Top Eight Interviews. The way this works in my stories is that there are different camera crews dispatched to each district mid-Games. Interviews are conducted simultaneously across districts, so that they can get the segments quickly (before any more deaths can happen). The interviews are then edited and sent to the Capitol for special broadcast.
Here are some glimpses into the 'behind the scenes' interview happenings.
IN DISTRICT ONE
Ishan hovers on the doorstep of the Valier household, waiting for the camera crew to come inside. There is a flutter of action and the Capitol media group, arranged conspicuously a little way down the street, murmurs to each other. Ishan's heart jumps: she imagines the words 'final eight' and 'Andros's family' being tossed around between the oddly dressed camera holders.
But instead of advancing towards the house, the crew begins to pack up their equipment. Ishan watches, stunned, as they load up and their fancy Capitol car ferries them away from the Valier home.
The weight of a broken promise sits heavy in Ishan's heart. She doesn't believe it right away, but the truth is inescapable.
IN DISTRICT TWO- THE LOVAGE HOUSEHOLD
Caelle's parents watch the crew bustle around their living room, setting up lighting equipment, brushing dust off the coffee table, powdering the interviewer's face with more makeup, and altogether creating a frantic hubbub.
One of the grips, a petite woman with formidable biceps, leans in to Caelle's sister as she passes with a camera kit. "You know, your sister is my favorite tribute in the Games this year! She's such a force to be reckoned with. I think she's one of the strongest tributes we've ever seen!" She winks, and in the blink of an eye she's across the room, busily assembling a light stand.
Aldridge and Saffron Lovage are unaccustomed to being escorted through their own house, but they do not protest as the Capitol crew affixes tiny mics to their lapels, dusts powder on their noses and ushers them to sit in their own chairs. Caryne, Caelle's older sister, rolls her eyes at the attention but follows suit obediently.
"Are we ready to get started?" whines the interviewer, blotting her lipstick with a napkin. "I don't want to fall behind schedule and set up has taken more time than allotted!"
"Ready whenever you are," says the lead cameraman.
All eyes and lenses train expectantly on the family. Caryne blinks her eyes against the bright lights, hoping that she looks all right on camera.
"And—rolling!"
The interviewer's uptightness fades away on camera, and she becomes an effortless, charismatic woman. "We're here in District Two with the family of Games mega-player Caelle Lovage. Earlier today, we've seen Caelle outsmart not only her biggest human threat, but a massive mutt! Now, let's see what we can learn about this femme fatale from her family! Let's introduce them, shall we?"
"Hello, all, I'm Aldridge, Caelle's father."
"And I'm Saffron, her mother. And this is our other daughter-"
"Caryne. Twenty-two. Uh, hi."
"And it's so wonderful to join you in your home today! Congratulations are in order, your daughter has just made the top eight portion of the Games! How does this make you all feel?"
Saffron puffs herself up with pride. "We've always supported our daughter in her goals, and she's been so dedicated to training and volunteering for years now! The Victors are such good role models, and we are so proud of our girl. She's done so well, things just keep looking up for her!"
"Obviously, it's worrying to watch her compete, but we have faith and trust in our Caelle. We'll always be here for her, and we feel so strongly that she will be able to make it home!" Aldridge, ever the affectionate father, tears up as he speaks, and reaches for his wife's hand.
The interviewer turns towards Caryne. "And you, sister dear?"
Caryne smiles, but it's more forced than her parents' grins. "I'm proud of my sister, I really am. I mean, I'm not looking forward to being 'the sister of a Victor' instead of just myself, but that's the price of fame, right? But really, it's good to see Caelle do well. She likes to talk herself up, you know? But she's proved herself this time. That's a relief."
IN DISTRICT TWO- THE AUGUSTIN HOUSEHOLD
The interviewer wiggles excitedly in his chair as the large Augustin family assembles in from of the cameras. Not only are Cyrus's parents and brothers present, but the extended family had crammed their way into the narrow shot. Many of them are wearing Peacekeeper uniforms and insignia- the family occupation, or so it seems. The immediate family members stand out, since they're wearing civilian clothes rather than the steel-gray uniforms.
"And here we are in District Two, with the family of Cyrus Augustin! How is everyone doing this evening?"
The family bursts out in a chorus of greetings and responses. Some are cheery, happy to be seen on television, and some are more tense, obviously thinking of their Cyrus in the arena.
His mother waits until everyone finishes, and then speaks for the family. "It's nerve wracking, seeing him in there. You know, we didn't even know he was going to volunteer on Reaping Day. He trained, of course, but more for the physical benefits than the glory. It's easy, especially for teenagers who want to become Peacekeepers or other highly physical jobs, to maintain a training schedule while still attending school."
