A day in the Capitol with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

20^th August 2013

20 August 2013

The Soho Hotel, formerly an everyday run-of-the-mill car park, is now known for its high profile clientele. This newly appointed media hotspot isn’t unfamiliar with A-list celebrities such as Jason Statham, Russell Brand and Peter Jackson using it as a place to conduct business, or just to enjoy the attentive service of the hotel’s bar staff.

On Friday the hotel hosted the first “boot-camp” event for the soon-to-be-released The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Presented in one of the hotel’s lavish apartment rooms, large still frames from the trilogy’s second instalment were displayed all around, hinting at what was to come. Firstly, guests were permitted a glance at the new combat suit that will be worn by lead actress Jennifer Lawrence. The full bodysuit is a thin, cotton-based garment that has been tested on real athletes to ensure maximum comfort for the cast. Also on show were several Hunger Games-inspired dresses by Vivienne Westwood.

Guests were encouraged to try on a wild variety of Hunger Games-influenced fashion accessories, from gloves to high-heeled shoes, whilst others dined on an incredible, movie-themed selection of tea, cakes and sandwiches. Professional makeup artists from the first Hunger Games film were also on hand to transform any willing individual into the fiercely flamboyant Effie Trinket, and with the further distribution of heavy eye-shadow and wigs to guests the event at times began to look like a royal wedding as styled by David Bowie.

Lionsgate representatives took the opportunity to announce the upcoming launch of a Hunger Games training program, designed to let fans see how they would fare in the tournament. This 12-week fitness routine will work on overall conditioning, with a strong focus on core strength and stamina. Fans who sign up will be given a new workout schedule increasing in intensity every week, with the winner being revealed a few days before the full London premiere of the film.

Specialist strength coach James McGill, who designed the program, was hesitant to reveal the routines but disclosed that there will be running, swimming and “fighting” involved. When jokingly asked whether the workout would involve killing anyone, the reply came: “No, but we’ll make you feel like dying.”

So perhaps only one question remains: would you survive The Hunger Games?

Jack Hill

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is released nationwide on 20^th November 2013.