From campus to the Capitol: How UNCSA shaped the epic universe of "The Hunger Games"

A riveting tale of a dystopian future where, every year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in a part entertainment, part retribution “game show” where tributes must kill each other until there’s only one left standing, “The Hunger Games” trilogy and prequel “The Hunger Games: Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes” are a worldwide phenomenon.

The prequel’s opening weekend revenue pushed the franchise past a total box office haul of $3 billion. And with connections to the books, the original film trilogy and the prequel film, it’s clear that without UNCSA, there is no Panem. Here’s a list of all “The Hunger Games” UNCSA connections.

High School Program 

Hunter Schafer 

In the prequel to the popular dystopian trilogy "The Hunger Games," 2017 High School Design and Production Visual Arts alumna Hunter Schafer plays Tigris Snow, cousin to main character Coriolanus Snow, who goes on to become lead antagonist President Snow. Schafer has been a fan of “The Hunger Games” since she was a child and even dressed as someone from the Capitol for Halloween. Now, she’s captivating audiences worldwide as an integral part of that Capitol’s story.

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School of Drama 

Suzanne Collins

An American television writer and novelist, Suzanne Collins wrote the widely successful “The Hunger Games” series of young adult dystopian novels. Before becoming a celebrated author, Collins attended UNCSA and studied in the School of Drama for two years from 1981-1983.

Rhoda Griffis

In "The Hunger Games" you can hear alumna and UNCSA Board of Directors member Rhoda Griffis (Drama '83) voice as the Registration Woman in the Reaping scene. 

Steve Coulter

Alumnus Steve Coulter (Drama '81) plays Game Center Tech #1 in "The Hunger Games." He's part of the team that controls and manipulates the arena in which Katniss and the other tributes fight for their lives.

School of Design and Production 

Heather Vandergriff

Design and Production Costume Design & Technology alumna Heather Vandergriff's (B.F.A. '08) costume work can be seen in the original trilogy, as she served as an assistant cutter for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2."

Wade Wilson

Design and Production professor Wade Wilson served as the foley editor on the first "Hunger Games" film. At the time, Wade taught in the School of Filmmaking and was actively teaching sound design students how to do foley at UNCSA.

School of Filmmaking

The original "The Hunger Games" was filmed in North Carolina and provided ample opportunities for alumni and students to continue or launch their careers. 

Five students in the School of Filmmaking class of 2012 worked as interns on the original "The Hunger Games" film through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Science internship program. Rachel Fowler worked as a post-production intern with the editing department, Michael A. Fry, Nick Hoisington and Adam Meadows were set production assistants, and Julie Pechanek interned in production and accounting. 

After graduating, Fry joined the team on "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" as production assistant. Meadows continued to be video assist for "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire" and the video assist operator: VFX Unit for "The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 1" and "The Hunger Games: Mocking Jay Part 2." Pechanek returned as the office production assistant for films three and four. 

Other Filmmaking connections for "The Hunger Games" include alumnus Aeric Adams ('03) who served as production assistant, Andrea Brasswell ('04) who the accounting production assistant, Lenny Mukai, Sam Ogden ('11) and Cara Rhodes ('11) who worked as propmakers, Caroline Livengood ('07) as production secretary, and Alex McCarrol ('04) as the set designer. Ryan Price ('08) was the assistant to actor Woody Harrelson on both "The Hunger Games" and "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire."

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Do you know a "Hunger Games" connection that is not included on this list? Send us an email and we will update the story.

by Natalie Shrader

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