The excitable young interviewer leans forward. "I have two points of interest that I'd love to hear more about! First of all, I can see that Peacekeeper is a popular family job—was that Cyrus's plan before he volunteered, or how does that work? And also, I certainly want to hear your side of the Reaping Day story. How did it feel when he volunteered without telling you before?"
A cousin in the back pipes up, excited to have something relevant to say. "Nearly all of us are Peacekeeper folk, it's either that or the mines!"
Cyrus's father gives the youngster a stern look before turning to the camera. "My wife and I are the odd ones out in this bunch. We'd rather work in the shops and have more time to raise our boys than risk being sent out to the other districts on patrol. But- to your other question. When Cyrus went up there… we were beyond shocked. We had no clue. It just seemed so harebrained."
"He was with me just minutes before," says the youngest boy, Conrad, "and he didn't even drop a hint."
Simon, a year old than Cyrus, jumps in. "When we went to say goodbye he explained that the original volunteer asked him as a favor. I think that was stupid, and if Cyrus dies, I fully plan to find Klaus and beat him to a pulp."
Their mother soothes the conversation, much to the relief of the interviewer. "It hurt to see Cyrus make such an immature decision. As his mother, I feel… betrayed. He has too good of a heart sometimes. But he's strong. And we have faith that he'll come back to us."
After the interview wraps up, the interviewer makes a second stop at a tiny apartment on the outskirts of town. Klaus and Bella sit squashed together on a couch, uncomfortable on camera.
"So, what's your story? Why did you have Cyrus take your place?"
Klaus looks almost pained. "Bella and I… we've just eloped. When they picked me to volunteer I was all in, and then I found out we had a baby on the way. There was only a tiny bit of time between that discovery and the Reaping… I didn't know what else to do but ask a pal to help out. Maybe I should have just turned down the volunteer offer, but I… wasn't thinking straight? Everyone's been really angry at me since then. We haven't really been able to show our faces. But once Cyrus gets back… we'll all be cool again. I'm sure of it."
Bella reaches over and holds his hand, looking strained and nervous. "Maybe it's not a good idea to say all this on camera."
IN DISTRICT THREE
"Can I just say, Mr. and Mrs. Biachi, it's truly an honor to be welcomed into your fabulous home!" chirps the flamboyant interviewer. The camera crew was relieved that they barely had to do any work to get the 'set' looking ready to go—Althea's family's mansion was already picture-perfect.
"Oh, the pleasure is all ours!" Mrs. Biachi chimes, playing hostess with poised delight.
"The Biachi family is at your service. Let's get right to it, shall we?" Mr. Biachi leans back in his armchair, playing the suave businessman for the cameras. "What do you want to know?"
"Oh, there's so much to ask, where could I start! Hmm… let's start at the beginning and work our way forward, shall we? What's Althea like here at home? She's made quite the name for herself in the arena, but the Capitol wants to know what she was like before we were introduced to her."
"Well," Mr. Biachi starts smugly, "as a member of this family she truly represents our brand and estate. The Games stylists did a good job highlighting her polished appearance before the arena, and that really wraps up a lot of who our daughter is. Polished, professional, and high-quality. She's the youngest of our children, and she is known for her… bold personality. She's always had a strong mind. It serves her well as a young businesswoman and as a tribute."
"That's one way to put it," scoffs Atticus, the eldest Biachi child and only son.
His mother ignores the interjection. "Althea is savvy and powerful, just as she should be!"
The poor interviewer grits his teeth and digs for a little more vulnerability. "What was she like as a child? Do you have any favorite family stories?"
"Oh, the stories we could tell!" Alysse, Althea's older sister, tosses her hair (perfectly flashing her fancy engagement ring as she does) and gives a throaty laugh, but the underlying sarcasm is not lost on the interviewer.
"Oh yes, like the way she always demands harder workouts from her personal trainer, or the endless string of boys who haven't been able to match her forcefulness!" Mr. Biachi cuts her off, subtly reminding his family that just because the Games have frayed their emotions, they must put on a good face for the cameras.
"Well, Althea certainly seems well prepared for the Games compared to many of the other tributes," offers the interviewer, disappointed to be steered away from the possibility of gossip.
"It would be incredible to have a Victor in the family- I think that, if Althea comes home, the Biachi name will become far more commonplace in Capitol markets," Mrs. Biachi remarks.
