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From Philippine's Daily Inquirer:
Anna Paquin was ‘dying’ to do vampire GF role
By Janet Susan R. Nepales
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:56:00 08/19/2009
Filed Under: Celebrities, Cinema, Entertainment (general)
 LOS ANGELES – For somebody whose debut performance was as a skunk in a school ballet, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Anna Paquin has indeed come a long way. The 27-year-old former child star of “The Piano” has moved on to prove that her Oscar Best Supporting Actress win was not a fluke. She chooses her roles very well, giving us memorable performances in a variety of genres, from films like “X-Men” and “The Squid and the Whale” to TV miniseries like the Emmy award-winning “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.” Now as Sookie Stackhouse, the mind-reading vampire’s girl in the hit HBO series “True Blood,” she has also won a Globe. (And early this month, she was reported to be engaged to “True Blood” co-star Stephen Moyer.) Excerpts from our interview with Anna at the Four Seasons Hotel: Before you took on the role of Sookie, how familiar were you with the vampire world? I was not familiar with it. I crammed and researched so I could sound like I knew what I was talking about at my auditions and do better at work.
We read that you fought hard for this. Yes, it has not been my experience that people will cast you [even] if you don’t look exactly like the description on the page which, in this case, was blonde, tanned and Southern. I was very much dying to do the role. But I was pale and dark- haired and from New Zealand (laughter). Credit goes to director Alan Ball and the people at HBO. Why do you think vampires are sexy?
It’s always the biting that is a metaphor for sex and intimacy. There’s definitely a sexual longing that is at the center of that. As in a relationship, you give a part of yourself to the other person and you feed off each other. It can be painful and ecstatic at the same time. What’s it like working with your on-and-off-screen partner? You actually see him occasionally. Are you conscious that the audience knows that you and your onscreen partner are really in a relationship off screen?
I always hope that people will watch the work for what it is, not [just for] the behind-the-scenes story.
You mentioned that you love being in Sookie’s world. Can you talk of the changes in Season Two? Last season, she was very tough. She was ballsy but she hadn’t really experienced much outside of her very small town, the bar she works in, and her family. Then her whole life changes when her grandmother dies and she meets this vampire. Now she’s in a new world and exotic trouble (laughs). She’s much tougher, always motivated to do the right thing... She’s grown up a lot in the three weeks we met her.
Do you hit the gym a little bit more, with the required body exposure? I’ve always been pretty active. It’s not like I’m going to go eat a cheesecake and then take my clothes off (laughs) and sit on the couch all weekend eating French fries.
What do you need to go through to do your sex scenes?
I don’t know. We do it so often on our show (laughter)... I was never particularly uptight on nudity to begin with... By the time the camera has seen me naked more often than any of my doctors, why flatter myself to think they really care anymore? It’s still an 18-hour day no matter if they’re looking at naked people or not. (“True Blood” Season 2 premieres in Asia on August 22 at 9 p.m. on MAX.)
08/22/2009 |
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Is Lady Gaga still thinking about True Blood? From Radar Online:
Lady Gaga Shows Vampire Love In London
Posted on Aug 22, 2009
Lady Gaga has never been shy about wanting to be a commercial sensation--and the sly fox is now trying to woo her way into another massive fan community: vampires!
Horsing around at London's Soho House on Friday evening, Gaga was spotted in her usual regalia of sequins onesies and no pants with an interesting new accessory--vampire fangs!
Click here for my fang-tastic shots of Lady Gaga!
We can only hope this means full incorporation of our favorite undead into her upcoming tracks and videos. The question remains, however, what is her poison?
Twilight? True Blood?
Tell us who you think she favors in comments!
08/22/2009 |
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From Broadcasting & Cable:
Premium Summer for Cable Rivals HBO, Showtime see sunny skies
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/24/2009 2:00:00 AM EDT
While much of the media business is in economic turmoil and ad-supported television is hurting, HBO and Showtime actually are thriving.
Both networks are up more than 20% in primetime ratings year-over-year, and a recent report from SNL Kagan pegged HBO's penetration at about 29.1 million homes and Showtime's at 17.1 million homes. Both figures are up from last summer, despite the lagging economy.
“As the advertising business has been tough in this recession, our model looks pretty good,” says Showtime chairman Matt Blank.
HBO has been stealing many of the headlines with its strong True Blood/Hung-induced Sunday night renaissance, but Showtime has been setting ratings records of its own with its summer lineup of Weeds, Nurse Jackie and Penn & Teller: Bullshit!
[Continue reading...]
08/22/2009 |
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| *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* |
From Spoiler TV:
True Blood - Episode 2.10 - New World in My View - Promo Pics
Posted by FreakChiq at Saturday, August 22, 2009
08/22/2009 |
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| *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* |
From Spoiler TV:
True Blood - Episode 2.11 - Frenzy - Photos
Posted by FreakChiq at Saturday, August 22, 2009
08/22/2009 |
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Great find by Loving True Blood In Dallas - from My Life Comics:
True Blood as a piechart
 I did a good number of things on my to-do list tonight so I treated myself to drawing a cartoon, which in reality is nothing more than a pie chart about True Blood:
Yup.
I’m also going to take Kelly’s advice and use this post to its advantage to mention Anna Paquin’s boobs and get a ton of hits. So yeah…Anna Paquin…and her boobs. She’s got two of…’em? Am I right, fellas? Anyways, I’ve finished the first season and can officially say that I like the show. It’s gritty, it’s filthy, it’s my sort of v-story. Can’t wait to watch some more…
08/22/2009 |
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From PhillyBurbs Blog:
Music makes it on True Blood
Posted in News on Friday, August 21st, 2009 at 9:45 am by Kaytie
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From Associated Content:
'True Blood' Writing at Core of Show's Success
August 20, 2009
True Blood is simply the most fun that you can have on TV on a Sunday night. I have watched every True Blood episode of Season One and Two and it still manages to thoroughly indulge my sense of warped and dark entertainment.
The last True Blood episode, "I Will Rise Up", was full of vampire power struggles, suicide bombings of vampires - I didn't think that was even possible - and a self-aware True Blood vamp that walked into the sun. Not to mention the antics of Maryann, possible local primitive goddess,that keeps us entertained weekly.
I think it is the incredibly talented writing that keeps True Blood crisp and in character at all times. Here are some of my personal favorite lines from the recent True Blood episode:
Hoyt's Mom is all upset about her precious baby boy dating a True Blood vampire chick and proceeded to tell him, "I simply object to a girlfriend who will kill you and eat you. I think that's reasonable." A perfect passive-aggressive line from an overbearing toxic mommy.
After she totally unnecessarily sucks silver out of Eric's body and in her unique, cutesy Sookie-way, Sookie screams at Eric: "You big, lying a-hole!" How 'True Blood Sookie' adorable is that statement? Only on True Blood from Sookie Stackhouse would you hear the word 'a-hole' literally being spoken, totally in character.
[Continue reading...]
08/21/2009 |
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Rutina Wesley loves "... it hurts so good ..." - From iF Magazine:
Exclusive Interview: 'TRUE BLOOD's' RUTINA WESLEY GETS FREAKED OUT BY ORGIES
The actress who plays Tara Thornton talks about the role so far and her guest CLEVELAND SHOW gig
By ABBIE BERNSTEIN, Contributing Writer
Published 8/21/2009
 TRUE BLOOD has lots of sex, lots of blood and lots of characters, but Rutina Wesley’s Tara Thornton is in no danger of getting lost in the crowd. One of the few Bon Temps residents with no supernatural aspects, Tara (best friend of telepathic heroine Sookie Stackhouse, portrayed by Anna Paquin) is nevertheless one of the most complex characters on the show, desperate for affection yet quick to push people away, open to new experiences yet wisely wary, she’s a captivating conundrum, and Wesley plays the hell out of her.
The actress makes time to talk to us during an after-party for the Television Critics Association Awards, where TRUE BLOOD has just won for Outstanding New Program.
iF MAGAZINE: Has Tara changed from what you expected her to be when you got the part?
RUTINA WESLEY: Just for the better. I always thought she was a hard flower, this hard case on the outside with this delicate inside, but they’ve just made her so much more complex, they’ve given her so many layers, I’ve gotten to play so many different emotions. I mean, that’s an actor’s dream. This role is like a Hamlet for me. I think it’s been some of my best work that I’ve done so far, and it’s really nice that I’ve been able to be part of this ensemble, this family. Adina Porter [who plays Tara’s mother] – amazing. Her and Michelle Forbes are two of the most grounded actresses that I’ve ever worked with. They always have my back. Adina – I can’t say anything more to you than ‘phenomenal.’ I love her, I love working with her – she brings out the best in me, I always have to be on top of my game with the both of them. So she’s amazing.
iF: Is it hard to modulate just how open or shut down Tara is at any given moment?
WESLEY: Yeah, it’s a very delicate balance, because I don’t want her to ever be too angry. I want to make sure that she stays soft and real and honest in every situation, so I always play with varying emotions. I just try to keep her real, and the writers give me dialogue that helps me do that. iF: Tara has gotten herself into a sort of unusual emotional triangle, with her lover Eggs and the outwardly supportive but supernaturally controlling Maryann …
WESLEY: It’s interesting. I think it’s great that Tara has this romance with Eggs, and she’s also taken under the wing of this Maryann character. I mean, she’s never been taken care of. Her whole life, she’s been taking care of someone else. So I think it’s nice to even have that, yet in the back of Tara’s mind, through it all, she’s very cautious about it. But it feels good for now, if that makes any sense.
iF: Tara is one of the few TRUE BLOOD characters who doesn’t have much interaction with the vampires. Do you miss that?
WESLEY: Tara probably doesn’t miss it, because she can’t stand the vamps, because she’s really scared of them, but I sort of miss playing with them, because [the actors are] all sort of in different worlds, and I really wish that I had a little bit more fun with the vampires. I wouldn’t mind being bitten, maybe [laughs].
iF: Well, in the Charlaine Harris books that TRUE BLOOD is based on, Tara eventually gets involved with a vamp.
WESLEY: You never know what’s going to happen. They’ve strayed and they’ve done so much stuff with my character that’s different than the books, but that would be nice. That would be kind of fun, I think.
iF: Now, do you want to get covered with blood or anything like that, or do you feel like, ‘That’s Sookie’s thing, Anna Paquin can do those scenes’?
WESLEY: [laughs] Yeah, I might leave that to my girl Anna, because then you’ve got to do [the blood-covered take] again and again and again and again, but who knows what’s going to happen to my character.
iF: You did have a scene at the beginning of this season with a pretty lifelike corpse. Was that the actress or was that a synthetic body?
WESLEY: They did a body cast of her actual body [and built a corpse from that]. It was pretty amazing, wasn’t it?
iF: Has anything on TRUE BLOOD freaked you out?
WESLEY: The orgy. [laughs] That was the big one for all of us. But we’re all very professional, it’s a safe environment, and everyone really, really likes each other. But it’s hard doing that stuff with fifty people when you’re naked. But we all were there together and we all supported each other, so we made it work.
iF: Have you worked on anything else lately?
WESLEY: I have a guest-star [voice] appearance on THE CLEVELAND SHOW, which is a spin-off of FAMILY GUY. I always love animation, and I’m a huge fan of FAMILY GUY, so I’m really, really excited about it.
iF: And does your character look like you?
WESLEY: You know what? She doesn’t. She has more hips and butt than I do and her name is Yvette and she’s hilarious. She’s the best friend of one of the main characters.
iF: Anything else you’d like to say about TRUE BLOOD or life in general?
