"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" hits theaters on Friday, Nov. 22. Latinos Post had an opportunity to speak with two of the franchise's new stars Jena Malone and Sam Clafin in anticipation for the film's release. Malone plays the role of Joanna while Clafin takes on the character of Finnick.
LP: What was the most difficult part of the production process?
Jena Malone: Living up to the expectations of the fans. There are so many complicated parts.
Sam Clafin: For me it was the physical transformation I had to go through. The life style change, dieting, working out. It was pretty brutal for me. But in a good way. I embraced the challenge and worked as hard as I could. I hope that translates into a three-dimensional Finnick for the fans.
JM: For me it was really living with Joanna's anger. Carrying violence and anger inside of your body is really challenging and at the end of the day I was really anti-social and it was hard for me to let it go after the first couple of months. But after we got to Hawaii I was able to say to myself "I have to let it go."
LP: When did you start doing preparation for the film?
SC: I think I started in August or September. Three weeks prior to our first days of filming. That was ongoing throughout the process.
JM: Three weeks before we started shooting but then we just kept training throughout the five months. It was a longtime commitment.
LP: How was the experience of shooting in Hawaii?
SC: It's paradise. I'm lucky enough to say that I shot there before. The moment you set foot off the plane it completely allows you to relax. Also because the cast and crew, they had a lot of down time by the time we got there so it was a close-knit community. It felt like we were on holiday and occasionally [we had to shoot].
JM: As much as you think its paradise, there can still be extreme circumstances where all of a sudden it rains for days even though it's supposed to be sunny. Things were not always in our favor in that regard but at the end of the day, you are at your hotel with a drink or beverage and that beautiful sunset which I think is the most beautiful part of the day.
LP: Did you feel any added pressure bringing these characters to life considering the fans' expectations? How did you deal with that?
JM: For me I just had to let it go. While we were shooting I couldn't really think about anyone else's expectations except my own, my fellow cast mates', [Suzanne Collins'] and the director's. All of us put in 150 percent and I feel that we went above and beyond what some expect us to.
SC: I definitely could not help notice that some fans were disappointed when I got cast. That kind of spurred me on to work harder. There was obviously pressure on my shoulders and I was anxious and intimidated to begin with. But you have to turn that nervous energy and use it in your favor. All I can do is work as hard as I can and hope that I did it justice.
LP: What was the experience of working with Jennifer Lawrence? Did she help you two deal with the pressure considering that she went through the same thing with the first film?
SC: Josh [Hutcherson] and [Jennifer Lawrence], they are so tight. In fact the entire whole cast and crew were such close friends and stepping into that environment was intimidating to begin with but from day one, they made me feel welcome. They were kind, generous and I feel like I've entered into that family.
JM: The newcomers kind of outnumbered the old timers. So I think that if it was one or two new people entering into the film I think it would have been intimidating because they have such an intense and beautiful bond. But with so many new people, I think they kind of had to let us in or we would have taken over.
LP: Will the Hunger Games Arena Meet Expectations?
JM: [It went] above and beyond [expectations]. It blew me away when I saw the hotel. It is spectacular.
SC: There are definitely moments in the process when you wonder if it will translate well. You are shooting in the middle of a kid's water park in the middle of December and you say, "There is no way that it works. There is no way this looks like paradise." But after seeing the footage I genuinely feel so excited to share it with the world. I believe it has gone above and beyond.
LP: What are you most excited to share with the fans?
SC: The arena. But I think really, it's everything. The visuals are really to die for.
JM: I am going to be totally selfish because I want to know people's reactions to my character because I put so much into it.
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