While much of the film is shot handheld for purely aesthetic considerations (to give it a "raw" feel, in Ross' words), the director also felt it was crucial in capturing the thematic essence of Suzanne Collins' novel.

"Well, I felt that it was very important to stay urgent and in Katniss’ point of view," said Ross of utilizing the technique. "If I made a glossy, slick, kind of overproduced piece of entertainment, then...I’m basically staging the Hunger Games.  I’m not doing a movie about the Hunger Games at that point. ...If you try to create a slick, glossy piece of entertainment that indulges the premise or tries to goose the premise, you’re going to end up really losing the point and the heart of the book."