WESLEY: Life is good and TRUE BLOOD, it hurts so good. I love that [advertising] line. I’m just happy to be a part of a wonderful show that people are receiving in a beautiful way. People are watching, and so, job well done.
08/21/2009 |
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Main media finally catching-up with what we already know! From EOnline:
True Blood's Alex Skarsgård: Naked and Wet!
Today 10:10 AM PDT by Marc Malkin
We need a cold shower—pronto!
You will too after you get a glimpse of Alexander Skarsgård in this soapy scene from Hundtricket. No, it's not a gay porn flick, but a Swedish romantic comedy from 2003.
Skarsgård, better known as Eric from True Blood, plays one of three friends navigating single life. Not entirely sure what the trio is talking about in the communal shower—something about having one-night stands—but does it really matter?
Skarsgård is wet and totally ripped. At one point, he appears to be cleaning, well, his nether regions. And yes, we do see a wee bit of butt at the end of the clip.
Do vampires take showers? If they do, here's hoping Alexander Eric gets very dirty—very soon!
08/21/2009 |
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| *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* |
From Televisionary:
Written by Jace | Friday, August 21, 2009
 HBO's seductive vampire drama series True Blood is positively overflowing with memorable and flawed characters but one of this season's most indelible and dynamic character additions is that of naughty preacher's wife Sarah Newlin, played with delicious aplomb by South Carolina native Anna Camp. I had the opportunity to catch up with Camp earlier this week in an exclusive interview where we talked about Sarah Newlin, Camp's original audition for True Blood (for the role of Sookie, no less!), the love triangle between Sarah, Jason, and Steve, Sarah's darker side, Camp's theatre work (opposite Daniel Radcliffe in Equus), whether the Newlins are gone for good, Mad Men, and lots more. So what are you waiting for? Toss your hair, flash your pearly whites, sharpen a stake and let's see what Anna Camp had to say about True Blood. Televisionary: How did you get involved with True Blood? What sort of audition process did they put you through?Anna Camp: Actually, I auditioned for Alan [Ball] for the pilot a while ago... for Sookie! (Laughs) And of course didn't get cast. Then a year later when he was looking to cast someone for Sarah, he called me up and offered me the part, which was really exciting. (Laughs) So I didn't have to audition; we just talked on the phone, so it was the best kind of audition in a way.
I just fell in love with the storyline and, being from the South originally, I had to be on this show at some point. It's just so creative and not like anything else on TV right now and I was really glad that he gave me that call.Televisionary: How familiar were you with Charlaine Harris' novels?
Camp: I had watched the entire first season of the show and fallen in love with it. I wasn't originally acquainted with the books but I did read the first two.Televisionary: Sarah Newlin seems to be a mass of swirling contradictions. How would you describe your character?Camp: I think that she is discovering who she is all the time too. She comes in very strong and knowing who she is and believing in God and following her husband. Then she faces all of these situations that he's putting her through and surprising her. She's definitely taken down a journey that she didn't expect to go down. She meets Jason Stackhouse and is thrown off guard by that relationship when she's already doubting her husband and her faith.
She's faced with something that's completely the opposite of what she was brought up to believe and seeing how her husband treated Sookie and seeing he wants to cross the line into killing the vampire sympathizers, that's not something that Sarah wants to do.
She's lost and she's confused. She does believe that everything happens because God is willing it to be. She truly believes that Jason was sent here for her and that's why she's taken aback in Episode Seven when she believes that he was a spy. She's definitely confused and lost right now.
Televisionary: When you spoke to Alan initially then about coming on the series, how much of Sarah's backstory did he and the writers tell you before shooting? I was very surprised to learn about the pro-vampire stance in her past, for example.
Camp: I was actually very surprised too! (Laughs) They never really tell me anything! I found out when I got [the script] for Episode Three that that was what was driving her to be so forthright against standing up against the vampires. They didn't really tell me much. They just told me that [Sarah] was the wife of Steve Newlin. We talked about it once we got on the set that we were relatively a new couple, very young and been married for about four years. We sort of came up with a lot on the spot so I didn't really get too much backstory. Televisionary: When I interviewed Alan a few weeks ago, we talked about the unexpected chemistry that develops between you, Ryan Kwanten, and Michael McMillian in the first few episodes of the season. Did this come as a surprise to you as well? And what was it like working with the two of them?Camp: It was absolutely a surprise. I just think that the dynamic-- Of course, Ryan [Kwanten] is so perfectly cast; he's nothing at all like his character but he is incredible and a really great actor. And Michael McMillian as well; just great casting. I think we all just hit it off. You can't take it too seriously. You just have to have fun and really believe in your specific part.
When you get three people who are all really committed to playing their roles and you put them all in a situation like that, some magic sort of happens. We all looked forward to those scenes. It was rare that we'd all three get to be in a scene together but when we did it was really, really fun. Lots of improv, lots of keeping each other on our toes, and making jokes. We really hit it off. It was a great surprise.
Televisionary: Despite being terrifying in their fundamentalist beliefs, Sarah and Steve often provide a bit of comic relief in the series. Is comedy something you enjoy doing?
Camp: Oh, absolutely! It's one of my favorite things to do. I didn't really realize it. I grew up acting since second grade and always watched these old movies and these dramatic scenes and wanted to be a very dramatic actor. But it's just so refreshing to have fun, to truthfully have fun and play with the other actors in a really safe, fun environment where you all want the same goal and trust each other so that it's really easy to be funny.
It's also really easy to be funny when you're working with funny actors. It is something that I really love to do and I hope I get to do more of it. I love to make people laugh and it's also fun to balance that line because Sarah has some great scenes where she wasn't funny and was incredibly distraught. To be able to go from scene to scene believably, hopefully, is great and it's great that the writers gave me such diverse scenes to play.Televisionary: One of the strengths of True Blood is that it enables the characters to exist in a range from comedy to tragedy, sometimes in the same episode.
Camp: Oh, yeah. It's so much fun for an actor to play because you never know what you're going to get. It's all about sort of balancing that [range] and it's also fun for the audience to watch and be totally surprised. A character that's surprising, that surprises from scene to scene and show to show, is the best kind of character to play.
Televisionary: So, who do you find to be more frightening then: the vampires or the Newlins?
Camp: (Laughs.) I'd say the Newlins are pretty scary. I mean, I grew up in the South and I went to church. I was never a very religious person but I knew people that really truthfully believed that God was willing them to do things: that if they got a good grade in school, that was because God said so; if they got in a car accident, God said so. When you really put that much belief into this unknown, undefinable thing, it's really scary how far you can take your beliefs and there's war going on right now because of religion and it's scary. The vampires are pretty scary too but they are also pretty charming and sexy, so... (Laughs.)
Televisionary: We last saw a extremely vengeful Sarah Newlin getting chucked on the side of the road by Jason and then she popped up on television sniping at Steve. Will the Newlins be in the last three episodes of the season?
Camp: Um.... I don't know if I can say. Sort of, not really, I don't know. I read the last three scripts and I was very surprised, I'll say that. (Laughs.) That's all I can say I think.
Televisionary: So can you give us any hints then about what Alan Ball and the writers have planned for Sarah?
Camp: I can't. I actually have no idea what their plan is. But you know what I would love to see happen? I'd love to see Sarah go to her darker side and become incredibly lost and lose all faith in God and go the exact opposite way. I'd love to see her really act out and rebel against the Fellowship of the Sun. That's what I'd write if I was a writer, but I'm not so we'll see. But I'll keep my fingers crossed that they want to have me back.Televisionary: I was going to say that everything seems to be so hush-hush about next season, so can you tell us if you are returning for Season Three?
Camp: I've heard some rumors that Michael [McMillian] and I will be back in some aspect. I don't know to what extent and I don't honestly think that they know yet to what extent. From the last episode that we get, it's left pretty open so I am hoping that they let us come back in and cause some more trouble or do something fun and exciting. We'll see.
Televisionary: As much as I love the Newlins, I think you guys definitely need to get your comeuppance.
Camp: Don't you think? (Laughs.) I know. I would love to see us totally change heart or have them come after us. I'd love to see the Newlins either have some explosive ending or something exciting happen to them. It was sort of a build up to see them this season and then-- I don't know, you'll see! Televisionary: You mentioned earlier that you wanted to see Sarah go to an even darker place. I'm wondering what would Sarah do if she were running the Fellowship of the Sun rather than Steve?Camp: Oh, man! I think after being betrayed by Jason, if she took over the Fellowship of the Sun, she'd be really ruthless and out to get revenge. I think she'd go after the Stackhouses without stopping and really show how strong she can be. This season she was saying that she wanted to be the great woman behind her great man but I think it would be great to see what she could do on her own if she took over and go even crazier. Which would be an awesome job for me to portray as an actor.
Televisionary: In addition to your television work, you're also a well-known theatre actress and you appeared opposite Daniel Radcliffe in Equus last year and with Tony Shalloub in 2007's The Scene. Which medium do you find more challenging or rewarding?
Camp: Oh, my goodness. They're both incredibly, incredibly different. When I first started doing TV and film, it was a scary place. On stage you can be incredibly free because you can do so much physically and with your voice, because you're trying to reach over 1000 people in a room. And when I got [in front of] the camera, I became a little more constrained because I was worried about not being too big or not being over the top.
But then you realize it's very freeing as well because you can say something just with a glint of your eye that you could never do in the theatre because the person in the back row could never see it. So it's really rewarding with how focused and how small you can be. I'm really, really enjoying being in front of the camera these days. But theatre is hard work; there are weeks where you can't sleep, you can't eat, you walk into the same theatre every day. I had a great time in Equus but I was happy to not be naked eight shows a week and I think Dan [Radcliffe] had the same thought. They're both very different but I am finding film very rewarding at the moment.
Televisionary: On that tack, you've become known as an actress who takes risks with her roles, such as the often-nude Jill Mason in Equus. What is it that attracts you to such challenging roles?
Camp: I would rather do something that's challenging rather than something that's easy, always. I had a lot of thought; I didn't even know if I was going to do Equus because of the nudity and because of the high profile [aspect] of it. But you only live once and you have to take those risks because you'll only be a better person or actor because of it. And if you can get through it and learn something and truly challenge yourself, I think that's really the only way to live.
I think those are usually the most fun, rewarding parts to play, the ones that are more challenging and scary. I always said there's a reason why I get offered the parts I get because there's something I need to learn about myself or be challenged by in order to step away from a project and become a better actor.Televisionary: Unlike many of the actors on True Blood, you are actually from the South. What about the Southern Gothic trappings of True Blood did you find especially appealing?
Camp: I think it's a show that does a great job balancing that comic-booky aspect with the way the Southern Belles, Sookie and Sarah and Tara and Jessica and everyone, acts. I love the Southern women and the way the gentlemen aren't really gentlemanly. It does a really great job of painting the South and is pretty truthful. I've been to Louisiana once in my life but I just love the mystique of it and the location. The relationship between the men and the women are pretty on point for the South. Bill is a very gentlemanly vampire and I think it's just mysterious and sexy.Televisionary: Because most of your scenes this season were with Ryan and Michael--and one pivotal one with Anna [Paquin]--I'm wondering which other actors from True Blood would you like to have a scene with? Camp: I would love to work with a vampire! I'd love to be with any of the vampires: Bill or Eric or any of them really. Jessica, I'd love to work with her. I was really sad that when the war finally happened in Episode Eight and Sarah was still out on the dirt road, you know? (Laughs.) I was like, god, it's the culmination of everything she's been fighting for but she gets sidetracked, of course, with Jason.
