The Hunger Games: The Second Quarter Quell

The Hunger Games: The Second Quarter Quell
Directed by	John Lyde
Produced by	Paul D. Green; Paul D. Hunt; Jed Ivie; John Lyde; Carlos Sanches;
Screenplay by	John Lyde
Based on	Chapter 14 of Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Starring	James Gaisford; Stefania Barr;
Music by	James Schaer
Cinematography	John Lyde
Edited by	John Lyde
Production; company	Mainstay Productions
Distributed by	Mainstay Productions
Release date	July 19, 2011;
Running time	12 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

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'The Hunger Games: The Second Quarter Quell is a 2011 dystopian action short fan film written and directed by John Lyde. The film depicts the 50th Hunger Games as they were described in Chapter 14 of the novel Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. James Gaisford plays a teenage Haymitch Abernathy whilst Stefania Barr plays his ally, Maysilee Donner. The film was released on YouTube in July 2011, around 8 months before the first Hunger Games Film.

Plot

During the interviews for the 50th Hunger Games, Caesar Flickerman asks Haymitch Abernathy what he thinks of the games having 100 percent more tributes than usual to which Haymitch replies that it doesn't make much difference as the Games will still be as 100 percent as stupid as usual.

In the arena, a young tribute fails to revive one of her wounded allys before an older career girl arrives and kills her. Elsewhere, Haymitch is confronted by three career tributes. He manages to kill two of them but the third overpowers him and nearly kills him before he is killed with a poison dart shot by Maysilee Donner, one of Haymitch's District 12 partners. They agree that they'll survive longer together and ally. They venture across the arena together for several days, gathering safe food and water. After several days of travelling, Maysilee questions Haymitch on why they have gone so far. He replies that the arena can't go on forever and they may find something they can use.

After more journeying, they reach the end of the arena only to find a ledge with no end. When Haymitch says that he wants to stay there, Maysilee leaves, saying that with only five remaining tributes, she does not want it to come down to them. Left alone, Haymitch kicks a rock off the ledge only for it to immediately come flying back. He throws another rock off which also comes back, realizing that there is a force field surrounding the ledge which repels objects thrown off it. Suddenly, Haymitch hears Maysilee scream. He goes to her and finds her mortally wounded, having been attacked by mutated flamingo creatures. Haymitch stays by Maysilee's side as she succumbs to her wounds.

Later, as the competition comes down between Haymitch and the career girl, the two fight and both sustain several injuries. When Haymitch is stabbed in the gut, he flees to the edge of the arena. The girl throws her axe at Haymitch but misses, sending it over the edge of the arena. Haymitch ducks as the arena's force field sends the axe flying right back to the girl in her face.

Cast

James Gaisford as Haymitch Abernathy
Stefania Barr as Maysilee Donner
Danielle Chuchran as Career girl
Colton Tran as Career boy #1
Kevin Lyde as Career boy #2
Johnny Ahn as Career boy #3
Bailee Johnson as young tribute girl
Tanner Shumway as deceased tribute boy

Legacy

In June 2024, nearly 13 years after the fan film's release, an official novel depiciting Haymitch's games was announced, Sunrise On The Reaping, to release in March 2025. A film adaptation was also announced the same day,set for release in November 2026. In April 2025, Australian actor Joseph Zada and American actress Mckenna Grace were announced to be playing Haymitch and Maysilee respectively in the film. Upon the announcement, James Gaisford and Stefania Barr congratulated Zada and Grace on social media. When discussing playing Maysilee in an interview with Flaunt, Grace acknowledged the film, saying I love the fan film!. Upon the release of the official film's teaser trailer, many dans pointed out the similarity of the hairstyle of Barr and Grace as Maysilee, both with bangs and a singular braid, perhaps suggesting that the official film was making reference to the fan film.