What Banks & Claflin enjoy most about Catching Fire

It’s Elizabeth Banks’ second outing with the franchise, reprising her Hunger Games role as Effie Trinket in Catching Fire, the second part of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling trilogy Hunger Games (with the third book split into two films showing in 2014 and 2015, respectively).

“I love playing Effie,” gushed Elizabeth about the character, a Capitol-born chaperone assigned to oversee District 12’s tributes in the Hunger Games, specifically Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) in the 74th and 75th games.

The interview was held at the Four Seasons during the Catching Fire junket two weeks ago in Beverly Hills.

“It’s exciting to tap the opportunity to present more to the audience…you know, the first film was a big success and it’s our responsibility to the fans to deliver something just as good if not better,” added Elizabeth whose fabulously-outfitted Effie reminds me of my friend Tessa Prieto-Valdes. “Yes, it’s more outfits, more wigs, twice as many made-up looks,” stressing that her favorite part was the after-work beauty routine. “They’d give us lavender-scented hot towels,” she told a U.S. magazine, “and it’s like being in the spa!”

Elizabeth is touted as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after versatile actresses banking on her impressive performances in several films, among them What To Expect When You’re Expecting (with Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz), Man On a Ledge (with Sam Worthington of Avatar fame), People Like Us (with Chris Pine and Michelle Pfeiffer), The Next Three Days (with Russell Crowe) and Seabiscuit (with Tobey Maguire).

 Also at the junket were Jennifer Lawrence and director Francis Lawrence (no relation to Jennifer), featured in Conversations two Sundays ago; and Donald Sutherland (as Coriolanus Snow, the autocratic ruler of the Capitol and all of Panem), Josh Hutcherson and Lenny Kravitz (as Cinna, the stylist of Katniss), featured last Thursday, Nov. 21, when Catching Fire opened nationwide in all SM theaters, released by Pioneer Films; and British theater actor Sam Claflin (as Finnick Odair), the newcomer on the franchise.

It was reported that when Sam walked into the room for the audition, director Francis could have exclaimed “Eureka!” because he knew that there and then he had found his Finnick Odair.

“At that time,” said Sam, 27 (married to British actress Laura Haddock), “I just entered the room convinced that I was not good-looking enough, that I didn’t stand a chance in getting hired. I envisioned Finnick Odair as an insecure person and at that very moment I did feel insecure and vulnerable. I guess that must have worked in my favor because I bagged it!”

Even now that Catching Fire is raking in millions around the world (the first film grossed more than $700 million worldwide), Sam said that he’s still trying to digest the whole experience.

“It’s so insane! You know, to think that only a year ago, we were still filming,” pausing, at a loss for words, then adding, “Yeah, it was a most amazing experience. Stepping into this world, you know, and being a Hunger Games fan myself, it’s a dream come true. The cast and the crew, everyone, were very welcoming and despite being the new guy I felt very at-home very quickly.”

Sam may be “new” in the Hunger Games family but definitely not to movie fans who have seen him in some films including Snow White and the Huntsman (as Prince William, with Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth as co-stars) and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (with Johnny Depp).

Before the shoot, Sam said that, when faced with a challenge, he wants to prove everyone wrong.

“So I got in shape by spending a lot of time in the gym, so I could show that I was the perfect choice for Finnick Odair,” he laughed. “I prepared myself not only physically, but also emotionally and mentally.”

As I did the rest of the junket participants, I also asked Sam how it was working with Jennifer Lawrence who became an  instant superstar after the release of Hunger Games.

“She’s fun-loving, generous, kind, loyal, funny,” said Sam, all praises for J.Law like his co-stars were. “It’s not only Jennifer but all of us got along so well. But yes, Jennifer is truly a wonder, a role model. We have a lot of things in common and we worked in similar ways. We like to have fun and at the same time, we’re serious with our work.”

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