Hunger Games Photo shoot take 2

After our first Hunger Games Photo Shoot in November of 2012, (see November 2012 for that blog!) Nichole and I were already planning things to change and what we'd like to improve upon for the next time we did this. 

So, in the last few weekends of April we hoped for warmer weather than last time, and began the final planning and putting together of our second Hunger Games photo shoot.

In case you missed my last blog on our first Hunger Game photo shoot, the background to this is that my roommate and good friend, Nichole, and I are really into the Hunger Games. The first movie had just come out and I had read the books for the first time.

Since we were also into photography (Nichole especially) we decided to play out scenes with our own made up characters under the premise of trying to survive the hunger games.

We had a lot to change from the last time we did this, including props, people, and locations.

We had some new friends join us, and a few people who participated last time did not join us again this time. 

Last time we used bandanas to indicate teams, or districts, but this time we gave everyone their own district with their very own colored and numbered shirt.

Nichole and I purchased the t-shirts from a craft store, as well as the iron on numbers. The first brand of iron on numbers were awful, and we had to go back and try another brand, one that would actually stick to the shirts.

 We also changed up our fake blood prop, going from the gooey corn syrup with red dye in it to a few different recipes, the quickest and easiest to use being red velvet cake mix, mixed with water.

 I made a fake blood making video with my friend Manda, and Logan as cameraman, the night before the event, link below if you want to view it.

Fake Blood Recipes

I also made a blog about the recipes in my other blog, Monster blog, link below if you'd like a more detailed recipe than what we gave in the video.

Monster Blog

Other props included bagged lunches (we got hungry last time)

Decorated with our district numbers!

Another prop we put together was a med bag. Since I was taking a Wilderness first responder class, and Nichole was a CNA, we thought it would be great to practice our skills with the med bags.

Showing off the contents of my med bag

 Lastly, as far as weapons for props, almost all of them were fake, with the exception of Nichole's bow and arrow, Annie's knives and Andrew's sword.

Our rule was only the owner of the weapon may use that weapon. No one else may even touch them unless given permission by the owner, and even that was discouraged. We took safety very seriously.

Nichole allowed Katie to use her bow and arrow, but that was because not only was Katie trustworthy and experienced, she was also an archery instructor.

The weapons were never pointed at anyone, and if they were we made extra precautions to make sure there was no way for anyone to get hurt.

NO arrows are shot! Katie holds up an arrow to Andrew for the camera.

Last time we took pictures in order of events. This time we threw that to the wind, but took note of time lines to prevent inconsistencies. 

We started by finding a field, we were still missing a few people so we couldn't do the starting scene yet. So, we started with lunch. (A wise choice, I think).

Checking out the field, making sure it will work.

Everyone is in great spirits!

The pile of gear we brought with us. This includes food, props, fake blood, wash clothes, warm layers and weapons.

Our first scene was for us to grab our numbered bag and then run off into the woods. It took us a few tries.

To prevent myself from bouncing back and forth too much, I'm going to post the final product of shots, as arranged by Nichole.

When we started the cornucopia scene, we were still missing a few people, but were uncertain if they would show up. Funny enough, they are both careers who show up late.
Left to right, Logan as district 13, Nuclear weapons. Katie as district 12, mining. Caitlin as district 4, fishing. Manda as district 5, power. Annie as district 11, agriculture, I was district 8, textiles, and Nichole as district 6, transportation.

Nichole bites my arm and I can't help but lose my serious face

The clothes hanger is a joke we included after watching Birdemic during one of our cheesy horror movie nights.

Nichole: "Why would they put this in the weapons pile?"

Now that we have our weapons, we scatter off to assess what we acquired.

Manda used this jumprope as an "electric whip" since she's from the power district. I love how we brought in small touches! If only I could edit this to make it look real, haha.

I had a knife too, but this was the only scene I used it!

Our first interaction is between districts 5 and 13. 

Somehow, Logan ended up with the sword we just saw Manda with. Oops!

Disarmed, Logan makes a run for it. 

Manda lets him get away.

Our next interaction is between district 2 and 12. (District 2 is a career, and they are known for masonry, so it was perfect for Andrew to have a sword, which he gets later). In this scene, Andrew is just scary, and shows off his skills as a trained career.

Note: Katie is not aiming at Andrew, and the arrow is not strung. There is no way he is in danger in this shot!

