Krista Smith: Tell me—how did you get into The Hunger Games?
Gary Ross: I read the book. My kids turned me on to it, and I went nuts. I guess, about a year ago. I literally read it and said, “I have to make the movie.”

How did you get Jennifer to play Katniss?
I was just a fan. When you do what I do, any time you see an actor like this emerge—I think everybody’s head sort of snapped, you know? Both from Winter’s Bone and other work that she’s done, I was just always very aware of her.  And then I had a meeting with her, and I was just as impressed, and then she came in and read for us and she sort of blew me away.  But I wasn’t totally surprised, because I think that an actor like this comes along, you know, once a generation.

Elizabeth Banks told me she had written you a letter saying she had to play the part in Seabiscuit.
She actually wrote me again this time, telling me how much she loved Hunger Games and that she wanted to play Effie, so that makes a ton of sense.  Liz has done a fantastic job.

You also have Josh Hutcherson in the part of Peeta.
He kind of reminds me of a young Jack Lemmon. There’s this incredible versatility to him; he’s wise beyond his years, he’s sort of mature beyond his years, and there’s just such a natural ease to his acting. He’s so comfortable.