The Hunger Games Close Viewing Notes

The Hunger Games
Director: Gary Ross

From the Treaty of the Treason:
In penance for their uprising, each district shall offer up a male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 at a public "Reaping". These tributes shall be delivered to The Capitol, and then transferred to a public arena where they will fight to the death, until a lone victor remains. Henceforth and forevermore this pageant shall be known as 'The Hunger Games'.

Scene One-
Seneca and Caesar talk- The Hunger Games started as a reminder of the rebellion, a tradition, however in Seneca's words; "I think it has grown from that. I think it's something that knits us all together".

Scene Two-
District 12 is introduced using an extreme long shot, showing a row of old shack-like houses, trees, and old power lines.

Immediately, we can see this is a very poor district; the houses are broken and run-down, the clothing of the people is old, dirty, worn down, a man is seen eating scraps of meat off a bone. It is a district in extreme poverty, and as determined by the large metal fences surrounding the district, they have no freedom.

A scream is heard, the characters Katniss and Primrose Everdeen are introduced.
- Katniss sings to Prim after she wakes from a nightmare- this song is heard again later on in the film.
- This scene is filmed shakily, quite clearly using a hand held camera.
- A series of close-up shots of Katniss and Prim are used throughout their short conversation, the emotions of both characters shown through their facial expressions made more dramatic, and giving the scene effect without the use of both lighting and music.
-"Your name has only been in there once they're not gonna pick you". This dialogue may be seen as a hint towards Prim's fate.

Scene 3-
Once again, this scene is shot with a hand held camera.
A series of long shots are used, the camera panning as Katniss goes further into the forest. As the ship of peacekeepers flies over head, high angle shots are used to establish the fear implemented by peacekeepers, and make Katniss and Gale seem vulnerable. From this, and the discussion Gale and Katniss previously had about selling to peacekeepers, we can see these peacekeepers are the dominant members of Panaema.

Scene 4-
Effie Trinket is introduced with the use of a tilt shot. The camera begins showing only her feet and the ground beneath her, before tilting upwards, showing the rest of her body and her face. This signifies that she is a person of relative importance.

Scene 5- 
Gale and Katniss discuss the games and a dream of running away.
In this scene we first hear theses famous lines 
"Happy Hunger Games"- Gale
"And may the odds be ever in your favour"- Katniss
Gale gives Katniss a small bread roll, once again showing the poverty which all of District 12 live in and the luxuries they miss out on.
The scene turns rather solemn when Gale announces his name has been put in the draw 42 times.

Scene 6-
Katniss enters a busy abandoned warehouse-like building, where people have set up various goods for sale on tables. Katniss gives a handful of berries to an older woman at one of the stalls in exchange for what appears to be a ball of wool. The woman notices she takes a liking to a small pin with a mockingjay on it, and decides to give it to her for free- perhaps as if to say good luck at the reaping, and hinting at it's significance as the movie continues. This is the first appearance of the mockingjay pin.

Scene 7-
Various long shots and medium shots of children around the district getting dressed up and preparing for the reaping are shown. Music is used to show how everyone in the district is feeling; on edge, nervous, anxious, and gloomy. 
Katniss gifts Primrose the mockingjay pin. "As long as you have it, nothing bad will happen to you. I promise." She does a good job of upholding this promise in the next scene.

