'd take Katniss' loyal bodyguard Boggs into the arena
.@IMDb @chloejonczyk All the others would kill me but I will say Mahershala who plays Boggs... or maybe Woody. For a laugh.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
In the Hunger Games arena, he'd want Katniss' explosive arrows
.@IMDb @squashauhl Katniss' explosive arrows— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
His favorite set? A chateau.
.@IMDb @squashauhl @TheHungerGames We shot a bunch of scenes for pt1 and pt2 in a Chateau near Paris. THAT was incredible. So was the food.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Katniss' return to District 12 was the hardest part to adapt for film
.@IMDb @lourival_thyago Thank you. I'm going to have to say Katniss going back to D12 in pt 1. Getting the emotion and impact right is tough— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Mockingjay teaches that anyone can make a difference
.@IMDb @pedrohribeiro13 @TheHungerGames To think that any one person can make a difference.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Lorde is a 'genius'
.@IMDb @ximaginedragons Lorde curated the soundtrack. It's all her choices and she's a genius. The score is by James Newton Howard— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Katniss is 'one of the best characters.' Ever.
.@IMDb @TheHungerGames @Jennerific_ Suzanne started w/ a strong theme & didn't pull any punches... and Katniss. One of the best characters— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
It's no 'Hunger Games' without Effie
.@IMDb @jen__hutcherson @TheHungerGames Nina and I both had the idea. We knew there was no way we could make these without Effie!— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
His favorite moment? Mariachi in the Everdeen household
.@IMDb @JenIsTheLaw We had some fun in Hawaii on CF but there was a great day in the Everdeen house when someone brought in a mariachi band— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
The rescue was the hardest part of the film to shoot
.@IMDb @beaaquiii Well, the toughest stuff to shoot was in Part 2 but since we're talking about Part 1 I'll say the rescue.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Home sweet District 4
.@IMDb @VeerlevdMolen Another tough one... Probably a district. Maybe 4 by the water— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
His favorite line from the movie?
.@IMDb @claflinscadets @TheHungerGames oooh. Tough one but I think I have to go with "If we burn you burn with us"— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
The Hanging Tree scene will surprise fans of the books too
.@IMDb @dylobriensbutt @TheHungerGames The Hanging Tree is a great sequence and will be surprising even for fans of the book. Some new stuff— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
'Mockingjay' is Francis Lawrence's favorite book in the series
.@IMDb @mellarksmine @TheHungerGames Mockingjay is my favorite. It's the book that, for me, gives the series its meaning.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Director Francis Lawrence would rather be Haymitch
.@IMDb @Ik_Ben_Sam @TheHungerGames I think I would be Haymitch... doesnt have to fight much anymore and maintains a bit of a sense of humor.— Francis Lawrence (@Hibbits) November 17, 2014
Natalie Dormer, who plays Cressida embraces her new role as an undershave icon
Cressida would never be a Peacekeeper
The 'Mockingjay' set has better food than 'Game of Thrones'
She and Cressida have the same work ethic
Dormer says both Cressida and Margaery Tyrell 'know how to manipulate hearts and minds'
She'd rather swap lives with Cressida than Margaery Tyrell