But to be there and have those two worlds meet, I was really jealous of Michael because I would have loved to have been there to see the two worlds come together. And to participate in the war would have been a great, fun time. So I would love to work with a vampire if I got a chance; I think that would be awesome.
Televisionary: Besides for True Blood, what are you watching on television these days?Camp: I am watching Mad Men right now. I'm catching up on my Mad Men. I just got Season One so I've been sort of addicted to that and would love to be on that show on some point. (Laughs.) I'm watching HBO, of course: Entourage and Hung.Televisionary: Thanks to Mad Men and True Blood, Sundays have become the most stressful night of television now.
Camp: (Laughs.) Everybody is dying to watch it but they're just like, oh my god, what is going to happen? I can't wait to see the last three episodes of True Blood. I think it's really going to blow everybody away.True Blood's final three episodes kick off this Sunday night at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO.
08/21/2009 |
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Great article from TrueBloodNet:
Nathan Barr, Lisbeth Scott Releasing Music Video for “Take Me Home” August 20, 2009 by Janie Logan | | True Blood composer Nathan Barr and singer Lisbeth Scott recently filmed a remixed version of their original song, “Take Me Home.” This was the beautiful song that played during “Cold Ground” (Season 1, Episode 6) when Sookie was crying (as were we all…) while she ate Gran’s last pecan pie. The lamenting tune and vocals evoked deep emotions in many of the viewers, TrueBloodNet.com staff included and was a key element |  |
in making this one of the best scenes ever shown on television (in TrueBloodNet.com’s opinion!). Nathan wrote and performed the music and Lisbeth authored and sang the very moving lyrics. The music video, which was shot on Monday in LA, is a less angst filled, but no less inspiring, version and will be |
available for viewing on September 1st on their websites, nathanbarr.com and lisbethscott.com. In addition, there will be more information coming out about Nathan’s CD (which includes Lisbeth’s great singing) featuring his original music that was created for HBO’s first season of True Blood. The music CD is due to be released on September 8th. TrueBloodNet.com also scored an exclusive interview with the very insightful Nathan and charming Lisbeth which will be published towards the end of August so stay tuned!
08/21/2009 |
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*Minor Spoilers*
| *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* |
From Kristen at EOnline:
True Blood: Will Jason Save Bon Temps?
08/21/2009 |
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From Blood Copy:
MEET THE SUN
 It’s commonly stated that vampires never see daylight. But this isn’t entirely accurate. A vampire can see the sun. Watch it rise in brilliant glory. Take in every single streak of its dawning light.
And it will be the last thing he ever sees.
The act is called “meeting the sun.” I’ve never seen it firsthand, but I hear it’s an astounding sight, both terrible and beautiful. The vampire literally dissolves into oblivion, embracing the rays as they blind and burn him.
Most undead believe the decision goes beyond any human comprehension, that it takes unthinkable wisdom and perspective to end something that does not end, to sacrifice immortality. While I don’t doubt it, something about the act strikes me as unmistakably human, perhaps as close to it as any vampire can ever come.
After all, what could be more human than dying?
I can think of several vampires offhand who would be horrified by this statement. See it as tantamount to blasphemy, comparing the vampire’s unique decision to end his reign on this world to the brief ripple that is a human lifespan. But this isn’t about time, the number of years it takes to rightly determine his time has come. It’s about the ending itself. It’s about mortality. This is what separates us from humans. Whether a vampire’s existence spans one year or thousands, the fact remains he never has to accept that human truth that somewhere, sometime, everything ends. To meet the sun is not only to accept that, but embrace it. In a sense, no matter how ancient, it’s as though a vampire has decided to use his final act to become human again.
Maybe I feel this way because I’m so young, but I just can’t picture ever reaching that place. In vampire terms I was barely turned yesterday, but still I look forward to every single moment of my existence, to all the possibilities it offers. I don’t want to waste a single night, even in a life that doesn’t put any limit to their number. I want to live forever. Why would any vampire choose otherwise?
08/21/2009 |
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Kudo's to The Vault! From Elle News Blog:
Hair Share: True Blood’s Deborah Ann Woll
Several weeks ago, when I returned home for the 4th of July holiday, my parents and I had a serious talk about my discretionary spending—specifically, what lifestyle changes I could make so that come the end of the month, I wasn’t left wondering if that last $5 in my bank account should go toward laundry or an Amy’s organic frozen burrito. My Mom and Dad are reasonable people, so even though slightly embarrassing given my age, this line-by-line budgetary analysis wasn’t as painful as it sounds.
That is, until we hit the HBO snag.
“Non-negotiable,” I said.
“But…” my Mom started.
“Nope, next,” I said, cutting her off as gently as I could.
Why was I willing to feel the financial pinch when it came to such beloved former activities as boxing and shoe shopping but standing so firmly on this issue?
It’s as simple as a Sookie Stackhouse analogy: I will not live without True Blood. It, along with brunch, is my Sunday. And of all the characters whose storylines are responsible for this addiction (and there are many), none to me is more I-will-not-live-without worthy than actress Deborah Ann Woll’s, whose role as volatile, sexually frustrated newbie vampire Jessica Hamby is so convincing and three-dimensional you’d just as likely laugh when she’s on-screen as you would cringe, thinking, thank God that’s not my boyfriend’s Mom.
And if being super smart (USC grad) and multi talented (plays piano and fences) weren’t enough to draw you in, there’s her hair—sleek and perfectly strawberry blond—which of course, when the 24-year-old Brooklyn beauty came to the ELLE office last week and mentioned she had been self-dyeing for a decade for under $10, was all I wanted to talk about. Graciously, Deborah Ann agreed.
At what age did you first dye your hair?
During my freshman year of high school, I was 14.
Why red?
As a fair skinned blonde, I disappeared into the background. I've always been a loner, so I suppose dying my hair red was a way to say, "I'm here, I exist, I'm a human being and you can't just push me aside." I'm also a fan of old movies, and was very into Rita Hayworth at the time. I always fancied someone might call me "red", like Katherine Hepburn.
You're a major actress now—why aren't you going to a fancy salon to get your color professionally done?
That's very flattering of you to say. I've never been a much of a glamour girl. If it's working and looks natural out of a $9 box — then why spend the money? Also being blond I don't have to bleach my hair, which you should definitely go to a professional for. My coloring process is very simple comparatively.
 Do you ever see yourself going back to your natural blond?
I have for roles. And I've been every other shade, too, for different projects. I don't see myself going back to blonde outside of work though. I really like the red.
And for those who will no doubt want to try this $9 drugstore secret, are you willing to share which product and shade you swear by?
Of course! I use L’Oreal Paris Excellence Crème in Reddish Blond (8RB).
08/20/2009 |
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From SeacoastOnline:
Single White Vampire:
Alexander Skarsgard of ‘True Blood' wants family The man who plays Eric tells TV Guide Magazine he would like to spread his blessed genes around
– form an orderly line, ladies
You know you're a card-carrying member of “True Blood” Addicts Anonymous when:
* On Tuesday you Google “True Blood,” as you do every day, and find the JustJared.com info on Alexander Skarsgard (aka Eric Northman) in TV Guide Magazine.
* You read the excerpts but want a larger version of the photo to read all of the quotes, so you hit up your friend True-Blood.net and they oblige.
* But it's not enough. So you head out and ask the local newsstand when the new TV Guide Magazine comes out. They say Thursday morning. So you return Thursday morning to buy the content you've already seen and read.
Did I say you? I meant me.
The first step is admitting you don't have a problem — everyone else does!
The brief – all too brief – interview with Alex (can we give him a nickname – A-Skar? A-Gard? X-Gard?) is on page 16 of the Aug. 24-Sept. 6 issue, with “Melrose Place” on the cover. (Fight back the vomit.)
Top of the page says “Scene Stealer” and there's a … I don't want to say washed out, but I don't know the right terms. A lightened photo of him by David Field, taken at Hudson Terrace. (The photo I posted does not do anyone justice – I just shot a picture of my own magazine.)
Once again, he looks like Aaron Eckhart's sexy younger brother.
Amazingly, the writer never once makes reference to his status as the sexiest man in Sweden, five or six times running. Or that he's 6'4” tall and celebrates his 33rd birthday next Tuesday, Aug. 25. Among other things.
(Maybe he wanted the sexiest bit left out, for once?)
But it's still a good interview. And if he is “single” then maybe he really was just hanging out all those times with “True Blood” co-star Evan Rachel Wood.
[Continue reading...]
08/20/2009 |
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| *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* | *Minor Spoilers* |
From Examiner.com:
'True Blood': Are you ready for Queen Sophie-Anne
Actress Evan Rachel Wood is set to make her debut as Vampire Queen of Louisiana Sophie-Anne LeClerq on the August 30th episode of HBO's True Blood, and by all indications, it ain't gonna be pretty.
Show creator Alan Ball told Entertainment Weekly that Sophie-Anne is a vampire "nobody's ever entirely happy to see,", and says "she's very powerful, capricious, and most likely insane." Sounds like fun! Everyone seems to be anticipating her appearance.
It is presumed Sophie-Anne will be called upon by Bill Compton (who has a history with her) to help calm the chaos in Bon Temps created by the meanad Maryann Forrestor. Whether or not she ultimately proves to be a help or a hinderance is a matter for speculation. So what do we know about Sophie-Anne? For starters, she's somewhere between 400 and 1100 years old (depending on whom you ask) and was created in her early teens.
She's ostensibly French, but she has no French accent.
Sophie-Anne has a special gift that allows her to communicate telepathically with the "children" she's created. She says she can keep her "children" with her, talking to each other and loving each other physically.
This differs from normal vampire "maker"/"child" relationships which start out as companions or lovers but do not last long (in vampire standards). Usually, the child will leave the maker, and must only come again when he/she is called upon by the maker.
In Charlaine Harris' books, Sophie-Anne sent Bill back to his hometown of Bon Temps to find and seduce Sookie Stackhouse because Sookie's telephatic ability might be valuable to her.
That would explain Bill's sudden appearance at Merlotte's in the first episode of the series, where Sookie was a waitress.
The revelation might also drive a wedge between Bill and Sookie, pushing Sookie closer to vampire sherriff Eric, who is already in Sookie's head and seems intent on turning her into a vampire.
Apparently the queen swings both ways - Sookie learns that Sophie-Anne turned her cousin, Hadley, into a vampire and had a romantic relationship with her.
Although she'll only grace the final chapter of this season, Sophie-Anneis expected to play a pivotal role in season three.
Ball said Sophie-Anne has "more than one secret agenda, which we will slowly become aware of in season three."
So it sounds like Bon Temps is trading one crazy bitch (Maryann) for another. Or maybe there's room for two!
Bring it on, Alan Ball!
08/20/2009 |
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True Blood fan helps Stephen Moyer's Brentwood Theatre - from Brentwood Weekly News:
Show's poster is not for Twits!
10:37am Thursday 20th August 2009
 BRENTWOOD Theatre should have no problem filling seats at this year’s Christmas show after it got an award-winning artist to design the artwork.
Brentwood Theatre Company struck it lucky when Karen McInnis, an American artist and animator whose work has won her an Emmy award, agreed to design the artwork for its Christmas production of Roald Dahl’s much loved story, The Twits.
Mark Reed, from the community theatre, which is in Shenfield Road, explained it was thanks to the theatre’s patron, a former Brentwood boy, Stephen Moyer, that the artist came on board.
He said: “One of the American fans of our patron, Stephen Moyer, offered her services as a professional designer and created this wonderful unique art work for us.
“This is in addition to over £6,000 which has been donated by our international friends, which has been a huge boost to the theatre.”
