Outside the rented train of the production, extras in peculiar outfits and sporting bizarre hairstyles caught sight of Lucas as Peeta and Jennifer as Katniss through the transparent window. They enthusiastically waved and cheered as the train began to move. Peeta, graciously waved back at them, flashing his warmest smile until the train rounded a bend, obscuring their view.
Jennifer, still in her role as Katniss, couldn't help but be perplexed by Peeta's actions. "What are you doing?" she asked, her eyebrow arched in confusion.
Peeta, never breaking character, turned to her and responded, "Getting sponsors, duh." He winked before returning his attention to the passing scenery outside the window.
Katniss, played by Jennifer, couldn't help but stare at Peeta, played by Lucas, as if he had gone mad. His comment about sponsors only added to her confusion.
Peeta, still in character, noticed her perplexed expression and elaborated, "Who knows? One of them might be rich."
After a few seconds, Director Gary called out, "Alright, cut!" The cameras stopped rolling, and the crew began to pack up their equipment. Lucas and Jennifer broke character, their acting facades melting away.
As the train came to a stop, Lucas reached for the hot chocolate that had been set as a prop on the table between them. He took a sip, only to make a disgusted face and put the cup down. "Ew. That's not nice," he complained.
Jennifer, unable to contain her amusement, let out a soft laugh. "Why did you drink it? You know it's just a prop, right?"
Lucas blushed, realizing his mistake. "Yeah, I know it's just a prop. It's just that it looked so appealing. Besides, it's edible, right?" He shrugged, trying to save face. As a fan of chocolate, the hot chocolate had been calling his name the entire time they were filming.
Jack White, the food stylist, who was also on the train, overheard Lucas's comment and couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, although it is technically edible, the ingredients used were mostly for making the hot chocolate look appealing and not necessarily for its taste."
Everyone on the train compartment, including Jennifer, couldn't help but laugh at Lucas's expense. The tension from the intense scene they just filmed dissipated, replaced by light-hearted banter and camaraderie.
Lucas grinned good-naturedly at Jack. "You're really good at making this hot chocolate look appealing. It was practically begging me to drink it." He wasn't new to working with the crew, including Jack and the rest of the team.
Jack smiled modestly, "Well, I can't take all the credit. James here was a big help," he said, gesturing to the assistant food stylist, James Perini, who blushed shyly.
Jennifer couldn't help but join in on the friendly teasing. "Well, live and learn, right?" she said with a playful nudge on Lucas's shoulder.
Lucas, still a good sport, joined in on the laughter. "Well, lesson learned. I'll stick to the craft services table next time," he joked, earning more laughter from the crew.
He was still trying to get rid of the unpleasant taste in his mouth, pinched the bridge of his nose. "And, next time, I'll remember not to trust the props department's idea of 'edible'."
The entire train compartment erupted in laughter once more.
---
As the cast and crew stepped out of the rented train, Lucas noticed the green screen wall that had been used to create the illusion of a bustling Capitol cityscape. The extras who had been playing the Capitol citizens dispersed.
After they wrapped up at the train station, the actors and crew members made their way outside, where a sea of people awaited them. Security guards formed a barrier to keep the excited fans at a safe distance.
"Lucas! I love you!" one fan screamed.
"Woody, over here!" another called out, waving a homemade sign.
"Liam! Tell your brother Chris that I love him! The wedding is ready!" a third fan yelled, causing the others to erupt in laughter.
The commotion was deafening, but the security team ensured that everyone remained safe and orderly.
"How in the world did so many people find out about the filming?" Woody asked, his eyebrows furrowed in disbelief at the sheer number of fans that had gathered.
Elizabeth, one of the actors, voiced her concern, "Will we be able to get through this crowd alright?"
Craig Fehrman, the Transportation Coordinator, quickly reassured them, "Don't worry, I've already arranged for cars and trucks for everyone. The planned routes are ready to go."
The cast and crew were relieved to hear that their exit strategy was in place. Lucas and Jennifer boarded one of the waiting vehicles, followed by the rest of the cast and crew.
