Elizabeth Baird Hardy Archives – Page 27 of 44

The Standard Rich and Famous Contract: Some Unconventional if Totally Appropriate Catching Fire Casting Suggestions
ByElizabeth June 12, 2012
14 Comments

It seems like everyone is weighing in on casting suggestions for Catching Fire. The Girl on Fire site has been doing a “Finding Finnick” series; one of our recent posts presented a wonderful possible structure for the film, prompting a commenter to quail in terror at the thought of Harrison Ford as Plutarch Heavensbee. All of this prognosticating and wondering has led me to a very different possible direction for casting the Victors chosen to compete in the Quarter Quell. Why not cast actual celebrities, a la The Celebrity Apprentice and other horrible reality shows? Before you start throwing things at me, follow me after the jump to see my suggestions and to see why having actual athletes and movie and rock stars as the Victors would actually be completely in line with Collins’s story of entertainment as slavery for both its viewers and those it ostensibly glorifies.
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Hunger Games Article in New Issue of Carolina Mountain Life
ByElizabeth June 6, 2012June 6, 2012
1 Comment

In the Spring issue of Carolina Mountain Life, I have an article entitled “9 Reasons to Get Fired Up About The Hunger Games,” in which I outline some of the main reasons folks in western North Carolina, in particular, should be excited about the book and the recent film (and not for the same reasons the folks at the MTV movie awards hand out gilded popcorn, I can assure you). Due to some strange mutation in the set-up computer program, part of the article was left out in the final version of the magazine (though it was all there in proofs), and readers only got 51/2 reasons. Here, though you can read the entire article, whether or not you you live in or visit North Carolina! And if you do come our way, check out this neat magazine, in which I usually have an a literary article of some sort. Enjoy! And comment, please!

9 Reasons to get Fired up About the Hunger Games
Follow up Interview with Hunger Games Makeup Magician Conor McCullough
ByElizabeth May 22, 2012May 22, 2012
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Last year, we did an interview with the delightful Conor McCullough, the amazing make-up artist who won SyFy Channel’s first season of Face-Off and worked on The Hunger Games film. Though Conor did tell us a great deal about his work on the movie, he also had to keep a few secrets until its release. Recently, I had the pleasure of a follow-up interview in which Conor shared more about his work, including the fact that he is the true master of “frosting” who did Peeta’s camouflage. Join me after the jump to learn more about Conor’s wonderful work and the challenges of filming!
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New MuggleNet Production Features Our Headmaster and Edmund Kern
ByElizabeth May 16, 2012May 26, 2012
5 Comments

Our beloved Headmaster, John Granger, is in Scotland this week, giving the the HogPros on that side of the Atlantic a wonderful dose of his own brand of magic. So, if you are missing his voice here, hop a Portkey over to the wonderful MuggleNet Academic website, which has just put up its latest chapter. In this episode, the subject is very relevant, if a bit racy: sexuality and gender. Join me after the jump for more about the episode, and come back here to comment after you’ve partaken of this feast for the intellect! Read More “New MuggleNet Production Features Our Headmaster and Edmund Kern”
Hold on to your Quaffles–Competitive Quidditch is Getting Serious
ByElizabeth May 12, 2012May 12, 2012
1 Comment

In 2005, I had the great pleasure of presenting at the Witching Hour in Salem, MA. It was my first national Harry Potter Conference. I loved the sessions I attended, though I was quite baffled by one item on the program: Quidditch. How, I thought, can they play Quidditch without flying? I was really interested in seeing this spectacle, and sorely disappointed when torrential rain cancelled the outdoor events. Since then, I have been delighted to see Quidditch played at other events, including Infinitus and Leaky-Con 2011. This wonderful, wacky, wizarding sport has grown beyond being a convention conversation piece, and the International Quidditch Association is seeking greater recognition, regulation, and revenue. Check out this great article on the growing legitimacy of Quidditch, and then share your Quidditch thoughts! Do you play or watch? Or, like me, do you just explain any injury you may be sporting as the result of a rough Quidditch match?
H/t to James and my college colleague John (who was asking today if I could hide my broom and wand in my graduation regalia).