Scene 8- 
The Reaping
-The crowd is in complete silence, drawing attention to Effie's unnervingly over-positive mood. 
-The camera pans around the mob of people, their faces showing an array of scared, sad, and solemn expressions.
- As we can see in President Snow's 'special' video, not all districts are poor, making District 12 look quite impoverished in comparison. Children are used in the video to add innocence.
-Close-ups are used as Effie unfolds the piece of paper containing Prim's name, her cakey make-up extremely visible.
-A multitude of both long shots and close-ups are used as Katniss volunteers (The first person to volunteer from District 12 in the history of the Hunger Games), keeping the promise she made to her younger sister only a few hours ago.
-The almost complete silence -other than the sound of Prim screaming as Gale grabs her (once again showing the strong connection between not only Gale and katniss but her family too), and the peacekeepers lead her sister to the stage- makes this scene all the more darker.\
- Once again, Effie's over-positive personality kicks in and she claps for Katniss as she receives the news she now has a 23/24 chance of death.
-Instead of joining in, everyone in the crowd holds up three fingers -a symbol of hope and rebellion, which later becomes 1, prohibited, and 2, the literal sign of the rebellion (along with the mockingjay in future movies).
-When Peeta's name is called, an extreme close-up is used to show the shocked, horrified expression on his face.

Flashback of Peeta and Katniss: Shows Katniss sitting in the rain, alone and starving. Peeta throws her a loaf of bread, even though he knows that by doing so he risks being beaten by his mother. This shows Peeta is kind, empathetic, generous, and that he has some sort of feelings towards Katniss.

Scene 9-
Katniss tries to remain strong and hopeful for Prim. 
-Prim gives Katniss the mockingjay pin -the 2nd time this pin is a major part of a scene.
- "To protect you."
- Katniss promises to try and win for Prim
- In the following scene, a medium shot is used to show Gale throwing open the doors, followed by a number of close-ups as he hugs Katniss, which add emotion to the scene. This shows the strength of their friendship/relationship and the closeness and trust between the two characters without needing to use any dialogue.
- "They just want a good show. That's all they want." -Gale
"There's 24 of us, Gale. Only one comes out." -Katniss
"Yea. And it's gonna be you." -Gale

Scene 10-
The use of music in this scene accurately depicts the way Katniss and Peeta feel when in the car with Effie; sad, distant, hopeless. The way it drowns out Effies voice shows neither of them are listening. The music changes as they board the train, showing their slight mood change when they see the fancy expensive interior of where they'll be staying.

The train is a huge change from their lifestyle in District 12.
-Expensive
-Colourful
-Lavish

The camera pans around the train carriage, showing all the furniture and food etc.
Close-ups of Peeta and Katniss are used as Peeta has a one-sided conversation about Hamish with her. Lack of dialogue and music makes the tension and awkwardness between the two characters evident.

"Embrace the probability of your imminent death. And know in your heart, that there is nothing I can do to save you." -Hamish. This quote sums up Hamish's character at the start of the movie pretty well. Drunk, sarcastic, unhelpful and completely and utterly hopeless. He undergoes some serious character development throughout the film. Hamish is the only other person from District 12 to have won the Hunger Games.
-Long shot is used to show Katniss alone in the empty carriage when Peeta goes after Hamish. 
-Eerie music plays as Katniss watches a video of a past tribute crushing another past tribute's head in with a brick on the TV in her room. Close-ups are used to make her emotions clearer.
-"tHaT iS mAhOgAnY" -Effie. Not a particularly plot changing or super important quote, but I thought it was the funniest thing ever when I was younger soooooo...
-Establishing shot is used as they arrive at The Capitol, once again far different from their home- the buildings are high-rises rather than shacks, giving a modern, flash, expensive look to the city.

Scene 12-
-Cinna is introduced with a long shot- showing both him and Katniss, but not revealing his face until after he begins to speak.
- "Most people just congratulate me" -Katniss
- "So you're here to make me look pretty?"
"I'm here to help you make an impression."
-Cinna explains that for the tribute parade, designers usually dress their tributes in clothing and costumes related to their district. He then continues to tell her he wants to do something different.
- "I just think somebody that brave shouldn't be dressed in some stupid costume now, should they?"
-You can immediately tell Cinna is very different from most others living in The Capitol; he's genuine, down to earth, humble, and empathetic.

Scene 13-
Tribute's Parade
-Establishing shot/extreme long shot is used to show the large area they are in, showing the massive crowd and all of the tributes riding down towards President Snow in their chariots.
-The music in this scene is much more upbeat, fast-paced, and hopeful.
- Peeta and Katniss ride out last, the flames on their costumes being the beginning of Katniss' nickname 'The Girl on Fire".