He catches the arrow!

And to Katie's horror, breaks it! (We broke this in half ahead of time!)

Katie's acting skills are awesome.

She considers taking another shot

But runs instead.

Logan makes a fire. This fire was made in a contained area, we didn't want to burn the forest down!

The next interaction is between district 2 and 4, and becomes our first alliance.

Another great touch. The fishing district has a spear and the masonry district has a sword! Side note, there's a person in the shot that shouldn't be..Looks like Logan! It's hard to catch everything!

Caitlin and Andrew's acting skills are great too! Love this pose and expression! 

An alliance is formed! But will it last?

Now we have districts 5 and 13 facing off again.

Now Manda is disarmed!

Weaponless, she unblinkingly faces her fate

Which earns Logan's respect, and an alliance is formed!

Lunch scene! YUM!

Looking back, I wonder why we didn't have a food fight scene?

He's rolling. Logan had to be different.

Another small touch, she's eating a seafood salad sandwich. Love it.

For some reason Logan thought it would be funny if he got a lemon. Maybe it's because Panem kicked 13 out and doesn't like district 13.

As in the last hunger games, Katie and I team up. We left out how we decided to team up, but it's safe to say we made an alliance over lunch.

So far things have been pretty bloodless. That's about to change.

She got me!

Katie chased her off!

Next scene!

A hit!

Andrew scares off Katie again!

However, now his partner is weak and useless to him.

We don't show him cutting her because we don't want the real sword to potentially actually hit her.

Oh, the blood...

This cocoa powder mix blood came out great!

Meanwhile, on the edge of the forest...

An attacker!

District 11 and 6 face off!

Annie thinks twice about fighting Nichole. Perhaps a truce?

Nichole is hesitant to trust her

Annie has a great expression here

Nichole notices that Annie cut her

It seems that she decided after all to form an alliance. For now.

Not sure I trust you....

But we're a team now, so let's go kill everyone.

Oh look, a volunteer...FOR DEATH!

Logan fancily blocks the knife.

This is a great action shot!

Unknown to Annie, Manda sneaks in to defend her teammate, and Nichole decides to get the heck out of there!

She's spitting out red cake mix. Good touch.

Having gotten away, Nichole finds a safe place to wrap her wound

In our next scene, Logan is off by himself making another fire.

Then district 1 makes her first appearance. Ariel plays as district 1, the luxury district.

Already wounded from district 11's knife wounds, this isn't looking good for 13.

Alas, it ends quickly, and district 1 takes his weapon.

She creates a new weapon...

District 5 realizes her teammate has been killed, and hunts down the killer, hoping to ambush district 1.

But then she spots district 2, and decides that two careers are too much to fight!

Nope, so much nope!

District 1 and two consider each other.

And decide they don't care about the other one, so they go in their own directions.

Meanwhile, close-by; 

Katie and I listen to the cannons as another tribute is killed. 

We do the math..

There's only 6 left...

I'm about to say "Hey that's great, let's finish them off!"

When Katie decided I am now a threat

She runs and I chase after her, surprised and angry

But Manda and I are on a collision path

I run into her while chasing Katie

It was hard not to smile..Oops!

Forgetting about who we were chasing/who was chasing us, we fight!

I disarm her sword

She goes for her whip!

I give her a kick!

At this point, we decided that at least one of the characters should go crazy, since I had brought along a fake heart as a prop and didn't mind getting painted red I got to be the lucky crazy one.

More red velvet cake mix spit!

Ok, she's dead. 

Now she's really REALLY dead. 

It's a wonder more folks don't go crazy in these games. Seems the girl from the textile district just couldn't handle all the pressure.

Meanwhile, not-too-far-away;

District 6 is surprised by district 2!

Unafraid, she stands her ground.

District 2 is unconcerned.

On a roll, and knowing there are only a few tributes left, Andrew roars triumphantly. Who says you need blood to make a great death scene? Nichole had put up a great struggle!

Just after that, the still insane district 8 runs into district 2 while chewing on district 5's heart. 

Respect.

Right after meeting district 2, I run into district 1. 

She hides her weapon from me.

Still trying to fight...

Another dead tribute.

With only three tributes left and a final battle to go, I'm going to end this blog here and post the final battle and some more behind the scenes in another entry (this one os too long!)