Variety’s Youth Impact Report 2012 Includes Collins, Josh Hutcherson, Nina Jacobson and Willow Shields

Posted September 16, 2012 by Ciara in Cast

Recently we told you about Variety‘s report on Suzanne Collins’ involvement in The Hunger Games films. Josh Hutcherson, Nina Jacobson and Willow Shields were also included in the Youth Impact Report 2012. Every year, the leading industry insider charts the rise of youth driven film franchises, TV and music. It spotlights the most influential under 21s and the over 21 professionals who help guide youth cinema. This year a few Hunger Games stars in front of and behind the camera were featured in the report. Headlining the ‘Big Screen Chaperones’ were Suzanne Collins and producer Nina Jacobson, who talked about both The Hunger Games and Diary of a Wimpy Kid:

“I’ve been fortunate to have both of these books when my kids were exactly the right age for them,” the mother of three says. “When you have that shared experience with a book or a movie or a television show, where you have something you can share with your family but speaks as much to you as your kids, those moments are few and far between.”

Under the ‘Big Screen Kids’ section of the report, Josh Hutcherson wants to prove that he’s more than just acting talent and spoke about bringing Peeta to life:

“I’m dying to get into more behind-the-scenes work. I want to produce and direct and create whatever I want some day.” … “It was a bit of a challenge to physically embody the role,” he says of playing Peeta Mellark. “But my biggest mission was to do the best I could in the movie. I hoped by doing so fans would be OK with it.”

And finally, last but by no means least, rising star Willow Shields may not be a household name yet but she’s coming up fast in the future talent sub-division ‘Up Next’:

When Willow Shields heard about the opportunity to audition for Primrose Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” she was only halfway through reading Suzanne Collins’ young adult bestseller, but she already knew it was a big deal. “My brother read (the trilogy) and was the biggest fan ever,” Shields says. “He had been talking about the books being made into movies for a year already.” … Shields took it in stride. She’s still following the advice Lawrence gave her on set: “You have to be the same person and not change because you’re in such a big movie.”

So glad to have such careful hands looking after the franchise and such hard-working down to earth talent. To read the all of the articles click the links above or see the entire report here.