Being such a big fan of Stephen’s US hit series True Blood, when she heard about the theatre, Karen offered her services.
She said: “Jean visited the theatre earlier this year and told me how much she loved Brentwood.
“When the guys started asking people what sort of image should be used to promote this show, I sketched out some ideas.
“They fell in love with my designs and, several adjustments later, we came up with this picture.
“I am so pleased to be supporting the theatre in this way and wish them the best of luck.”
Karen has worked in the graphic department for major US television networks, including CBS, and has also designed book covers, album art, and magazine illustrations, as well as having her work displayed in New York galleries.
[More info...]
08/20/2009 |
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From NOLA.com New Orlean's Entertainment News:
'True Blood' star Ryan Kwanten is comfortable in the Louisiana heat
by Dave Walker, TV columnist, The Times-Picayune
A knock came on Ryan Kwanten's dressing-room trailer door.
The people of Clinton enjoyed intimate access to the stars of "True Blood," currently cable TV's hottest series, for the duration of its July location shoot here, but this was one brave "True Blood" fan.
"Oh my god," she said, when Kwanten, who plays hot-blooded Jason Stackhouse in the series, answered the knock. "Hey, can I get an autograph from you? Oh my god. Oh my god. I'm just like a huge fan, and my friends love you to death."
Kwanten graciously signed. The "True Blood" actors had been working in wilting summertime conditions to capture location footage to be inserted in several different episodes.
The bulk of the Clinton footage, for which the small Louisiana town stands in for the fictional Bon Temps, airs this Sunday (August 23).
For the episode, the streets and trees around the East Feliciana Parish Courthouse in the center of Clinton had been decorated with wantonly abandoned clothing, all the doing of spell-casting character Maryann Forrester. Sunday, Jason and sister Sookie (Anna Paquin) return to Bon Temps to witness the lascivious havoc wrought by Forrester (Michelle Forbes).
Waiting in his trailer between takes, Kwanten would soon return to the streets of Clinton as Jason to survey the laundry-bombed Bon Temps landscape.
But first, there was a fan to meet and greet.
The young woman asked for a picture. Holding the camera herself, she snuggled up to Kwanten and snapped.
"That's devilishly close," Kwanten said. "That'll look like we're long lost friends, yeah?"
Yeah.
"They're very easy to get on with, very laid back," Kwanten later said of the Louisiana "True Blood" fans he met. "And the heat doesn't' bother me at all. Kind of reminds me of home."
A native of Australia, Kwanten would depart for home immediately after the location shoot wrapped, to begin work on a film role.
The project is a contemporary Western, "Red Hill."
"Australia is similar to the American terrain," he said. "We have the best cowboys, still, in the world. There's an abundance of parallels."
The film will be shot "very minimalistic in terms of dialogue," he added. "The tone of it is going to be very gritty, very dark."
He's used to it. "True Blood" has become a premium cable sensation by living almost entirely outside of the light. In the "True Blood" universe, vampires are "out" and openly living among mortals thanks to the availability of synthetic blood, which is not to say they're universally beloved by mortals.
This season, Kwanten's character was aligned for several episodes with an anti-vampire group - all while sister Sookie got ever closer to her vampire boyfriend, Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer).
The series started as a cult hit but has exploded in its second season, racking up ever-larger ratings and moving mounds of first-season DVDs. The entire first season was shot before the series premiered, so the cast couldn't know how the characters and super-sexy premise would be received.
"I've never raised a child, but it felt like we were there for the birth of it, raising the child," Kwanten said, of producing the first season of episodes without any audience feedback. "Once we finished rearing the child, doing everything we could, it was now 18 and we released it to the world. At that point, it was up to him or her to find its own life. And fortunately, it found an audience, a place where it was happy, and we're back for more.
"Even now -- it's not that I'm a pessimist, but just very practical - in my thinking I just play it day-by-day, because it's such a fickle industry, and there's no such thing as a sure thing. So I'm really just blessed to get the call every day to turn up on the set."
Trailer-doorway snapshots aside, Kwanten said the success of the series hasn't radically changed his life. The cast was greeted like rock stars at the July Comic-Con fantasy and science-fiction festival in San Diego, but Kwanten said he's otherwise little-bothered by fans.
"I'm very much a private type of person anyway," he said. "I'm not sort of out there seeking the limelight at the latest parties or the greatest events or anything like that. The little I do go out, it's easy to deal with. Most people are really respectful. A little interruption is fine. It's so much easier to say hi to someone than ignore them."
And he's delighted to be working on a show that's so daringly composed. Creator Alan Ball and the show's writers, working with characters and stories created by novelist Charlaine Harris, have put their actors in some audacious situations - all while managing to conjure (mostly on Los Angeles soundstages and back lots) an acceptably swampy vibe.
"Every script I get never ceases to amaze me," Kwanten said. "(The writers) never cease to outdo the one before. I'm kind of just flying by the seat of my pants.
"As superficial as it may sound, it's the details that can separate a good show from a great show, and this show really strives to give audiences the feeling that they are in Louisiana. You must want to be sweating, watching the show."
08/20/2009 |
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From Newsarama:
TRUE BLOOD Actor Preaches Love of Comics & Joins the Ranks
By Vaneta Rogers
posted: 20 August 2009 10:07 am ET
 Actor Mike McMillian may have a few successful TV shows under his belt, but he's a little intimidated by the challenge of selling a comic book.
As the Rev. Steve Newlin on the HBO television series True Blood, McMillian plays a character who is totally dedicated to saving humanity from vampires. But the actor behind the role is more interested in making comic books. A reader since childhood who actually considered a comics career while pursuing acting, McMillian is getting the chance to write his first comic thanks to a friendship with Star Trek and Heroes star Zachary Quinto.
As announced at Comic-Con International: San Diego, Quinto and his company, Before the Door Pictures, is developing comic books in a partnership with publisher Archaia Comics. And among their first releases is Lucid, a four-issue mini-series written by McMillian that is set to debut in comic shops in summer 2010.
Newsarama talked to McMillian to find out more about why he's so interested in comics and how he thinks Lucid will fit into the comic book landscape.
[Continue reading...]
08/20/2009 |
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From NOLA.com New Orleans Television:
When HBO's 'True Blood' came to Clinton
by Dave Walker, TV columnist, The Times-Picayune Thursday August 20, 2009, 9:16 AM 
HBO Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin. |
CLINTON -- Anna Paquin was among the "True Blood" cast and crew who came here to shoot scenes for later insertion into several episodes, the most prominent of which airs Sunday (August 23) at 8 p.m.
Topics and paraphrased questions in bold. Answers in quote marks.
The value of location shooting.
"I probably wasn't the only one to have the fantasy of, 'I'm going to come down there before we start shooting,'" Paquin said. "I'm going to come live here.' And you sort of run out of time in real life.
"It's great to see the type of small community in the right place and get a feel for what that's really like, and actually shoot some of it here, because there are aspects of the South you cannot recapture elsewhere. "In these kinds of small towns, and the way the houses look, the kind of shops, all that sort of stuff - I think it's important."
The impact of "True Blood's" success on Paquin's personal life. (Interview conducted before it was announced that Paquin and costar Stephen Moyer were engaged.)
"My job, just by the number of hours and the fact that it's usually weird hours, kind of takes you out of your normal social circle anyway, but I've been working my whole life," Paquin said. "It's hard to say if this one made me more careful. It's definitely a more visible show, and it's become very popular and people recognize you a lot from that. With a film, it comes and goes, and then people stop thinking about it. With a TV show, it's in their living room every week."
The surprising thing about fan interaction.
"The fact that there's no observable demographic," Paquin said. "Absolutely everyone and anyone seems to be a fan of the show. Usually I can pick what someone's going to say when they recognize me. This one, it's really random. Age, gender, whatever. It's great. I think that's one of the ways the show has managed to be successful. It hasn't limited to only be interesting to a very small number of people."
The challenge of acting a character who can read minds.
"I had some interesting abilities when I was in 'X-Men,'" Paquin said. We kind of just figured out what it looked like reading thoughts. A lot of that was trial and error.
"And, as with any performance, you're just trying to put yourself in that place and imagine what it would be like. "I've been doing this my whole life. I have a pretty active imagination. It's not the weirdest thing I've had to imagine myself doing."
Dave Walker/The Times-Picayune
Stand-ins for Anna Paquin and Ryan Kwanten watch a scene rehearsal on the streets of Clinton. |
Work plans for between-seasons hiatus. (At the time of the interview, she had none.)
"I'm ready for some recharging," Paquin said. "It's funny. The more tired I get, the more picky I get. It's a weird time in my history.
"Economically, there are not as many smaller films happening anymore, not as many films that are not absolutely guaranteed box-office success. So the kind of roles and kinds of movies that are around and happening are different from what they were before we started shooting this show. It's kind of hard to say.
"Also, a lot of those are big franchise things, where you need to be available for all eternity to go do. It's kind of a weird time."
Any fears early on that the show wouldn't make it?
"I didn't, because I haven't done any series television," Paquin said. "I don't have that sense of fear, of 'Oh my God, it we don't hit, blah, blah, blah many viewers, we're going to be canceled.
"The thing with HBO is, if you have a solid audience and your material is good, there's a good chance you're going to be around for awhile. They're going to keep good shows on the air. They make good shows and they're not necessarily immediately the biggest hits ever. They don't pull the plug the second it doesn't hit.
"I was excited to get to come back and take (Sookie) further. Even though it's 12 hours of television, it was two weeks in her life, the first season, from start to finish, which I think a lot of people lose track of. When you see it on a weekly basis, the time line is actually very compressed on this show, and to pick her up and dust her off and see what trouble she can get into this season was great."
08/20/2009 |
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Hah! I can relate to this article from True Blood Net:
How “True Blood” Saved My Life (Part 1) 
If you are on TrueBloodNet.com then most likely you are more than just a casual viewer of HBO’s “True Blood“. You have probably discovered that, more than any other television program, it occupies your thoughts when it’s not on, like that cute new co-worker you inappropriately daydream about or that ex-boyfriend you stalk (although you don’t call it stalking). Maybe you’ve even had similar feelings for other shows and the worlds they create, like “Star Trek“, “Star Wars“, or even “Battlestar Galactica” (which is the one I so don’t get… but whatever). For me, no work of television fiction has ever quite taken hold of my soul like “True Blood“. It’s an entirely new experience for me. Sure, I like my “Trek”, my “Dexter” and “Dateline”, even a few reality show guilty pleasures. For me though, “True Blood” has morphed into not just a fantastic entertainment experience or a fun diversion before the work week… oh no. For me, “True Blood” has become my obsession, my code and my secret society.
It seemed to sneak up on me, stealthily, like a Were-panther, when I was going through a very tough time in my personal life. Having never been enamored with the vampire genre, I begrudgingly bought the first season on Apple TV because of a good friend’s fervent recommendations. As I watched the entire season in 3 days with my husband, I didn’t notice it slowly grasping hold and taking control of the pleasure center in my brain… not unlike Maryann’s Hunter’s Souffle.
Initially,“True Blood” hooked me with its point of view and(having always been a fan of his) its Alan Ball distinct sensibility. I was intrigued with this world that was created; it was a world not unlike our own, but one that had the added ingredients of a supernatural society complete with its own cast system, laws and mores newly existing within a more historically-recent construct of a “civilization” that was forced to accept it. Then there’s the theme that runs parallel to modern day America, one that puts the subjugated vampires in the same category as the gay and lesbian community, suffering the same discriminatory political challenges. I loved it. Immediately, that interest generated into a love of the characters and then a particular fondness for Stephen Moyer’s Bill Compton character and the strained luminescence with which he played the lonely vampire and his courtship of Sookie… or as Bill says it: ”Sookeh“. I was hooked to say the least.