As the vehicles started their engines, the fans crowded around, desperately trying to catch one last glimpse of their idols. Cameras flashed and voices melded together in a cacophony of well-wishes and adoration.
Finally, the vehicles pulled away from the train station, leaving the disappointed but still enthusiastic fans behind.
"Damn it," Francis, one of Lucas's fans, lamented as the cars drove away. However, he quickly brightened up as he looked at the photos he had managed to take. "At least I got some proof for my Instagram!"
Similar sentiments echoed through the crowd as the fans dispersed. While they didn't get to meet their idols in person, they were still elated to have caught a glimpse of them and managed to capture the moment on their phones.
As they made their way home, the fans excitedly shared their photos and videos on social media, captioning them with heartfelt messages and well-wishes for their idols.
---
Within minutes, the photos and videos of the cast of the upcoming movie, "The Hunger Games," filming in North Carolina's Charlotte train station flooded social media platforms. Fans of the casts, especially those in Lucas's fan clubs and fan sites, were quick to share the images across their dedicated online spaces.
In just an hour, the internet was abuzz with speculation about the movie, with fans dissecting every detail from the photos.
"Our King looks like he's filming something big!" one fan gushed, using the nickname they had lovingly given to Lucas.
Another fan chimed in, "Does anyone know what project he's working on now?"
"Kya! He looks so handsome even without makeup. Although I'm a man, I feel like I'm in love," a third fan joked, causing the others to laugh.
Soon, word spread that the project was a film adaptation of Suzanne Collins's bestselling novel, "The Hunger Games." While some fans were unfamiliar with the book, others were already well-versed in the story.
"I can't wait to see what role our King will play in the movie and how he'll bring his character to life!" one fan excitedly shared.
"I've read the books, and trust me, you're in for a treat," another fan said, teasingly.
As the news spread like wildfire, more and more people became curious about the upcoming film. Fans of the book and the franchise alike couldn't wait to see how Lucas would portray his character on the big screen.
Although the exact role Lucas was playing in the film adaptation of "The Hunger Games" was still under wraps, his fans were confident that he would deliver another captivating performance. They reminisced about his past performances, where he had seamlessly transformed into each character he portrayed, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
Fans took to social media to share their excitement and speculate on which character he might be playing. Some believed he'd make a perfect Peeta, while others thought he'd be an excellent Gale.
Regardless of the part, they were certain that Lucas would do justice to the role and bring the character to life in a way only he could.
---
After a short drive, the production team arrived at their next filming location: a picturesque prep house. The cast and crew took some time to rest before the upcoming scene, which was set to begin in a few hours.
Lucas, who was getting ready in his trailer, couldn't help but overhear the commotion outside as Jennifer, clad in only her underwear, a bra, and a tank top, prepared for the waxing scene. He remembered this scene from the book; it was the part where Katn's leg hair would be painfully removed with wax.
Unable to resist, he whispered to Jennifer, making sure only she could hear him, "I can't wait to see your expression when they start ripping out your hair."
Jennifer, catching on to his mischievous tone, shot him a playful glare before whispering back, "You better believe it, Knight. If it hurts, I'll make sure to return the favor when we're in the bed."
Lucas smirked at Jennifer's threat, knowing she was bluffing. The scene began, and Jennifer, as Katniss, was lying on the bed, her bare legs exposed. The makeup artists applied the wax and fabric to her skin, mimicking the process of hair removal.
As the actor playing Venia, the Capitol stylist, began to rip the fabric off, Jennifer winced in pain, staying in character. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lucas trying to hide a smirk. She thought to herself, "You're done for after we wrap this film."
After the scene wrapped, Jennifer sat up and a crew member handed her a bottle of water. She downed it, still feeling the pain in her legs from the waxing scene. She shot Lucas a glare as he quickly exited the room.
The next few hours were spent filming scenes with Jennifer as the focus, while Lucas took a much-needed break. The following shoot was for the Capitol's extravagant party, which would be filmed on a rented stage near the prep house. The set was adorned with large green screens to be replaced with the opulent background of the Capitol later in post-production.