The victorious story of Katniss Everdeen continues with the newest installment of the Hunger Games series titled “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.” This time, Katniss embarks on a Victory Tour while a new Hunger Games is being prepared. Composed by musician Dave DeRose, “Atlas” gives you an inside look into the mind of Katniss as she and other tributes are forced to participate in the newest Hunger Games, while being pitted against by fighters with more experience than she. This game is a matter of life and death, with the possibility no one walking away in one piece, or at all.
DeRose’s somber piano solo and slow strings encourage the audience to take up their own bows and arrows and fight alongside Katniss and the other tributes. The strings and piano build the momentum, preparing the audience for the upcoming battle in the Hunger Games. The drums that follow signify the deadly confrontation between the tributes and the experienced, lethal combatants they face. With the rapid increase of the volume of the strings and piano and the swift beating of the drum, the audience will rise from their seats as they witness the impending destruction at the hands of President Snow. As the drum beats decrease and the rhythm slows down towards the end, you feel a sense of both relief and sadness, knowing that while Katniss survives the onslaught of Snow’s vicious plans, many may not have been as lucky.
DeRose’s “Atlas” perfectly captures Katniss’ story with the slow, yet sad strings and the powerful impact of the drums. The somber and sorrowful piano will strike a chord in the hearts of the audience, causing them to feel intense sadness for Katniss’ separation from her loved ones, yet ignite a fiery spirit within. This beautifully crafted piece has the power to not only bring sorrow to the hearts of those who hear it, but perhaps even joy and inspiration.
Final Grade: A
About The Author
Editor-in-Chief/Entertainment Reporter
I knew early on that I wanted to take my place among the stars. One day, my mother saw me reading The Washington Post at a very young age. Who would have known that it would be the building blocks of my journey? Since that day, I dedicated my life to learn all that is learnable. I read everything from encyclopedias, to books, to dictionaries, to magazines. I’m also an avid consumer of television, with my favorite genre being game shows. If you’ve seen me on Who Wants to be a Millionaire or Wheel of Fortune, then you know that this interest has served me well!
My unique style of reporting began back in junior high school, when I started to chronicle the events that shaped my life. Whether it was the annual family vacation or the local science fiction convention, I shot numerous pictures and recorded my thoughts so I could truly appreciate the history. During my senior year at Friendly High, I wrote what was to be my first masterpiece, “Advanced Space Academy – A One Week Journey.” I sent the eleven-page article back to the U.S. Space Camp staff. The article was highly praised for being “one of the best written articles in the history of U.S. Space Camp.” From then on, I knew what I wanted to do for rest of my life — to be a reporter.
Since then, I have trained in Broadcast Journalism at Bowie State University (2008) in Bowie, MD earning a B.S. in Communications. I gained experience in news production and editing through field experiences with Bowie Community Media Corporation, Prince George’s Community Television, and Bowie State University Television. I also wrote scripts for a variety of quiz shows for over five years.
As a lifelong movie buff, I now see close to 100 films every year. I took this love of movies to the next step when I became a co-host for Eclipse Magazine TV in the fall of 2005. While at EMTV, I interviewed celebrities, worked red carpets, and attended a wide variety of movie screenings. In January 2009, I took a leap of faith and started my own entertainment news magazine, The Rogers Revue. Shortly afterward, my life-long journey of studying the silver screen and writing about what I learned finally earned me a place in the Washington Area Film Critics Association.
All of this has led me here, giving you the latest entertainment news for the DMV and the entire nation, and I am truly excited for whatever will come next.