Now, I’m afraid, it’s a full-blown, category five, stage four, code red mental illness that should probably qualify as a new diagnosis in any psychiatrist’s favorite reference book, “The Diagnosis and Statistics Manual (DSM V)”. In fact, every Sunday night, I half expect guys in white HAZMAT suits to enter my home and take me away to quarantine, but not before giving me a thorough “Silkwood” shower, while my husband looks on in rueful acquiescence because he’s “doing it for her own good”. BASTARD! Doesn’t he know they don’t get HBO in the psych ward?!
[Continue reading...]
08/19/2009 |
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From Blood Copy:
PARADISE LOST (AND GOOD RIDDANCE)
Please please please tell me you saw the recent segment on TBBN where the AVL’s Nan Flanagan effectively skewered the wonder twins, Steve and Sarah Newlin. While the act of blatant terrorism they committed (reported on in find detail on the American Vampire League’s website) is far from a laughing matter and frankly, should result in no less than full criminal charges, the not so subtle hints of acrimony between the Newlins provided great theater to all who eagerly await their house of hateful cards to come crashing down.
‘You need to read you some St. Paul, missy?’ ‘I hate your hair?’ This wasn’t an interview room. It was a playground.
I have no idea what may have caused the lovebirds’ rift. The Newlins are such spiritually enlightened and cheerful people, bound by love (and a mutual hatred of the undead)- what could possibly tear them apart? I tried to get answers from the source. Unfortunately, both Mr. and Mrs. Newlin were unavailable to speak with a vampire reporter, but the person who answered the phone was kind enough to remind me I’d burn in Hell as a creature of Satan.
Fortunately, any threats of eternal damnation seem slight compared to the hell on earth these two are about to face. And while it’s not polite to glow in the misfortune of others, in this case I’m all too happy to make an exception.
08/18/2009 |
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From United Kingdom's Daily Mail:
Vamp it up with blood red lips
By Claire Coleman
Last updated at 10:22 PM on 19th August 2009
| True blood: Our obsession for all things vampire is extending to our make-up this autumn, with red lips spotted on the catwalks and on celebs like Agyness Deyn |
Whether it's our new obsession with vampires (think Twilight, True Blood etc) or just another fickle flip of fashion, the trend for dark, vampy lips is with us again.
The original vamp look dates back to the 1920s, but it seems to be a recurrent fashion theme. Last year, everyone from Chloe to Prada showcased the Gothic look with heavily kohled eyes and dark, blackberry lips.
The look continues into this winter, with deep burgundy red lips on the catwalks at Bottega Veneta and Dior, not to mention on Agyness Deyn, Lily Allen, Rachel Weisz and Eva Herzigova.
Choose between going full-on Gothic, a la Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester, who looks fabulous with jet black lips in an upcoming U.S. Elle shoot (try Boots 17 Lasting Fix Lipstick in New Black, £3.71).
| | Red alert: Agyness Deyn and Lily Allen are both advocates of the blood red lip |
Or take your cue from Lily Allen and add a layer of black gloss over your usual lipstick (try MAC's Glimmerglass from the Style Black Collection, £14, out in October).
Most wearable option is a deep berry red wine stain, as seen on Rachel Weisz and Agyness - although you can still expect stares when you attempt to do your weekly Tesco shop.
08/19/2009 |
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From Ottawa's MetroNews:
Southern Vampires True Blood is the small screen equivalent of Twilight
METRO WORLD NEWS August 19, 2009
 Vampires are more in than ever: After the roaring success of the Twilight series, True Blood is having the same effect, only on the small screen. The HBO series is based on The Southern Vampire Mysteries books, written by Charlaine Harris. She has already penned nine volumes on the series, which looks at the experiences and dark love of Sookie Stackhouse — played by Anna Paquin in the TV series. Metro World News recently sat down with Harris to talk about the growing interests in TV and film vampires. Q. You started the Sookie Stackhouse books back in 2001 before the big vampire craze. Why were you interested in vampires, and why have you dedicated a whole series to them?A. The series is actually about the young human woman who is dating a vampire. I thought that would be a more interesting approach. It seemed to be that it would be interesting to write about characters who are so different from humans, who have seen so much history. Why do you think the topic of vampires became so popular so sudden?I am sure the Twilight series had something to do with it, but actually this has been building for the past ten years or so. You write other series also featuring girls with superpowers. What interests you in these characters?I don’t really think of them as having superpowers; they have more like a disability. Sookie is telepathic, and that is a great burden. Harper had to be struck by lightning before she became able to find corpses. Though she makes her living doing that, it’s not a pleasant way of life. What makes a good book for you? What do you like to read in your freetime?I love to be engrossed in the story the writer is telling. I love to read, and I read many, many writers. I read some mystery, I read some science fiction, I read a little romance and a little non-fiction.
How would your ideal vampire look like? What attracts people in vampires?I don’t have an ideal vampire. I think people are fascinated by the eternal vigor of vampires, who don’t age. How much do you read weekly? Where is your ideal reading spot?I read three or four books a week. I can read anywhere, but I have a comfortable chair in our bedroom and one in our family room; both of these are good for reading.
08/19/2009 |
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From British Pop Cultural Examiner:
Why are all our favorite vampires including Rob Pattinson all British?
August 19, 1:11 AM  British Pop Culture ExaminerDonna Peerce America has become obsessed with vampires. Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series has simply converted the entire U.S. into a vampire-loving country. When casting the role of Edward Cullen, Twilight’s vampire hero, none other than England’s hunky, gorgeous Robert Pattinson would do. And, the rest is history.Since then, the HBO Southern gothic vampire series True Blood premiered and is now airing its second season.And guess what? Its main star and hero is a 173 year old vampire, Bill Compton, who is played by Stephen Moyer, another British actor. Is this a commentary on the British? Are they the only ones who can realistically portray the sexy, tortured, gorgeous vampire? As for Robert Pattinson, he is by far the sexiest, most beautiful vampire of the 21st century. And the fact that he’s British is even more alluring. The Twilight vampires are all sparkly in the sun and do not have fangs, but Robert Pattinson is by far the most spectacular. And, he’s British. All of Edward Cullen’s family in the Twilight movies are definitely the supermodels of the vampire world.
The other British hottie, Stephen Moyer, born in Brentwood, Sussex, England, plays a more traditional type of vampire complete with fangs on the HBO series, True Blood.Neither Pattinson nor Moyer speak in their British accents in the movie and TV show; if they did, they would be even more appealing.
Sure, there are Americans who are portraying vampires in television series and the movies.But, popular ones don’t come to mind very easily and in fact, it’s hard to conjure up their names. One that does come to mind is Alex O’Loughlin, who starred as a very sexy vampire in the beloved “Moonlight” TV series, which was cancelled way too soon. But, Alex is from Australia, so even he isn’t American. And then there are female vampires. Kate Beckinsale starred in the Underworld Trilogy movies, winning the hearts of every man in America. Again, she is British and gorgeous in a curve-hugging leather ensemble in those Underworld movies.
It just seems interesting that our favorite vampires today are all British. Wonder if that means Americans just aren’t as sexy as their British cousins?
What do you think? 08/19/2009 |
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From Roth Cornet & ThinkHero:
True Blood "I Will Rise Up" S2 Episode 9
08/19/2009 |
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Thanks go to SkarsgardFans:
About The Swedish Movie Industry, Hollywood, And His DadStellan
 “My character situation in Sweden was not interesting.”
Alexander Skarsgård about the Swedish movie industry, Hollywood and his dad Stellan.
He has made great success in the American TV series “Generation Kill” and True Blood”. Aftonbladet was the only newspaper present when Alexander Skarsgård did a short visit at Gotland (Swedish island), to record the movie “Puss”.
On a plane over the Baltic Sea he tells us about his opinion of the Swedish movie industry, his life in Hollywood and how he handles fame.
It is pretty empty at Bunge airfield close to Fårösund, Gotland. Close by you can see some cows grazing and a neglected old Volkswagen is standing in front of one single flight hangar. But not one single airplane in sight.
-I thought this was the place, says Fredrik Heinig, producer of St Paul film that makes “Puss”, a movie which has been delayed a year.
“Aged 25 years”
Alexander Skarsgård, 32, is one of the main characters.
In the movie, which revolves around an amateur theatre in Stockholm, he plays “Alex”, a typical trendy media guy from Stockholm.
-We have had so much fun. Johan (the director) is such a nice guy, he makes the actors feel very comfortable, says Alexander.
He has worked very intense from early morning to late night 3 days in a row. He could not stay away longer from the recordings of the Hollywood movie “Strawdogs” in Shreveport in Louisiana.
-It is not exactly the nicer parts of Louisiana.
The trip to Gotland took 24 hours.
[Continue reading...]
08/18/2009 |
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From TV Guide:
Scene Stealer: True Blood's Alexander Skarsgard
(Click picture for larger view.)
HE PLAYS True Blood's Sexy Viking vamp, Eric Northman, who's eaten a man alive, tortured countless others and menaced poor Sookie (Anna Paquin). But he isn't all bite, says Skarsgard. "You think Eric might not have a sensitive side, but he does."
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN HIM BEFORE HBO"S 2008 military miniseries Generation Kill. And most recently, as Lady Gaga's villainous boyfriend in her video for "Paparazzi."
WHY WE LOVE HIM Forget IKEA. Skarsgard is America's favorite Swedish import. "He's big, blond, take-charge. If you have got hormones, you're going to be attracted to him," says Charlaine Harris, author of the books series on which the show is based.
FAMILY BUSINESS The oldest of actor dad Stellan Skarsgard's seven children, he hit it big in Swedish film at age 13. "It's tough to be famous that young," he says. "It made me insecure and self-councious, so I quit acting." At 20, folowing a stint in the Swedish marines, Skarsgard gave acting another go, landing roles in "Zoolander" and Generation Kill. But the role he'd really love to play is dad. "I'm single. I grew up in a platoon of people. I don't have a family, but it is something I really want." That should be pretty easy for this smokin' Swede to assemble.
08/18/2009 |
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From the Albuquerque True Crimes Examiner:
Twilight, True Blood and Vampire Diaries; Do Vampires have legal rights? August 18, 7:10 AM | Albuquerque True Crime Examiner | Jonathan Miller I haven’t actually seen the movie Twilight, or read the book, so I am treading into a twilight zone when I write about the legal rights of vampires in such stories as Twilight, True Blood, Vampire Diaries and of course Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. I do understand that Edward only drinks animal blood, so I want to focus today’s discussion on the legal rights of bad vampires, and the undead in general. Today in Albuquerque’s Metropolitan court, there will be several cases involving biting. There will be blood.Any touching that is unwanted, rude and insolent would be considered a battery. If you had a “significant other” who is a vampire, their bite would be considered domestic violence upon a family member and punishable with up to 364 days in jail. Considering that vampire bites leave permanent marks, arguably turning someone into a vampire could be aggravated battery upon a household member-- a fourth degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison. If someone is a habitual bloodsucker, well, that could potentially receive the habitual offender enhancements. If someone dies after a vampire bite, well, the biting would constitutemurder of course, there is no necessity defense--the need for blood-- in murder cases. If the victimbecomes a vampire,his or herstatus is unclear. Are the un-dead legally alive? [Continue reading...]08/18/200 |
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Thanks to True Blood Wiki member Tincar for this tip - From TrueBlood-News.com:
Exclusive: Todd Lowe Talks with us about Terry Bellefleur,
his Band and that “Creepy Baby” By Lividity on August 18, 2009 at 10:37 am
One of our favorite characters on True Blood is Terry Bellefleur (marvelously portrayed by Todd Lowe), the PTSD plagued Iraqi War veteran who works as a short order cook at Merlotte’s Bar & Grill.