Scene 14-
Hamish, Eiffy, Cinna, Peeta and Katniss talk about their costumes, the other tributes around them meeting up with their own mentors and costume designers. Over the shoulder shots are used to make the audience seem like they're apart of the conversation, Cato is introduced. He has no dialogue, just a huge smirk and a generally creepy fierce facial expression. This signals that he may be quite a threat in the games. This is confirmed by Hamish a few scenes later.

Scene 15-
This is the first we see of the tribute centre, which is once again far superior to their homes at District 12.

Another flashback gives further information on the previous one

Scene 16-
A forest comes up on the wall which is actually a screen in Katniss' room. It reminds her of the environment back at District 12. A mix of tilt shots and short tracking shots are used as Katniss walks up to the screen, followed by a close-up showing the solemn look on her face.

Scene 17-
The Tribute Centre
- Colour scheme is a majority of red, white and grey
- The lighting is dull, other than in a box high above the tributes where members of The Capitol sit where it is both colourful and well lit, once again outlining the idea that the people of the Capitol are superior, and that the tributes are inferior and expendable.
- The guards wear all white.
- The music is dramatic and tense as the tributes train.


Scene 18-
Careers: Tributes form District 1 and District 2 (two rather wealthy districts) who train in a special academy from a young age until they're 18 before volunteering. These tributes are the most lethal and pose the highest threat,
"They win almost every year. But they can be arrogant. And arrogance can be a big problem."            -Peeta's mother has zero faith in him and honestly shouldn't have been allowed to have kids she's a terrible mother.

Another flashback scene of Peeta and Katniss.

Scene 19-
- Peeta's artistic skill is uncovered -a skill he uses later on in the games.
- Peeta also attempts to intimidate the other tributes,

Scene 20-
Hamish sees two children playing with a sword- He looks mildly disturbed.

Scene 21-
Tribute's Evaluation
- Quiet low-level music plays as Katniss goes in for evaluation.
- The seating area for members of The Capitol is once again far more lavish and colourful than below.
- High shots are used to show Katniss is vulnerable.
- Another mid-shot of Katniss setting her bow is shown.
- Music becomes high pitched and faster with a deep menacing undertone as Katniss realises she is going unnoticed by Seneca and his fellow friends and co-workers.
- It reverts back to a hand-held camera as Katniss shoots the apple
- A tracking shot is used to track the arrow as it flies through the air, nearly hitting Seneca in the head.

Scene 22-
The Results
- Peeta and Katniss change from their training gear to casual clothing as they sit with Eiffy, Hamish and Cinna, waiting for their results.
- "Thank you. For your consideration."

Scene 23
-President Snow talks to Cinna about the danger supporting Katniss could pose.
"Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous. A spark is fine, as long as it is contained. So. Contain. It." -President Snow.

Scene 24
The Caesar Flickerman Interviews
- Katniss having a tantrum over not knowing how to make people like her is a mood.
- An extreme long shot is used to once again show the large space around them.
- Marvel seems confident and hopeful throughout his interview.
- Rue seems quite quiet, shy, and reserved.
- Cato looks determined and focused.
- All lighting is focused on Caesar and the guests (tributes).
- Cinna sits in the crowd -emotional support for Katniss.
- Over the shoulder shots and eye-level shots make it seem like the audience is part of the conversation
- Katniss is nervous at the beginning of her interview.
- The crowd goes quiet as Caesar and Katniss discuss her volunteering for her sister, and promising Prim she would try to win.
- The red dress with flames she wears -designed by Cinna- goes with her whole fire aesthetic thing, and the nickname 'The Girl on Fire'- a symbol of hope.
- Eiffie changes her wig. Again.

