LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The final installment of The Hunger Games series. Mockingjay Part 2 is due out in theaters on Nov. 20, but now you have the chance to see it three days before the nationwide release.
Fans of the Hunger Games series and Louisville’s own Jennifer Lawrence will not only get the unique chance to see the movie early, but more importantly this special screening will help children in the Louisville area.
Doors will open for the special screening at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Cinemark Tinseltown USA. Jennifer will not be able to be here in Louisville because she’ll be at the Los Angeles screening of the movie, but many of her family members will be on hand.
All the money raised will go directly to children with life threatening medical conditions. In this case, the screening benefits Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is the fourth and final film in the hugely popular series. Jennifer Lawrence’s mother, Karen Lawrence, said saying goodbye to Katniss Everdeen is bittersweet for her daughter.
“That’s family,” Karen Lawrence said of the cast and crew, “they are the people she’s gotten to meet and you know it’s almost like a college experience where you’ve spent the last four or five years together with people day in and day out.”
Karen Lawrence has seen the movie and calls it the best of the four.
“It’s magical,” she said.
What makes it magical for Jennifer and her family? Helping children suffering through serious illnesses feel a little bit better. As she’s done with past movie premiers, Jennifer Lawrence will offer her hometown the chance to see the movie early with all the money going this time to grant wishes for Make-A-Wish kids.
“Her heart is with children and her opportunity to help just because of her name is a really great opportunity for us to give back on her behalf,” Karen Lawrence said.
Jennifer Lawrence’s sister-in-law, Meredith Lawrence, said of getting the chance to help, “To make them smile and bring some happiness even if it’s just one night or something like that, I feel honored to do that.”
Meredith Lawrence said if you buy one of the screening’s top ticket packages, you get a chance to enter an exclusive auction to win passes to the set of Jennifer’s much talked about new Sci-Fi movie, Passengers.
“Thanks to Jennifer and to Sony, we’re able to auction off four VIP tickets to the set of ‘Passengers’ to meet her on set, that’s in Atlanta and she’s filming it right now,” she said.
Some people who already bought tickets to the Louisville screening are also showing major kindness – donating their movie seats to Make-A-Wish kids. Emily Lineweaver, with Make-A-Wish, spoke about what it means to the children.
“They’re spending all this time in the hospital,” she said, “they’re poked and prodded and they just want a night to get away and that’s what a movie night provides for them.”
Karen Lawrence added, “It gives my life meaning and I know that we’re helping, it’s helping me more than it’s helping them because you feel like you have a purpose.”
The tickets for the Nov.17 screening are $125 with all of the money going to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Those who purchase seats will get a concession gift card and a swag bag with movie memorabilia.
Moviegoers are encouraged to dress as their favorite character for a chance to win prizes. The family said they couldn’t do any of this without Lionsgate, Sony, Cinemark and local sponsors like Norton Commons, Louisville Geek and Quills Coffee.
For tickets, click here.
SOURCE: Wave3.com