Next Gen 2012: Hollywood's Fastest-Rising Stars

Unkeless, 30, was the driving force behind identifying Suzanne Collins' action-adventure trilogy The Hunger Games as the industry's next powerhouse franchise. Color Force acquired the rights to the books after the Engelwood, Colo.-reared Unkeless brought it to Color Force founder Nina Jacobson.

BIG BREAK: Being hired at Color Force. At the time, I had been lucky enough to be a story assistant and see the inside of a studio, but this was the first time I was an exec.

BIGGEST 2012 ACCOMPLISHMENT: Hunger Games opening in a way that was very well-received by the fans of the book. That was our goal all along. The big box office was also really exciting. [It made $686.5 million.]

10 YEARS FROM NOW: I try not to think that far in advance. This industry is so unstable, and it's pretty treacherous out there. Hopefully, I'll still be making movies I care about.

MOVIE FIX: Groundhog Day.

ONLINE OBSESSION: Amazon.com. I go through tons of books looking for source material.

BEST DAY: When Nina called me and said she was hiring me. I had already done three interviews and a notes sessions, then really late in the day, I got that call. I was so pumped. [His first industry gig was at Echo Lake Prods.]

WORST DAY: When I first came out to Hollywood, I worked on a McDonald's commercial and my job was to find a costume for a dancing pickle. I had to go all over the city to find doll clothes. It's really hard to find clothes that fit a pickle. That was a pretty bad day.

I FALL ASLEEP AT: 2 a.m.

THE LAST THING I DO: Brush my teeth. I don't want them to fall out.