One readers vision for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
We’ve managed to see how The Hunger Games was adapted from page to screen, but how will the sequel, Catching Fire pan out?
Hana McCarthy has written to The Hogwarts Professor explaining her very detailed screenplay-outline based on both a very close reading of the books and a three act drama structure as used by Hollywood.
You can check out her entire (and incredibly detailed vision) here, but here’s some of how Hana sees the movie playing out. We’d love to know what you think.
Act1, Sequence A: District 12
Katniss is back at home but all is not well. She’s being watched by Snow, she has nightmares, she hates Victor’s Village and her relationships with Gale and Peeta are conflicted. This sequence might end with Gale’s kiss.
Act2, Sequence B: Victory Tour
This sequence poses the dramatic question that will shape the rest of the picture. Katniss is called to her mission as the Mockingjay. It might start with a confrontation with Snow who challenges Katniss to convince the audience that her love for Peeta is real. On the tour (which would probably work best on film if the order of the district visits is reversed), Katniss sees the growing signs of revolution and in District 11 she and Peeta make their famous speeches.
Act 2, Sequence C: Lockdown in D12.
Katniss and Peeta are bundled onto the train ‘Like criminals’ as Effie says, and they return to a District 12 in lockdown, crawling with peacekeepers. This is probably the point where Katniss meets the District 8 refugees (the easiest way to show the Katniss is already viewed as the Mockingjay). The sequence should probably end with Gale’s flogging to show the cruelty of the Capitol and the fact that Katniss’ loved ones are now being targeted.
Act 2, Sequence D: The Quarter Quell
This is the story center, the midpoint. Katniss stops reacting and starts acting, demonstrating the power of sacrificial love when she pulls herself out of her panic and chooses to save Peeta.
Act 2, Sequence E: The Reaping
This sequence introduces many characters and subplots. It starts with the reaping in D12, includes Haymitch’s insights into the other victors, reaches a climax as we watch Mags volunteering in District 4. The sequence might end in the Capitol with a weeping prep team (showing that these games are not going over quite as Snow had planned).
Act 2, Sequence F: Meet the Victors
Of course this sequence starts with Finnick and the sugar cubes. It then moves to the training center: Haymitch tells Katniss & Peeta to choose allies and Katniss learns about force fields. Katniss and Peeta get to know the other tributes and wonder ‘how can we kill these people. The sequence ends at the interviews with the tributes linking arms.
Act 3, Sequence G: The Arena
Haymitch tells Katniss, ‘Remember who the enemy is’. Katniss learns to trust Finnick. Peeta dies and is revived, and it becomes clear that Katniss really does love Peeta. The kiss on the beach probably ends this sequence.
Act 3, Sequence H: It’s a Clock
Starts with Mag’s sacrifice, adds Nuts, Volts and Joanna to the team, reaches a climax as Katniss understands the Clock pattern and ends as Katniss fires her arrow at the chink in the force field and loses Peeta.
Epilogue: Plutarch and Haymitch unmasked.
You can see how compressed the whole thing has to be (it’s a miracle that any film adaptations actually work). CF as a film must tell two central stories: the outer journey in which Katniss becomes the Mockingjay, the leader of the rebellion, and the inner journey in which she comes to understand the power of sacrificial love. If it succeeds in this I’ll be applauding.
Related posts:
- POLL: What Do You NEED To See in ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’?
- Catching Fire Character Profile: Mags
- NextMovie weighs in on Who Should Direct Catching Fire
- Catching Fire Character Profile: Plutarch Heavensbee
- MTV has FIVE Burning Questions about Catching Fire
Category: Catching Fire, Fan Art
THIS! This is actually how I hope catching fire is made into film maybe plus the bit with katniss’ nightmares but still perfect!
I. LOVE. THIS
Thanks Bonnie and Cathy! It was a labor of love — and possibly craziness
Bonnie, do you mean Katniss’ nightmares on the train when Peeta comforts her? I definitely agree, it would be really good to work that in.
This could really work out, of course there are a lot if small details that they need to add
And what about Bonnie and Twill?
Bonnie and Twill are the refugees from District 8 and are a very big part of Act 2, Sequence C
oh of cource x)
Hmmm. I was right there with you until you got to Act 3. Then, so much is out of sequence…you lost me until the Epilogue. I agree with that. The entire Act 3 needs work…IMO.
True! I would love your ideas on what to change/add/omit.
I really like this, and what I read in the more detailed article on Hogwartsprofessor.com. I never knew screenwriting was such a science!
IMHO, a couple of nights where Peeta comforts her and she has no nightmares could be effective in showing what a role Peeta is beginning to fulfill.
I guess developing their relationship without letting it devolve into a sappy, single minded love story will be a tricky matter of balance.
I can’t believe someone did this!!!
She kind of forgot Cinna… :S
Heaven Forbid!!! Cinna’s probably my favorite character after Katniss. Cinna’s definitely in the more detailed outline that’s on the Hogwarts Professor site.
Oh, ok then! I love Cinna too.. I was afraid he would be forgotten. I’m happy now! xP
Mary, I totally agree. Even though I understand why Collins killed off so many beloved characters I think Cinna’s death hit me even harder than Prim’s. If I really was the filmmaker this would be the one key thing I would be tempted to change.
Sorry, have to disagree. Imagine this: You have been verbally threatened. How better for the person doing the threatening, than to harm someone you care for…to bring home the brutality, to throw you off-balance.
UNLESS, you are suggesting, as the book does, that we don’t know Cinna’s fate?
However, if in MockingJay, it comes to pass that the only prep team alive are the 3 for Katniss, and that Portia, et al, were killed, how do you justify saving Cinna?
KJ — I agree with you on the reasons why Cinna has to die — I’m only saying I wish I could have saved him!
Yes. I wish there were no wars, no brutality of any kind. Especially to women and children.
this is exactly how i wantefd the movie flow but there are a few extra things i would like to see from the bookbut wow i cant believe the took time to make this i love hunger games fans there like my second familey i dont no
Speaking of visions for THG: CF, this is exactly the pink bird with the long bill that I visualized when they spoke of Maysilee Donners’ death. Scarlet Ibis: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/richard-branson-reintroducing-bird-populations-virgin-islands-more-165852211.html. Tell me where to send the JPG?
Oh, KJ — What gorgeous creatures — I love this thought! Please post more ideas here or at hogwartsprofessor.com
Hana, have you written a script ie. the characters lines and dialogue?
I haven’t quite got as far as dialog (except some segment that I’ll be sharing over the next weeks), but I am working on a very detailed outline which is the sort of thing that some film makers do as a step in the screenwriting process. Pixar (in modern days) and the old studios (in ancient times) used to be quite disciplined about this kind of outlining.
Now you’ve got me excited!