MTV Examines Francis Lawrence’s ‘Catching Fire’ To-Do List

Kelsey | May 3, 2012 | 0 Comments More

Now that Francis Lawrence has officially been named the ‘Catching Fire‘ director, MTV decided to jump right in and analyze what Lawrence has on his plate and what he needs to do to make the best ‘Hunger Games‘ sequel he can.

Fan Following

Say what you will about Ross’ vision for and execution of the first installment of Suzanne Collins’ series, but the director won over fickle fans before a single frame ever rolled by, positioning himself as an acolyte first and director second. Lawrence is already off to a winning start, posting a special message for fans on Facebook.

Lawrence can continue building consensus by giving fans further insight into his vision. How about sharing a sneak peek of concept art? Or, as filming progresses, taking a page out of “Breaking Dawn” director Bill Condon’s playbook and sharing on-set images early? Involving fans during the film’s infancy will keep fans eager and engaged.

Study Sequels

There are few more feared curses than the sophomore slump. Propelling an established narrative forward in an engaging and meaningful manner can sometimes be tricky, but it’s an art that directors like Christopher Nolan (“The Dark Knight”) have mastered. Better yet, Lawrence would be wise to look at franchises helmed by multiple directors (hello, “Harry Potter”) to strategize a smooth transition.

Find Finnick (and Johanna and … )

Lawrence’s first high-profile decision as director will likely be casting the new players introduced during the Quarter Quell. Tributes Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason are of special interest to fans, with casting speculation running rampant. (Unsurprisingly, we have a few suggestions for the hunk and the hottie too.) The caliber of actors Lawrence lines up will say plenty about the sort of sequel he plans to direct. In other words: Make it good, Francis!

Stronger CGI

If there was a chief complaint among fans regarding Ross’ work on “The Hunger Games,” it was that the Girl on Fire effects were largely lackluster. Lawrence has the opportunity to improve here, and with a brand-new, intricately designed arena, the helmer can create his own vision of the Games that’s not reliant upon the precedent set by Ross.

Phone Famous Friends

T. Bone Burnett is one of the best scorers in the biz, and his sensibility helped set the dire tone of the dystopian drama, so we hope he’ll sign back up for the sequel. But, as is often the case, director shakeups can lead to staffing shakeups, so if Burnett is no longer game, Lawrence should take advantage of his musically inclined mates from his days as a video director. Aren’t you at least a tiny bit curious what a Lady Gaga-produced “Catching Fire” score would sound like?

You can read the full article at MTV.

Did they miss anything? What do you think Lawrence should do to make a ‘Catching Fire’ that you want to see?

source: MTV via hggirlonfire