The roots of how the Hunger Games evolved into the horrific spectacle they ultimately became is revealed in Director Francis Lawrence’s action-adventure drama, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
In his prequel to the popular series, Lawrence’s film tells the story of how years before he becomes the tyrannical president of Panem, 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow mentors and ultimately develops feelings for Lucy Gray Baird, the female District 12 tribute for the 10th Hunger Games.
On December 2, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Lawrence discussed the making of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes during a Q&A moderated by Director Marc Webb (The Only Living Boy in New York).
During the conversation, Lawrence revealed how his work with actor Will Smith on the feature I Am Legend changed his approach to filmmaking.
“I’ve always been drawn to the visual side of filmmaking. It’s kind of what drew me in in the first place. When I was doing I Am Legend, Will was really the only actor in the movie primarily and I spent so much time with him. I started to get closer to actors and started to think about them and collaborate with them more and be less intimidated by them quite honestly. Then, when I moved into doing The Hunger Games, I learned so much. Now when I start thinking about the scenes — even when I’m scouting locations — I try to think like the characters as opposed to thinking about my frames. It starts from a character point-of-view now.”
Lawrence’s other directorial credits include the feature films Slumberland, Red Sparrow, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Parts 1 & 2, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Water for Elephants, I Am Legend and Constantine; and episodes of the series See and Kings. He has been a DGA member since 2003.