Scene 25
- Lots of medium shots are used throughout Peeta and Katniss' conversation.
- Extreme long shots of The Capitol, the events going on in the city below being the only lighting and background noise in this scene.
- "I just don't want them to change me." -Peeta
"How would they change you?" -Katniss
"I don't know, turn me into something I'm not. I just don't want to be another piece in their game, you know?" -Peeta
"You mean you won't kill anyone?"
"No. I mean, I'm sure I would, just like anybody else when the time came, but I just keep wishing I could think of a way to show them, that they don't own me. You know if I'm gonna die, I wanna still be me."

Scene 26
- Hamish is tense, he talks quickly fitting in as much last minute advice as he can.

Scene 27
- Game makers/control room
- Lots of white and blue from the control panels
- Harsh bright lighting
- Looks clinical
- All game makers are wearing white

Scene 28
- Close-up and over the shoulder shots are used as Cinna and Katniss hug.
- There is complete silence as Cinna helps her put on her jacket and reveals the infamous mockingjay pin he had snuck in. This shows the deep respect Cinna has for Katniss, and that he has faith in her.
- "I'm not allowed to bet. But if I could, I'd bet on you.."
- They're interrupted by a voice over the intercom. "30 seconds".

Scene 29
The games begin
- The change in lighting and the effects used shows how long it's been since Katniss has seen sunlight.
- Cornucopia can be seen, surrounded by equipment
- Back to hand held camera
- Multiple close-ups and panning shots are used to show the other 23 tributes in the arena.
- This is followed up with shots of people from all around Panaema -Katniss' family and friends included- watching from home as the games begin. This again shows the comparison in lifestyles of people in the different districts and people in The Capitol.
- Seneca is the only person in the control room wearing any colour
- Long shot of Gale

The Games
- Tense, high pitched fast-paced music plays, all other noise is inaudible.
- Tracking shots of different tributes are used, along with medium long shots, close-ups and mid shots.
- Over the shoulder shot of Cato killing a younger tribute.
- All tributes are wearing the same thing, showing they really are just pieces in a game.
- High angle shots as Katniss falls down the hill.

- No music to create atmosphere as Katniss goes through the things in the bag she managed to grab
- Cannon goes off, Katniss stops what she's doing and counts, the only other sound being the noise of birds chirping and trees rustling
- Close-ups and tilt shots are used to show Katniss tying herself to a tree
- The arena is a giant dome.
- Extreme close-up of Katniss' confused facial expression as she stares into a camera in the tree trunk behind her.
- National anthem plays, photos of the tributes who have fallen so far play on the dome over the arena, the blue light it produces being the only light source.

- No music as Cato, Marvel, Clove, Glimmer and Peeta find a girl sitting by a fire.
- High angle shot of the alliance as they go past the tree Katniss is hiding in.
- Over the shoulder and eye level shots make the audience seem a part of the conversation.
- Extreme long shot of Katniss as one of the game makers informs Seneca that she's too close to the boundaries
- Current setting- a forest, very similar to the one we see her in at the start of the movie outside of District 12.
- It's very quiet, again the only noises being the sounds of trees rustling, birds chirping, water flowing (nature).
- Natural lighting- sunlight is the only light source for a large part of the movie.
- Everything is artificial in this arena- including the sky.

- Long shots, tracking shots and high angle shots (showing her vulnerability) are used to show Katniss running from the fireballs being launched at her by the game makers.
- Sound of fire crackling and trees falling over.
- Using hand held camera.
- Game makers forced Katniss towards the careers and Peeta to force some sort of drama and action
- Only noise is the sound of the careers shouting.
- Cato refers to Katniss as 'Girl on Fire'.
- Low angle shot of Cato climbing after Katniss, making him look dominant.
- High angle shot of the careers and Peeta below them, showing they're the onlookers.
- "Maybe you should throw the sword".
- Slow solemn music is used to set the atmosphere along with close-up shots of Katniss' face, showing she is in pain without needing to use dialogue.

