I studied cinema and economics at USC/USF. I have had several jobs and internships in entertainment. I did some work as a Production Assistant and at a Production Company and a Literary Agency. I have also worked in theaters and theme parks.

I read the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I also like the books “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” and “Sunrise on the Reaping”. They made films for the original trilogy and the fourth book. There is going to be a new film for the fifth book.

“The Hunger Games”

Book

“In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.” (Goodreads) The first book was good. It was about a fight to the death tournament similar to the film “Battle Royale”. There is also a game that is similar called “Fortnite”. The film was awesome. I liked the acting and the soundtrack. It was a blockbuster film that was popular when I was in High School, a lot of people were reading the books then. Jennifer Lawerence did a good job in these movies.

“Catching Fire“

Book

“Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol—a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.” (Goodreads) The second book is good. The protagonist, Katniss and her love interest Peeta, won the hunger games. They have to fight in another battle called “The Quarter Quell”.They also get involved in a plot to take down The Capitol. The film was very good. Woody Harrelson also is a talented actor in these movies. I like the soundtracks because they use songs from popular artists. The battle royale seemed more original in the first one.

“Mockingjay”

Book

“The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay—no matter what the personal cost.” (Goodreads) In the third book, Katniss joined a rebellion and tries to take down the Capitol. This part of the story seems similar to “Star Wars”. Where a protagonist joins a rebellion and takes down the Empire/Capitol. Philip Seymour Hoffman also did a good job in these films. The third book was split into two movies. There were some hit songs from the soundtrack albums, such as some from Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, and Lorde.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes”

“It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games. In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuver his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.” (Goodreads) The plot for this story was different because it didn’t follow Katniss or Peeta. I liked the film because there were a lot of original songs in this one, some of them were written by the author. There were Americana and folk songs on the album too. This story was a prequel to the original trilogy.

“The Sunrise on the Reaping”

“When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.” (Goodreads) This story is also a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy. The story follows Haymitch who was played by Woody Harrelson in the older films. It has to do with the 50th Hunger Games, when they decided to choose twice as many tributes.

“Battle Royale”

“In a dystopian future, a group of students from a Japanese high school are forced by the government to compete in a battle, killing one another until only one is left standing.” (IMDb) This is an older Japanese film where a bunch of teenagers fight to the death. The plot is similar to the story for “The Hunger Games”. I have seen this movie and I’d recommend it. It seemed more violent.

Video Games

There is a free for all mode in the “Halo” series where players fight for themselves instead of fighting in teams. Also there is a newer game called “Fortnite” where players fight to the death in a battle royale match.

I like the Hunger games Franchise and I look forward to seeing the new film. Jennifer Lawerence is going to be in this new movie as Katniss again. The plot for the new film is: “Revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.” (IMDb) See the trailer for this new movie below.

Citations

IMDb: Ratings, Reviews, and Where to Watch the Best Movies & TV Shows, www.imdb.com/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2026.