Whether he’s “feeling the pressure” or chastising Sam Merlotte for his cowardice, the man’s got serious stage presence. We recently had a chance to talk with Todd Lowe about True Blood, and his band, the Pilbilly Knights…
TB-N: Congratulations Todd on True Blood being picked up for a third season, and thank you for spending the time with us today to ask you several questions. Let’s go.
You seem like multifaceted guy, can you tell us how you got into acting in the first place?
TL: Well, I started in high school and then continued on into college. I went to college and initially majored in Radio/TV/Film first and then got into theater. I have a BFA in Acting from UT Austin. I stayed in Texas for ten years before I came to Los Angeles.
TB-N: Can you tell us how you got the role of Terry Bellefleur in True Blood and what you knew about the role before you auditioned for it?
TL: I initially read for the role of Hoyt Fortenberry but Jim Parrick got that role. I’m happy he did as he’s much better in that role than I could ever be. Then they told me that there was another role that might work, so a couple months later I read for Terry Bellefleur. They had me do the whole “I like your clavicles” bit. I read once for that then my agent called later and told me I got the role.
TB-N: Well, we’re glad you did; we think Terry might be a shifter.
TL: Heh, well I can’t talk about that…
TB-N: I’m not sure you’re aware of this, but there is a pretty large Terry Bellefleur fan base on the internet.
TL: I’ve been on the boards and have seen a little bit about what people were saying, but while I’m working on the show I go out of my way to avoid them. A bad comment can ruin your day.
Read More »
08/18/2009 |
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Great article from The Vault:
True Blood’s Jim Parrack joins cast of “Battle: Los Angeles”
Posted by Shadaliza On August - 18 - 2000
 Jim Parrack, who portrays Hoyt Fortenberry on True Blood, has just signed up for the Sci-Fi movie “Battle: Los Angeles“. He will be playing one of the lead roles in the action packed movie directed by Jonathan Liebesman (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning).
Battle: Los Angeles tells the story of a Marine platoon that faces off against an alien invasion in Los Angeles. Other cast members include Aaron Eckhart, Bridgette Moynahan (Lord Of War), Michael Pena (Observe and Report) and Michelle Rodriguez (LOST).
The title of the movie makes a reference to “The Battle of Los Angeles”, the name given by contemporary news agencies to a sighting of one or more unidentified flying objects which took place from late February 24 to early February 25, 1942 in which eyewitness reports of an unknown object or objects over Los Angeles, California, triggered a massive anti-aircraft artillery barrage. Jim Parrack told The Vault exclusive that he is “very excited” and that he is off to Shreveport in the morning to start Marine Bootcamp. “Off I go to save the world!!”, Jim added. The filming of Battle: Los Angeles starts on September 9th in the Shreveport area. The release date is set for February 18, 2011.
Due to favorable taxes Louisiana is a popular place for Hollywood film makers to shoot their movies, Alexander Skarsgård is there right now filming “Straw Dogs”.
08/18/2009 |
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This pretty much explains it all:
From Den of Geek:
 | ...Sookie is mesmerized by Eric, and when he and Godric go to the roof of the hotel to talk, she is right there with them. She watches as Godric explains why he volunteered to ‘meet the sun', and why he's volunteering now. Eric finally, tearfully (yes, tearfully) agrees to leave Godric to the sunrise, but Sookie stays to witness the 2,000-year-old's demise. It's over in seconds, but the effect on Sookie will be permanent. All of which is bad news for Bill. |
From Buddy TV:
 | True Blood fans were hoping that episode 9 would put an end to Maryann's wicked schemes but it only paved the exit for yet another character. Godric, who's considered the oldest vampire in New World and who has only been around for four episodes, committed suicide by sunlight to atone for his sins. Clearly, there were "centuries of faith and love between" Godric and Eric, and it's unfortunate that we've only seen a fraction of his so-called greatness. |
08/18/2009 |
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Blood, Episode 8: Lyle Lovett's Prison Song and Redemption on a Dallas Hotel Roof Tuesday, Aug. 18 2009 @ 7:30AM
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From New York Post Popwrap:
And why shouldn't he be -- I think his one time sex scene partner Lizzy Caplan put it best when she said, "He's got muscles that I didn't even know existed! Ryan took some time to flex for the September issue of GQ Magazine in a spread designed to highlight fall's coolest clothes -- and when he didn't find himself without, it's plain as day that Ryan looks just as good in clothes as he does out of them.
For more of Ryan's shoot and his sex-scene focused interview, head to GQ.com
08/18/2009 |
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From American Vampire League:
 August 17, 2009  We must become the change we want to see in the world.
— Mohandas Gandhi The nation's vampire community greatly mourns the loss caused by the cowardly terrorist attack in Dallas. We offer our thoughts and prayers to the many people affected by this devastating tragedy. Reacting to the senseless cruelty of the act, at the ancient lives and the millennia of wisdom so thoughtlessly squandered, it would be easy to call out for vengeance. Even great societies have betrayed their values when faced with an evil so ugly and inhuman. But as Vampire-Americans, we understand nothing if not history. We seek a way out of the quicksand of ignorance and violence that has trapped and strangled our peoples. We dream of a time when children will look back at this watershed moment of terror and shake their heads, wondering how people could have been so full of hate, so casually murderous, while the country looked on. If this is that moment of change, these remarkable vampires will not have perished in vain. Let us remember them for their sacrifice, and remember, too, that for all that we have accomplished, there is still much to do before every American is free. Nan Flanagan
for the American Vampire League
08/18/2009 |
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From Camp Blood:
Blood Work! “True Blood” video recap 2.9:
We Will Rise Up (After a Quick Nap) Aug 18 2009
 In this week’s daylight-averse episode, we recap the latest bloody installment of True Blood … but first we take a nap. Hey, rambling drunkenly into a videocamera is tough work! (Just ask Bill O’Reilly.)
For our take on the latest vampy goings-on in the hit HBO show, the newest True Blood paper dolls and the introduction of the Sookie Monster, check out the loony new ep, below – and don’t forget to click through the jump for the winner of last week’s Cubicle Puppetshow Theatre!
And that’s far from all: After the jump, Andy unleashes TWO more of his True Blood paper dolls!
[Continue reading...]
08/18/2009 |
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From The Live Feed:
Another you-know-what for 'True Blood' 
HBO's "True Blood" is the ratings phenomena of the summer.
Having nearly every episode of a scripted drama post a series-high rating just doesn't happen these days (especially in a program's second season). Sunday night's "True Blood" was seen by 4.5 million viewers, up from last week's record high of 4.4 million. In cume, "True Blood" is averaging 11.4 million viewers per episode (by unfair comparison, original broadcast shows this summer are averaging about 5.5 million viewers for their debut episodes). "Hung" and "Entourage" both averaged 2.8 million.
[Continue reading...]
08/18/2009 |
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From Access Hollywood:
Access Exclusive: ‘True Blood’s’ Allan Hyde On Playing Powerful Vampire Godric
By Jesse SperoLOS ANGELES, Calif. --
 On HBO’s “True Blood” fans are divided between Team Bill and Team Eric, but midway through the vampire series’ stellar Season 2, a force older, wiser and far more powerful than either of those fanged ones burst on to the scene in the form of a 2,000-year-old vampire played by a 20-year-old.
Danish actor Allan Hyde is a relative unknown stateside, but his subtle and heartbreaking take on the role of Godric has left fans clamoring for more of the young star.
AccessHollywood.com caught up with Allan just days before his gripping recent episode.
(Spoiler Alert!)
Was Sunday’s episode the final time fans will see Godric?
“It is the last episode of my character,” Allan told Access last week before viewers saw Godric take his own life on a rooftop in Dallas as the rising sun caused his body to combust into flames.
“Unless, they decide to do like flashbacks, but I don’t know anything about that,” he said.
Though he’s thus far unknown to most of America, Allan has a slew of Danish films and stage credits to his name along with voicing Ron Weasley in the “Harry Potter” movie in his native country and appearing on the international soundtrack to Disney’s “Camp Rock” – a far cry from his role on “True Blood.”
”[Preparing for the role was] hard because obviously you can’t imitate a guy with the wisdom of a 2,000 year old person because that’s impossible,” he explained. “The way I approached it was to think about how he would react. His scheme of reactions.”
[Continue reading...]
08/17/2009 |
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From Meredith Woerner and io9:
Quantum Death Leaps Won't Staunch Your Bloody Vampire Tears
By Meredith Woerner, 4:36 PM on Mon Aug 17 2009
After last week's explosion of excitement, how could True Blood's vampires top the insanity? Simple: with Quantum Leap special effects and big, fat bloody tears. This was the episode where everybody cried themselves silly, because being a vampire is hard.
Last week's True Blood left the viewers with a big splodey cliffhanger. The Fellowship of the Light soldier, who loved Jason a little bit more than a bunk mate should, popped into the "Godric and his pajamas are awesome" party to spoil the mood completely, with a giant silver chest bomb. And then everybody cried: Eric cried, Sookie cried, Jason cried, Bill didn't cry because it would ruin his powdery makeup, and I cried...then I cried some more out of shame, and went on the roof and screamed "Gooooooodriiiiiiiiiiiic," into the new morning sun.
Now that enough time has come and gone I think we're all ready to let the healing begin with this week's Pros and Cons of True Blood:
Pro: Before all the death and destruction, Bill manages to slip in this little gem, "You may be immortal Lorena, but you are dead to me." Come on, even if you were the blood-tear-faced Lorena, I couldn't get through this conversation without stopping and saying, "wait, what excuse me did you just make a silly play on words while breaking up with me eternally?" Pro for being one of the reasons I love this show.
Pro: Then the great big bomb goes off, and it gets a pro for not being a stupid vision or premonition or something of that nature.
Pro: Pro to Sookie being worried about her brother, and pro to Jason for his "thumbs up" response.
Pro: Bill not killing the Fellowship of The Light kid. But Con for everyone thinking that Godric was the first vampire to show patience and understanding while being incredibly tired of the antics of his people.
Mopey Bill has been doing this forever. He's cornered the Southern market on "self righteous/self hating vampires just trying to do the right thing." He's just been busy cleaning up after all of Sookie's messes, and trying to keep her out of trouble. Sure Bill doesn't really want to be here, and he's tried countless times to pull Sookie out of the whole Dallas mess because it's "not their problem". But this is the moment when we see Bill involved, and it's bad ass. And that's really the only difference between these two: Godric is trying, and clearly failing, to make a difference and Bill is still finding his voice and spine. Don't forget he willingly led a "meet the local vampire" talk at Gram's church.
I caught a lot of flak last week for calling Godric the Dad vampire, and saying that I just wasn't that invested in a character that started off as an interesting new addition to the True Blood family but later traded all of that cred in for a giant MARTYR t-shirt. Especially since Bill has been acting like a wet blanket forever — but when Godric does it, it's cool. More on this later. But the moment when Bill was yelling at the terrified youth about mercy got me thinking about how the t wo vamps are similar.
Pro: So lets all just agree that Eric tricking Sookie into sucking on his chest was brilliant, and Sookie is an idiot for doing so. Every single moment is delightful, especially her disgust. BUT in her defense, she calls herself a moron for falling for Eric's shtick multiple times. Plus snaps for calling Eric a "big lying a-hole." Sookie lying is just too precious for words. While Bill may be thinking Eric preyed upon her "goodness", we know he really preyed upon her idiocy.