Alysse smirks and mutters something so low that the cameras can't pick it up. "And if she dies, it's a problem we won't have to deal with anymore."
"Oh? Could you repeat that, dear?"
Alysse glares daggers at the interviewer, even as she maintains a perfect smile. "If she dies, I'd just probably not even know how to deal anymore! It's my little sister, you know? My wedding's coming up, I was thinking of having her as the maid of honor!"
"Ah, your wedding," the interviewer nods sagely, "I've heard that news! You'll be marrying the son of that Capitol tech firm CEO? One of the richest companies in Panem!"
Alysse beams. The Biachi family smiles genuinely, knowing they've rerouted the interview towards their business prospects. To them, Althea is nothing more than a catalyst for glory.
IN DISTRICT FOUR
"So, your daughter has emphasized her carefree nature and gung-ho attitude: how does that line up with your experience raising her?"
Shelby's parents, two run-of-the-mill fishers, glance awkwardly at each other. They aren't sure how to handle this uptight, neat interviewer and camera crew. They're used to casual talk, family home, and simple fare, but now there are people in their home telling them to sit up straight and smile for the camera.
Her mother speaks first, trying not to be ashamed of herself. "Shelby is… yes, carefree. To be quite honest, we don't see a lot of her. We're out all day long on the boats, and often don't get home til after dark. It's not ideal, but so long as we make enough to keep food in the cupboard, we know our kids will be able to eat."
"Even when the kids were all younger and we stayed at home more with them, Shelby was always fearless. She'd try to jump off the piers, run into streets, chase unfamiliar dogs." Her father smiles fondly as he recalls a few particular memories. "She was always our little explorer. And she's so grown up now—she spends more time with her friends than with us, I think she enjoys the feeling of living on her own without having all the responsibilities. Boys, you see your sister more than we do, why don't you share how you're feeling?"
The two younger teens shrug. Gerard, seventeen years old, rolls his eyes affectionately. "It's not like we see a lot of her either. She's always with her girl squad, why would she hang with her kid brothers? She always tries to give me a noogie if she sees me with my bros."
Hector, fifteen, gnaws on his lip. "She always used to help me get ready for school when I was little. Mom and Dad would have to leave so early, but she would make breakfast. I think she just got tired of that."
The interviewer focuses with laser intensity on the two boys. "And, as younger siblings, how does it feel to watch your older sister in the Games?"
Gerard grits his teeth. "I still don't get why she volunteered. She couldn't even explain herself. I miss her, I do, but I'm just so scared she's gonna do something stupid and get herself killed. She's done so much already… I really want her to come home, but…"
"The odds… you know. Can't favor everyone." Hector finishes the thought.
The family settles into a morbid silence, just in time for the door to burst open. The camera operators protest at the sudden evening light overexposing the room, but the door shuts just as quickly as it flew open.
"We're here!" Darya and Kendra announce, worming their way into the screen and sitting beside Shelby's parents on the couch.
"And… who are you?" the interviewer snaps.
"Darya!"
"And Kendra! Shelby's best friends!"
"You were not invited to this taping," the prickly interviewer begins, but then she reconsiders. Shelby's family barely seems to know the girl, but these two unannounced visitors may bring new insight to the Capitol's favorite dark horse candidate. "However, you are permitted to stay if it is all right with the Leone family."
The family of fishers nods gratefully, happy to have camera-ready assistance.
Darya beams at the camera. "Where to even begin? We have soooo many great Shelby stories. Like the time she outdrank the bartender?"
"Or when we all went swimming at the docks and Shelby found a sunken tugboat!" Kendra exclaims breathlessly.
All eyes lock onto the two girls. Now this would be an interesting interview.
IN DISTRICT FIVE
Kepler's father knows he is not supposed to address the religious nature of his son's breakdown, and yet he is so moved to speak of healing, of faith, of God that it is difficult to speak at all. Elliott Mallis is rarely lost for words, and even less frequently at risk of losing control.
If the droning interviewer mentioned the specifics of Kepler's ranting in the arena, he would not be able to refrain from speaking of God's truth. But the interviewer skirts around the details, probably based on instructions from the Gamemakers.
"What's it like to watch your son cope with the arena in the way he is?"
Tianna Mallis, eyes puffy and smile weak, blurts out a response. She has already spoken more in this interview than she has since Kepler was reaped. "It's every mother's worst nightmare! My baby boy, trapped and alone and hurting. I'm sure he doesn't mean any of it, he must be so scared. I am so proud of him, and I think he will be all right if he can only hold out a little longer and come home! But it's a lot to handle. I don't know if I've ever been this kind of scared before."
