Francis Lawrence is an Austrian-born American film director and producer. Born on March 26th 1970 he was brought to America from Vienna at the age of 3, where he was raised in LA. Within the 1980s, he found he had an interest in making film, he attended Loyola Marymount University (studying film) and during this time created at least 8 short films. During the 1990s he started directing music videos for famous artists such as Britney Spears and Will Smith. It was in 2005 when he become a film director with his debut directorial feature length. His main directorial efforts include:
- Constantine (2005) - I am Legend (2007) -Water for Elephants (2011)
- Gotham (2012) - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
- The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One (2014)
-The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part Two (2015)
Lawrence as a director, doesn't restrict himself to one specific genre, he directed action in I am Legend and Constantine, romance in Water for Elephants, and then both genres in The Hunger Games series. Running themes between most of his films, are a world of fiction, many different fantasy elements. The camera work is of Lawrence is mainly handheld, in order to get a range of shots, including close ups to show the characters emotion and wide shots to emphasise location. More widely seen in Hunger Games and I am Legend, is a more fast paced edit. This is more due to the action genre of the films, fast paced editing keeps the audience engaged and is an iconography of the action genre. 
The main key interest i have in Lawrence's work, is The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a big budget hollywood action blockbuster, but its camerawork could be described as somewhat unusual in comparison and contrast to others. Lawrence's main trait from The Hunger Games was 'trying to use IMAX cameras as handheld'. A handheld camera feel makes a movie much grittier, and it makes the audience connect with the characters on screen, making them feel they are part of the action rather than just watching it.
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