Con: Stan's death means no more cowboy vampires in studded shirts, b lack hats and tight pants... Sniffle.
Con: Something needs to be done about Bill's make up — he still looks like Alan Cumming via Cabaret.
Pro: Hoyt wants Jessica to meet his Mom. Aw, this guy just does everything right.
Con: Except for the singing, this... this.... was forced. I was uncomfortable, it was awkward. Don't become that weird guy that goes all crazy after having sex, and start making Jessica hair dolls, writing songs about the way she smells or showing up at odd intervals during Jessica's undead life.
 Con: Tara waking up with bruises all over her body and not being pissed. I would be pissed, really pissed, especially at Eggs. And not just because I woke up bruised and battered next to a guy named Eggs, but because I woke up bruised with a guy named Eggs who insists on holding my hand at the breakfast table after I blacked out, possibly from having too much to drink/eating heart souffle. Get off already.
I don't think there is a word for how bad those effects were. So I'll call them Quantumleapamechanicsvamp terrible. Lets hope the next body Godric jumps into isn't a girl with trouble or he's really gonna need Al's help and a little remote controller thingy to get out of this one. Uh boy.
Maryann trying to justify the blackouts to Tara and Eggs by saying it's transcending a higher plane and then bringing up mystics. M... have you met the people you're living with? Tara and Eggs don't care about the Mystics of India. In fact, I'm not even sure they know what India is, let alone a mystic, but I will take a Bloody Mary, hold the boring blackout plot line, k?
Pro: Jason saying that people liked him for his good looks and "sex abilities." Jason everyone loves you for that, not like, love. They also love you because you know this, and hilariously label them as "abilities."
Pro: I enjoyed the Sookie and Jason's bedtime reminiscence session. It needed to be done — the two characters had a lot to talk about with all the murders and death ru nning a muck in their lives. And they both needed to tell one another that it's time to grow up.
Con: But, someone needed to stop Sookie's incessant sexy head craning, towards the end. It skeeved me out. Thankfully they cut away very quickly, to the Newlins.
Pro: Watching the Newlins unravel on TV. From his bruise to Sara saying she hates his hair, it was a great thing to see.
Pro: Terry and Arlene are slowly riding up on second favorite True Blood Couple. Especially when Arlene breaks down in tears, I like that she's kind of an open book about her life.
Con: Why is Eggs surprised that Lafayette freaked out when he walked in with the completely battered and bruised Tara? How did he not see this coming? She practically has a broken jaw. And his response is "don't give me shit?" it's like he wants to get a beating. Then he accidentally wallops Tara midfight — uuuugh-disgusted-eye-roll.
Pro: Maxine Hoyt's mom and her hate for just about everyone for no real reason — especially when she says her hatred of black people is supposed to be a secret — is a pretty damn realistic character. I've met and had excessively long dinners with people just like this who, coincident ally, told me that, "only two kinds of women wear red shoes, school girls and hookers." I feel like I know you Maxine, and that's sad and scary, but I'm glad True Blood is getting a taste of your insecurities.
Pro: Eric being all naked and putting the sexy moves on Sookie in her dreams.
Con: How it slowly turned into Eric hand holding and gabbing like a school girl in bed. Why would you ruin this for me? After all the work and haricuts we went through to make him sexy again.
Pro: Lafayette's intervention see-through top. Along with his delivery and back and forth with Maryann, Eggs and Tara. It's about time people — let's spice it up, shall we? Sadly, I really could have done without Tara screaming "EEeeeeeggggggsssss." No one wants Eggs that bad — Eggs doesn't even want Eggs that bad.
Pro: Maxine's baby zinger to Jessica. That's one for the racist old lady. But Jessica did look very pretty. 
Pro: Nan Flanigan. The TV vampire is a stone cold bitch of reason. She's tough as nails, and I love it. No idea why they would send the talking head to deal with big issues, but I like that she knows she doesn't have supreme authority but is aware that being on TV gives her some level of power. This is pretty much real life fact, sadly. Plus when Godric is all "I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF OMG I'M SAD AND A LONELY VAMPIRE DON'T TRY AND STOP ME" Nan doesn't even compute what's happening and brushes it off with a "It's not a big deal." Nan, come back next week please!
Con: Seconds after Godric gives the big "I'm going to kill myself but I'm saying it mysteriously but not really at all...did you hear me? I'm going to commit suicide in like an hour" speech they cue up the violins of sadness.
Pro: Bill, for punching Eric.
Con: Bill, you probably should have done this seven hours ago.
Pro: Whatever Andy is watching on TV. "That is one nutty ostrich." Now le t's talk about the sun suicide. Because there was a lot of good and bad. And remember I did get a little choked up until the whole blue blaze debacle.
Pro: Eric brought down the house. Sure it was cheesy but when he broke into their super secret ancient Viking code language I felt it. Yeah it was drenched in cheese, and sure the last episode Eric was all "I don't know what love is," and then he got on his knees and wept and, sure, we all saw this coming 10 miles on down the road, but I still wanted it to happen. We needed it to happen, there's more to Eric than evil and hopefully a lot more to Eric than the cuddle fight dream Sookie had. I think we got a chance to see it here. Fingers crossed he goes bananas and just kills all of the humans in hotel.
Pro: Some of Godric's words really helped explain his mood. When Eric told h im he could forcibly keep him alive, the little manchild looked up and whispered, "Why would you be so cruel?" Had they not paraded Godric around in the last episode as the male Childlike Emperor with a gigantic death wish, I probably would have got a lot more out of it. I understood, but I didn't care. It was more compelling when Eric was smile crying his feelings and begging.
Pro: Godric admitting that he knew his whole "I'll let them kidnap me, what could go wrong?" plans with Fellowship of The Light were pretty bad, and I can understand his justification of "I don't think like a vampire anymore." I needed that, thank you.
Con: Godric's 1,000 goodbyes "do you believe in god, will god punish me, take care of Eric, I'm not scared, I'm surprised, I just found god" Yes, yes, yes we know — pick one. You got the big goodbye with Eric. You don't get another. By this point I just thought, Get On With It.
Then it actually was all happening and I was sad, because the music told me to feel that way and I liked half of the things the childlike Emperor said. We knew he would die the moment we met him, but now he's leaving...and the music is rising and tears are welling up.
Con: But then this happened...
and this....
I don't think there is a word for how bad those effects were. So I'll call them Quantumleapamechanicsvamp terrible. Lets hope the next body Godric jumps into isn't a girl with trouble or he's really gonna need Al's help and a little remote controller thingy to get out of this one.
Uh boy.
08/17/2009 |
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Anne Rice, like so many of us, is hooked on HBO's "True Blood".
From Dread Central:
Anne Rice Chimes in on Robert Downey, Jr.,
as Lestat Debate
 Since she's never been one to shy away from interacting with and directly communicating with her fans, it was only a matter of time before Anne Rice addressed the rumors swirling around a new adaptation of her Vampire Chronicles and particularly the potential casting of Robert Downey, Jr., as Lestat.
On her Facebook page Rice has numerous comments to the many questions posed by her fans, including one by yours truly:
One good thing about these uncomfirmed rumors on the web about Robert Downey Jr. and that he might play Lestat: the web is full of interesting pix of Robert Downey, Jr. who for my money is an immensely talented actor of great range and depth, who can do anything from Iron Man to the marvelous period movie Restoration. I think the Brat Prince is happy to hear of all this.
Not only is Robert Downey Jr. a great actor, there is something undeniably impish and effortlessly charming about him. I'd say he is something of a brat prince himself. I loved Iron Man!
It's no secret that I want to see new Lestat films. I wrote eleven books in the Vampire Chronicles and only a small part of the material has been tapped. I'd be thrilled if Robert Downey Jr. did do Lestat. He has the face, the voice, the personality and the spirit. His age isn't an issue. He looked terrific in Iron Man. He's a great actor, that's the point.
When I do have some official word from my agents, I will post on my website, and probably here. In the meantime, I imagine Lestat is delighted to be in the news. The Brat Prince loves attention.
And just a few minutes ago as we were prepping this story, she added: One thing I realized: because I don't write about him [Lestat] anymore, I'm free now to really enjoy what happens with him and the movies. And I am already sort of enjoying the possibilities.
So there you have it straight from Anne herself. Even better, she responded to an inquiry about whether or not we might ever see the Mayfair Witches on the big screen: Yes, in answer to the question, there is an excellent chance that The Witching Hour will be made into a film. There is an enormous amount of material in that one book alone that could translate to the big screen. I wrote a screenplay for the Witching Hour at one point, but that was long ago. I would also love to see Ramses the Damned on the screen too.
[Continue reading...]
08/17/2009 |
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From Hollywood Crush:
 By Haley Murphy So we got our fang fix last night with another titillating episode of HBO's "True Blood," and now we're bringing you some top secret information about how to get the look of some of Bon Temps' finest leading ladies. Deborah Ann Woll, who plays the firecracker of a vampire Jessica, shared some fashion tips with InStyle on how to get her Southern, vampire- friendly look. The actress gushed about her character’s adorable sundresses and confessed that most them them they were, in fact, from the budget-friendly chain, Walmart! The stylist for the show, Audrey Fisher, said Walmart is a perfect shopping destination because she wants the Louisiana-based characters to dress exactly as they would if they were living their alter egos' same down-to-earth kind of lifestyle. So, the typical designer closet that most Hollywood productions flaunt was forsaken by because the characters are supposed to be believable. Plus, the location of the show called for some good ole’ southern belle dresses. Audrey also admits that the key to making all the vampires (and fans!) go crazy is her attention to detail: she meticulously tailors the dresses to fit the girls in perfect form. Walmart also found itself in celebrity fashion headlines recently for its debut of Miley's Cyrus' line, Miley Cyrus & Max Azria . Were not sure how much this trend toward the department store will continue on, but with prices so low for fashionable items, our wallets certainly aren't complaining! Would you buy any of the dresses you've seen on True Blood from Walmart?
08/17/2009 |
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From Blood Copy:
HUMANS GONE (REALLY) WILD 
Is there a full moon I’m missing? Has the entire town taken part in some kind of electric acid test? Is Mardi Gras really late this year?
Whatever it is, resident breathers have been acting extremely peculiar lately, as Bon Temps more closely resembles the peak of spring break in Lake Havasu than the quaint town I remember. And even more strangely, the participants are not college students, but otherwise respected members of the community. A lot of them. From what I’ve heard, the local cool tank has been overflowing and officers have taken to driving old school drunk wagons rather than take part in their normal law enforcement rounds.
Thankfully, so far the frenzied behavior seems limited to the misdemeanor category- public displays of (extremely) indecent exposure and intoxication rather than any violence against property or each other. But let’s be honest with ourselves, inebriated humans tend to get rowdy. And I fear it may only be a matter of time before things start to spiral to more destructive and dangerous places. I honestly can’t remember anything I’ve seen quite like it, and that includes backstage parties during fashion week in New York. Though I obviously haven’t been around to see what transpires during the day, there’s a regular nightly fever pitch of activity. Like all at once everyone in town is suddenly -
Wait a minute. Now that I think on it, there does seem to be a really odd symmetry going on. Sure, a mass party would lead to possible mass drunkenness. But from what I’ve been told, this is happening all over town. Like it’s not one big party, but a number of smaller ones, all starting at the same time. Like something was directing it. Some master DJ who can get the party started in several places concurrently.
Granted, it’s possible I’ve just forgotten what it’s like to be a human in full throttle party mode. But I can’t help but wonder if there are forces at work here beyond gin and juice.