- Music continues, all other noise being inaudible as a close-up of Hamish shows he is watching anxiously before beginning to try gain sponsors for Katniss.
- "Apply gernerouly and stay alive"- Telling Peeta and Katniss to stay alive is his best advice tbh.
- High angle shot of Katniss putting the cream on her burnt leg.
- Close-up shots of Cato and Glimmer asleep on the ground.
- Long shot of Rue in the tree beside her.
- Using hand motions Rue tells Katniss what she wants her to know without using words. There is no other background music
- Caesar Flickerman and another talk show host briefly make an appearance in what appears to be some sort of set in a TV studio, commentating what is happening with Rue and Katniss
- Voice over of Caesar and some other dude talking about the dangers of tracker jackers.

- Music begins to play quietly as close-ups of Katniss show her cutting the branch with the tracker jacker hive, which then falls on the sleeping tributes.
- Tense music begins to play.
- Sound effects used to make all noise sound echoey and hazey
- Close-up of Glimmer's extremely swollen face, followed by a close-up of her hand as Katniss pries the bow out of it.
- Effects used to show Katniss' vision is blurry.
- Hallucination of Caesar
- A close-up on Peeta's now blurry face shows he's scared, not for himself but for Katniss, and that his minor betrayal was accidental.

- Another flashback (or hallucination), this time showing how Katniss' father died in a mine explosion.
- Showing how Katniss become almost like a mother to Prim after her father died, as her mother couldn't cope.
- Flashback shows Katniss is hallucinating as she is still wearing the clothes she was wearing in the arena
- Long shots and low angle shots of Katniss waking up, close-ups of Katniss also show her once again confused facial expressions.
- Over the shoulder shot as Rue pops out from behind a tree.
- Mid shot of Rue and Katniss eating some sort of animal, only background noise can be heard.
- Close-up of Katniss' relieved facial expression when she finds out Peeta is okay.
- High angle shot of Rue and Katniss sleeping, there is no lighting.
- Long shots of Katniss and Rue setting up the bonfires.
- Mockingjays.

-Long shot of a boy sitting guarding the career's supplies as they see Rue's fires and run to investigate.
- Quiet suspenseful music plays.
- Caesar and the other talk show host commentate as another tribute figures out how they've re-setup the land mines.
- Close ups as Katniss brings her bow out.
- Extreme close-up of Katniss' lips and the end of her arrow.
- Hand held camera.
- Mid shot of Katniss drawing her bow.
- Extreme close-up of arrow hitting apples.
- Low angle slow motion shot as the apples tumble down the pile of supplies, setting off the mines and blowing everything up.
- High pitched noise used to show how Kantiss' ears react to the loud explosion.
- Long shot, only noise heard is the high-pitched buzz as Cato snaps the boy's neck.\
- Camera pans as Katniss walks through the forest trying to find Rue.
- Tracking shot as Katniss hears Rue screaming.
- Marvel is the first person Katniss kills in the game.

- Use of music to tell the story, all other sound cuts out as the story becomes more powerful.
- When Marvel throws his spear, killing Rue, a series of close-up shots and medium close-up shots are used, showing Katniss' facial expression, the wound in Rue's chest, and Rue's face.
- Both characters are crying (...Understandably), which is visible due to the use of close-ups and various other camera shots.
- Rue asks Katniss to sing for her, and Katniss sings the same song she sung with her sister Prim when she woke up from a nightmare the morning of the Reaping.
- This shows that; 1, Katniss thinks of Rue as a little sister, and 2, she recognises the many similarities between Rue and Prim.
Deep in the meadow,
Under the willows,
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow.
Lay down your head,
and close your eyes. 
And when they open,
the sun will rise.
- The music playing fits in perfectly with the atmosphere of the scene.
- As Rue slips away, Katniss closes her eyes, showing the respect and love she had for the young girl.
- The music is quiet and has a slow tempo.
- As Katniss zips up Rue's jacket -hiding the wound, the music gradually gets louder, drowning out all other background noise as Katniss throws Marvel's spear away from Rue's body in anger and grief.