"You spent a lot of time with Kepler, then?"
"Oh, yes! I homeschooled him while Elliott worked. Kepler and I spend hours together every day, he's my sweet boy. Our only child. A miracle. The only time he's not near me is when he goes off to the library."
"And how is his schooling? What kinds of things is he interested in?"
"Science! Kepler loves science, thinking about the way things work together and the grace by which everything functions so seamlessly. And philosophy. Kepler is so invested in the 'why' behind every question!
Her husband gruffly interrupts. "Every evening when I come home from work, I ask him to tell me five things he learned during the day. Luckily, he always has his five answers."
The interviewer nods. "I'm sure, if he comes home, he will have much more than five new things he's learned."
Elliott Mallis nods sourly. "It may take a miracle, but if He is willing, it will happen."
Tianna smiles, trying to cheer her husband. "Our family has had incredible healing happen before. I was in a work accident years ago that paralyzed me. They said I'd never walk again, but here I am now, fully healed! If it can happen for me, it can happen for my son. I believe that he will come home and recover from this."
No one else in the room seems so sure. Her husband does not offer support, but only turns back to the interviewer, awaiting the next question.
IN DISTRICT SEVEN
"Are we missing one of the invitees?" a cameraman asks the rest of the Capitol crew as the Trevelian household settles in to the interview space. Malek's mother, Devaris, categorically refused to film the interview in their family home, so they are seated in the same room used for tribute goodbyes at the District Seven Justice Building.
Sanna frowns. She's the only non-family member at the interview, and she's proud to represent her best friend in a different light from his family. "Who else is there?" she challenges.
"I told them to invite Martell," Devaris informs her, and Sanna's annoyance deepens.
"Martell? He hasn't talked to Malek in years, not since your dumb husband-" A bitter look from Devaris stops Sanna from finishing her sentence. "Whatever. Martell's not Malek's friend, so no wonder he didn't show up."
"It would have been good for optics if he did," Devaris says, too casually to be kind. The jab hurts Sanna just as much as if would have hurt Malek, had he known.
"Optics? Really?"
Maven puts a hand on Sanna's shoulder, and the two teen girls share a brief moment of annoyance at the politics and stubbornness of adults.
"Well, let's go ahead and begin. Rolling in three, two, one!"
The interviewer begins smoothly, introducing the family and Sanna and noting some highlights of Malek's time as a tribute.
"Citizens of the Capitol really feel like they have gotten to know Malek well in the past weeks. His openness, emotional authenticity, and kindness capture the audience's attention. We're curious about his home life. What does a normal day look like for Malek here?"
"He plays with us after school!" Rania and Dell chirp happily. Rania has a note of fear in her smile, almost like she believes if she can convince the Capitol that her brother is worthy, they will choose to let him return.
"Ah, a good big brother. What else?"
"He's two years older than me, so we usually spend a lot of time together. Sometimes he helps me with business stuff, and we do a lot of the shopping together," Maven offers.
"And you, Sanna? Do you go to school with Malek?"
She shifts in her seat. "Well, no. We used to. But after he moved, he moved to a different school. I still go to the private school. But we hang out a lot! Walking through the markets. But don't get the wrong idea, we aren't dating or anything." She manages a weak laugh. It's easier to talk about Malek like they're waiting for him to come through the door.
"Ah yes, I'm familiar with the family history. He would have moved and changed schools around the time of Leopold Trevelian's arrest, yes?"
"Yes." Devaris stays stiffly. The air grows thick and tense as she stares coldly ahead. Nobody challenges her except the interviewer.
"So how would you say that event affected Malek's life? I mean, it must be enormous for a teenage boy to watch his father hauled off to jail for insider trading, for the family to lose everything… how did Malek cope?"
Sanna and Maven want to burst with rage at the prying into Malek's life, and Devaris wishes she could spit in the interviewer's face for turning the interview into an exposé. Little Rania and Dell are only aware of the sudden anger in the room, and the distinct feeling that everything has gone wrong.
"When we moved, Malek helped me clean the spiders from my new room!" Rania interjects.
IN DISTRICT EIGHT- THE STRATTON HOUSEHOLD
"Inaya's fantastic, but she's always been a bit awkward. Not great at making friends, not good at benig around people. You know? Not a social butterfly," the oldest Stratton brother, Veschi, gabs on about his little sister.
Lebric elbows his older brother in the ribs. "C'mon, man. You're going to embarrass her! Could you imagine seeing this later? She'd be like 'oh no, my brothers are trying to make me look silly in front of the whole country'!"
