L4gMast3Rz Interviewed by The LA Times
Back in November 2010, Mockingjay.net posted a Hunger Games YouTube video made by a group of high school friends from North Carolina. Now, their seven-episode “The Hunger Games” movie, as well as a “Catching Fire” trailer and two Catching Fire shorts, have received more than 4.5 million views!
The L4gMast3Rz (consisting of Eddie Mansius, Cullen McMillian, Nick Rhyne, Duncan Rule, and Maddie Moore) were even recently interviewed by Deborah Netburn of The LA Times. The article talks about how they read and loved The Hunger Games books and were disappointed that there wasn’t a movie– so they made their own, on a budget of $30.
When they needed to shoot interiors, they used Duncan’s home in Charlotte’s Eastover neighborhood. Exteriors were shot at Maddie’s family farm an hour north of Charlotte, or at the park down the street from Eddie’s house. Costumes came from Goodwill or their own closets.
Directed by Eddie Mansius, who also plays Peeta, and starring Maddie Moore as Katniss, the group of friends have improved with every installment of their videos.
The friends are embarrassed by their early videos, shot with their parents’ camcorders in fall 2010. The sound is a bit muffled, and the picture quality isn’t great, but there are moments of beauty — the shots of nature that run behind the credits, a close up of Maddie’s fingers worrying the rim of a water bottle as her character contemplates her next move.
“Production value doesn’t matter if a video captures the spirit of the books,” says Crystal Watanabe, an administrator at Mockingjay.net. “Our audience just wants to relive the feeling they had when they were reading the books for the first time.”
I remember finishing The Hunger Games trilogy in August 2011, having read all three books in four days. I was rabid for anything Hunger Games related and didn’t know how I was going to make it seven months until the official Hunger Games movie was released. I took to Youtube for anything fanmade and happened upon the L4gMast3rz videos. Not only did I fall in love with their homemade movie, but I discovered a link on one of their videos that said “As seen on Mockingjay.net”, and I said outloud to my husband, “I wonder what Mockingjay.net is?”
Congratulations to L4gMast3rz on all their success and I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us!
You can watch all their videos here or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
Source: LA Times
I LOVE L4gMast3rz. I became obsessed while reading the book in april right after the movie came out. I hadn’t seen the movie and waited untill late may to finally see it. L4gMast3rz, got me through all the waiting, and help strengthen my obsession!
I DEFINETLY agree with you homegirl!!!:D
I hate their flims it lacked EVERYTHING!!
I thought it was pretty good for just a few highschoolers and a $30 budget. I was also looking for Hunger Games parodies or fan made versions of the movie and happened to stumble upon them. I think they are amazing, talented actors/actresses and they have a very bright future. All of their videos got me REALLY excited for the movies!! Honestly I can’t wait for another video to come out!! Good luck L4gMast3Rz, I think ya’ll have a very bright future.:D
I’ve loved them for so long (seriously, I don’t even have a guess)! I’m glad they’re finally getting the recognition they deserve!
My friends and I are going to make a mockingjay movie. Could you post it when we are done?
We are also in NC.