- The following scene begins with close-ups, long shots, tilt shots, panning shots and tracking shots showing Katniss collecting flowers, and placing them in Rue's hands.
- Katniss is scene pulling the three finger salute, now a sign of rebellion, using a bird eye view from a nearby camera.
- Powerful music plays as the people of District 11 are shown holding up the same sign, before rioting. Consisting mostly of stringed instruments, this music affects the audience, and accurately portrays the grief all of these characters are feeling.
- The people of District 11 beat peacekeepers, light fires, trash buildings and more. The music continues.
- The peacekeepers fight back, using highly pressurised water cannons and nightsticks/batons.
- This scene is very similar to videos taken during the Martin Luther King protests and marches, where people who were protesting for equal rights for African Americans were also shot by police and other onlookers using water cannons.
- High angle shot
- Three finger salute starts to become a symbol of rebellion.
- Unlike the other tributes who after killing another only see the glory and relieving feeling, Katniss was the first to show remorse, and she treated Rue's body with respect. This plays a role in District 11's uprising.
- Peacekeeper uniforms are similar to both police or military uniforms and stormtrooper suits.

- Low angle shot as Seneca walks down the staircase in the control room.
- Long shots, medium shots and eye-level shots as Hamish tries to persuade Seneca to let Katniss live.

- President Snow tending to white roses.
- He tells Seneca to be careful, and warns him he could start an uprising.

- Close-up of Katniss as she finds out there can now be two victors from the same district rather than one.
- Suspenseful music plays as Katniss begins to follow a trail of blood.
- Tracking shots and close-ups.
- High angle shot of Peeta camouflaged in the ground.
- Close-ups and medium shots as Peeta and Katniss talk.
- Hand held camera.

- Use of music creates atmosphere as Peeta asks Katniss to sing for him, and talks about how he used to watch her walk home everyday back at district 12 (totally not creepy).
- Shakey camera to show there is action as Katniss and Clove fight
- Lots of hig angles, over the shoulder shots and close ups.
- High angle shots of Katniss to make her look vulnerable and low angle shots of CLove to make her look dominant.
- Can see the comparison between medicine used by the Capitol compared to lack of medicine in District 12.

- Establishing shot as the sun rises, showing Peeta and Katniss had been asleep for at least a few hours.
- Lots of close-ups as Peeta and Katniss start to realise they could actually win and get to go home.
- Close up of Katniss' hand on the back of her arrow and close-ups of Katniss' chin resting on the bow.
- High angle shot of Peeta and Katniss walking as the sun "goes down".
- Low angle shot of Thresh's photo coming up on the dome, the cannon goes, signalling he is now dead.
- Moonlight being the only light source, it is reasonably dark. Combined with eerie music this makes the audience feel on edge and suspenseful.
- Music becomes more fast-paces and dramatic as the mutts chase Peeta and Katniss.
- Shakey camera as Cato, Katniss and Peeta fight.
- Music stops almost completely as Cato holds Peeta around the neck, and Katniss has her bow aimed at him.
- Low angle shots of Cato making him look stronger and high angle shots making Katniss look more vulnerable.
- Close-up shots of all three characters.
- Focuses on one character at a time, blurring out the background.
- If both died they'd become a symbol of hope and rebellion for every district, not just their own. Seneca can't let that happen.
- White roses are in the corner of the room where Seneca is locked in with the nightlock berries.
- Low angle of Seneca, high angle of nightlock berries.
- Snow wheres a white rose, Katniss wears her mockingjay pin as President Snow places a crown on her head.
- Katniss has a fake smile until she sees her mother, sister, and Gale.

Effie -
Effie's colourful, expensive, and what some would call luxurious clothing mirrors her personality perfectly- bright, colourful, and cheerful, positive, over the top, a little bit stuck up, etc. Her colourful and very bold (slightly cakey) make-up and big wigs also represent this.