"Yeah, Veschi!" Jun, the middle brother, chimes in. "Would you like it if we came up to you while you were on a date and listed off everything you don't want the world knowing?"
"Settle down," the family matriarch, Bel, commands. The young men immediately stop bickering and turn back to the camera.
The interviewer tries a different angle in response to the three brothers. "So, what do you think about her long-standing alliance?"
"Glad she finally landed a good one!" Jun jokes.
Lebric answers seriously. "Malek's been incredible. With that pair working together, Inaya gets a boost of strength. Here at home, that would be me—I like to think that she befriended the tribute who reminded her the most of us. He's helped her with her cut, comforted her, and they've stuck together longer than any other alliance. That's friendship."
"I do wonder," Bel cuts in, "how our girl will fare when Malek is no longer by her side. Hopefully that won't be an issue until the very end, but Inaya has finally made her own solid connections! I don't want to see her lose that, but I suppose she must. Eventually."
Her husband puts an arm around her shoulders. "Inaya can handle it. She's really proven how strong she can be in there. She's been making jokes, standing up for herself. That's our girl shining through. Even when Malek's gone, I'm hoping she can keep up this determination."
The interviewer leans in, licking his lips. "Your hope and dedication are truly heartwarming! It's lovely to see a family so genuinely dedicated to each other. I have to ask, though. If the worst happens… what will that mean for you all?"
He is met with blank stares.
"What do you mean?" Bel says flatly, not quite making eye contact.
"She's coming back." Lebric says, a mantra that almost sounds like a chant as he repeats it. "She's coming back."
The other two brothers stare at the camera, just slightly frowning. The interviewer backtracks, redirecting to the alliance. Too late, he realizes that this family is not willing to accept the inevitable possibility of death.
IN DISTRICT EIGHT- THE NAFTI HOUSEHOLD
Sharif's parents watch fondly but distantly as Amira babbles on to the interviewer about her antics with Sharif around the district center.
"You know, it took years for him to call me his friend. Years! I bothered him for ages during class and after school, walking with him and trying to get to know him. I always wanted to be his friend because he didn't act dumb like so many of the other boys, and he was never interested in the popularity contests of school groups and silly things like that. He was always so serious. I mean, he doesn't talk a lot, even now, but I like that about him! I know that when he does have something to say, he really means it! And now that he is my friend for real and a little more opened up, it's so much fun to talk to him. When he relaxes, he's so goofy and insightful."
The interviewer, a young Capitol woman who couldn't be much older than eighteen herself, eats up Amira's words with glee.
"So you're really missing him, aren't you?"
"Of course! It's just not the same. There's an empty space in the district."
Sharif's parents share a glance, tears welling up in their eyes. They knew of Amira before now, but they hadn't really known her, or how deep her friendship with their son went. They were so glad that, even if he didn't make it home, Sharif had someone special to him. Someone who cared, who noticed his presence and when he was gone.
The Nafti family was never ostentatious. In fact, they were almost entirely forgettable, and that's the way they usually liked it. But in the face of their only son's potential death, it was good to see that they were not fully ignored.
"I have one final question for all of you this evening. If you could say one thing to Sharif right now, what would it be?"
All three spend a moment in thought.
"I'd tell him to watch his back and try to blend into the shadows. Being overlooked is still a strength for him right now," says his father.
"I would want to say to not give up. I know my son is unsure of doing things that don't come naturally to him, but right now is the time to push through! And, of course, I'd remind him that I love him dearly."
Amira takes a deep breath, eyes wobbly with tears. "I wish I could tell him that I liked him. I know he had a massive crush on me, he was so bad at hiding it. But neither of us wanted to ruin anything. I just wish I could let him know. I wish I'd told him sooner."
The interviewer eats it up, and happily wraps up the segment. As soon as the cameras go dark, Amira begins crying. Sharif's parents look at the stricken girl, and wrap her in a tentative, gentle hug. They're already grieving, perhaps prematurely, but at least they found each other.
I like to write Top Eight Interviews and touch base with tribute families as a way to reconnect with certain aspects of tributes' backstories and also to explore some history that the main story hasn't addressed! It's interesting to me to think about how the tributes perceive themselves vs. how they're seen by their families. It's usually very different- of course, people in the Districts can barely comprehend the trauma of the Games.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed! No questions for this chapter or anything.
I'm gonna be in the woods for the next week, so there will be a little while between updates. Maybe you can use this as a chance to catch up on reviews? ;)
Kidding. Use your time as you wish. And I mean that seriously!