08/172009 |
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Wonderful article from True Blood Net:
Can True Blood’s Vampires Love?
August 17, 2009
HBO Producer Alan Ball has taken the ageless question of love flourishing between different ethnicities or cultures to a wider stance as he closes the second season on his award winning series “True Blood.” Each week millions of fans explore love and humanity trying to flourish between species or more exact between human and the un-dead. After her first close encounter with a vampire, Tara Thonton played by Rutina Wesley, looks thoughtfully out a window and asks,“ Do you think they are capable of loving a person?” 
Alan Ball has challenged fans with what may be the central core of the show, an important dilemma in the search for our souls. How much morality and humanity is needed for love to flourish. Must some seed of morality and humanity be planted or can one will themself to evolve into new dimensions? The AVL (American Vampire League) advertises, “Vampires were people too.” A handsome and remorseful Bill Compton insists, “I am not human” yet professes his undying love for Sookie Stackhouse. Conflicting messages given throughout HBO’s “True Blood”leave me wondering, “Are vampires susceptible to and capable of human emotions? Can their morality evolve toward the humane? Or, like their physical appearanceare they doomed to the limits of their emotions as they were when turned? True Blood’s three sexiest and intriguing male vampires, Bill Compton, Eric Northman and Area 9 Sheriff, Godric (Godfrey), give us mixed views.
[Continue reading...]
08/17/2009 |
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"Sookie, my little bullet sucker..."
08/17/2009 |
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Another great find from The Vault:
Kristin Bauer talks about co-stars and True Blood’s season finale
 Posted by Shadaliza On August - 17 - 2009
Kristin Bauer spoke with EOnline and mentioned her co-stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer: “Anna’s so great with Stephen’s kids and seems to love them so much, so she seems like someone who would be very open to having kids with him,“I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Anna and Stephen laugh a lot,” said Bauer, who recently married musician Abri van Straten after dating for just six months.”Stephen acts like a respectful gentleman to her. They seem like they’re friends and enjoy the same activities. They live together, they work together every day, and they seem to be inseparable.”
As for True Blood scoop, Bauer promises it’s going to get even darker than it already is. “The finale is unbelievable!” she said. “It’s a true climax. In each of the four worlds, there’s a cataclysmic event. All these worlds come together to save Bon Temps.”
08/17/2009 |
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A Virgin Bloody Maryann - ya, right!
True Blood: Save your soul with a Louisiana Swamp 'Maryann'
 Thirsting for a True Blood "V" cocktail? Something that will keep you safe from the clutches of Maryann? Or maybe connect you on a cellular level to Bill or Eric? Either way, Our Lady of Weight Loss's Louisiana Swamp "Maryann" will save your soul and deliver you from evil!
Virgin Maryann, Louisiana Creole Style
Guaranteed to keep you safe from Maryann's clutches and give you a jolt of energy that will send you into a happy spin!
Ingredients:
| • 4 oz Spicy V-8
• juice of 1/2 lime
• 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 6 dashes Tabasco® sauce
• pepper to taste
• 1 lime wedge
• 2 celery stalks |
Instructions:
Add juices and sauce to a shaker with ice, adding salt and pepper to taste.
Shake vigorously enough to burn calories and send a clear message to the Devil, himself, that you are not playin' his game.
Strain over ice cubes into a highball glass and add a lime wedge and both celery stalks.
Variation: Bloody Maryann
Add Vodka!
08/17/2009 ~ http://blog.beliefnet.com/ourladyofweightloss/2009/08/true-blood-save-your-soul-with.html |
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From HBO:
08/17/2009 |
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And another interesting viewpoint of 2.10 "I Will Rise Up":
08/17/2009 |
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From Ace Showbiz:
Preview of 'True Blood' 2.10: New World in My View
"True Blood" will go back to Bon Temps in the brand new episode next week. Returning to their small northern Louisiana town, Sookie, Bill and Jason are presented with chaos and a series of challenges. Bill discovers that he doesn't know how to defeat Maryann as traditional vampire techniques don't work on her.
Sookie attempts to get through to Tara, who is engulfed in darkness. Hoyt and Jessica try to keep Maxine's madness a secret, while Sam and Andy are lured back to Merlottes by Arlene and find refuge from a group of bloodthirsty revelers. With all hell breaking loose, Jason takes the bull by the horns to rescue Sam, at least for the moment.
Directed by Adam Davidson, the next episode of this HBO's vampire drama series is written by Kate Barnow and Elisabeth R. Finch. Entitled "New World in My View", it will air Sunday, August 23 at 8/7c.
08/17/2009 |
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Clever review from Monkeys As Critics:
Recap: 'True Blood' - 'I Will Rise Up'
 Errrrybody stand back! Jealous Hick has a bomb, and Lorena is crying blood! It's armageddon at Club Vampire!
Jealous Hick detonates a bomb laced with silver at Godric's house, and some vampires and humans get done blowed up. One of the dead vampires is Stan, the Urban Cowboy leader of the Dallas nest. Eric shelters Sookie from the blast and orders Vampire Bill to chase after any and all other Sunshine Jesus Camp conspirators in the vicinity. Bill finds a van full of religoids who abetted the bomber and bites one of their Jesus-lovin' necks.
Isabel, wearing some seriously high hair, crawls about the bomb site in a catsuit. Sookie recovers. Eric is lookin' all singed and sad and begs Sookie to take the silver shrapnel out of him, which turns her off because it has nothing to do with her preferred hobby of talking. She does Eric's bidding by biting, because hands won't work, I guess. Eric seems to get off on it all. Bill comes in and announces Eric has tricked Sookie into drinking his blood, which much mean something serious because Eric is all ha, ha. Turns out, it is kinda evil, y'all. Now Eric will always know where Sookie is, and Sookie will always want Eric to get into her pants.
Ha, ha.
The survivors all go home, presumably to the Hemophiliac Hilton Dallas.
Meanwhile, back at Vampire Bill's Downer Pad, Jessica is still dealing with the fact that she will always be a virgin. Hoyt don't care. He done loves her, and he's prouda her, and he wants Jessica to meet his mama.
Oooohhh, weee! Tara's lookin' a mess, girl! She and Eggs beat each other up last episode and then had sex, but Tara can't remember none of it, because she blacked out. And hey! Mary-Ann thinks that's great! She defends the idea of blacking out and says it's a good thing, and that's the way you chit-chat with your God. Tara doesn't get it.
[Continue reading...]
08/17/2009 |
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The weekly Sucker Punch from Huffington Post:
True Blood Sucker Punch: Episode 9
 What can I say? I wasn't feeling it tonight. "I Will Rise Up" has a few Sucker Punches, but it mostly functions as a placeholder, as though the series is clearing its throat before it gets down to the serious business of wrapping up the season.
This episode's biggest event is Godric's suicide-by-sunlight, but as turning points go, it's not that powerful. The dude's only been around for a few episodes, meaning we've heard about his greatness more than we've actually seen it for ourselves. And since we haven't had time to connect to him, it's hard to care about his death.
Plus, actor Allan Hyde has given a bloodless performance. His mopey take on Godric's spiritual fatigue has slowed the show down, making it even harder to fret that he's gone.
And sure, sure. I wrote last week that Godric's willingness to compromise with the Fellowship was intellectually interesting, and it was. But that was the problem, you know? Godric was an interesting concept who never became a fully engaging presence.
 At least there's Alexander Skarsgaard's performance as Eric. We might not be able to share his character's remorse for Godric's death, but his breakdown on the hotel rooftop is stirring just the same. Weeping blood and whimpering in pain, he crouches before his beloved maker, aware that he can't stop what's about to happen. We can see his grief and sympathize. We can maybe fall in love with him.
But we can't love him completely, the little scamp. He starts the episode by tricking Sookie into drinking his blood, which bonds her thoughts to his. His "I'll die if you don't suck this silver out of my chest" routine is sexy, funny, and perverse, and in conjunction with the rooftop scene, it makes Eric even more complex and enjoyable. You've got to appreciate a character who can be so callous and so tender in the same night.
Meanwhile, this is yet another episode that leaves the characters in Bon Temps getting ready to do stuff instead of actually doing stuff, but at least they can't take another step without finally taking some decisive action. I mean, for God's sake, Maryann storms into Merlotte's claiming that the "coming God" demands a sacrifice. I'd say it's finally time for some capital-B butt kicking. If the throwdown is gigantic enough, then I will forgive all sorts of foot-dragging and sidetracking.
As for Sucker Punches: Hoyt's shouting match with his mama sure gets a nomination, especially when he mentions that she hates African-Americans and she says that's supposed to be a secret. That's so trashy and so accurate. I mean, do you have a white relative or neighbor or friend who always says the word "black" in a whisper? As in,"Oh Hoyt, you know Dana. She's that pretty young (((black girl))) who works at the bank." That's exactly the kind of "secret" racism we're talking about here, and God love Nancy Oliver's script for evoking it in just a few words.
The Sucker Punch Silver Medal goes to Lafayette for busting Tara out of Sookie's house. Between the thirty-five brilliant one-liners and the do-not-touch-her punches he throws, he basically impersonates the entire cast of American Gladiators as he drags his cousin away from Maryann.
Ultimately, though, this week's Sucker Punch prize is that chest-sucking scene. Bloody and intimate and dirty... it's just the kind of nastiness that makes True Blood tick.
08/17/2009 |
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From Televisionary:
The Price of Bliss: Life, Death, and What Lies in Between on "True Blood"
 Written by Jace | Monday, August 17, 2009 |
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become." - Buddha
You had the chance to read my advance review of this week's episode of True Blood ("I Will Rise Up"), written by Nancy Oliver and directed by Scott Winant, but now that the episode has aired, we can finally talk specifics about this heartbreaking and profound installment of the Southern Gothic series.
It's rare that a series can manage to surprise you, much less make you laugh, cry, and shudder all in the same episode. Yet that's just what True Blood managed to do this week, pulling off a death-defying blend of sex, sacrifice, and salvation.
The notion of sacrifice has lurked beneath the surface of Season Two of True Blood in several forms: we see both the frenzied need for human sacrifice from maenad Maryann and her crazed disciples, the misguided zealotry of Luke which leads to his silver-laden suicide bombing at Godric's nest, and the sacrifice that Godric makes not once but twice.
[Continue reading...]
08/16/2009 |
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From India's Express India:
Seeing Red
 Anjuly Mathai Posted: Aug 17, 2009 at 0117 hrs IST
The fang gang has invaded Hollywood with their voodoo exorcisms, their thrilling aura of danger and that irresistible sensual catnip that women today are swooning about. They might be bloodsucking monsters who have an irritating cannibalistic tendency of chomping off pieces of your flesh, but they make up for it by being available in increasingly attractive packages.
So Sookie’s Bill in True Blood sports designer outfits, Edward Cullen in Twilight drives a Volvo C30 (when he’s not shooting simmering looks that make your knees go weak) and Buffy’s Angel in Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, is simply delectable-looking who makes you feel that Christmas and New Year have just arrived together.
With the West making increasing forays into the world of the supernatural, when do our desi vampires make our blood boil by hitting the small screen? “It’s not a bad idea if executed properly,” feels director, Deepak Ramsay. “Maybe we’ll try it in the future if our budget allows it, but it’s difficult to predict whether the concept will hit the jackpot with Indian audiences.”
[Continue reading...]
08/16/2009 |
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From Money Times:
True Blood star Deborah Ann Wollblood star's Beau is blinded by disease
True Blood star Deborah Ann Woll is helping her boyfriend raise money to research the rare disease that's slowly blinding him.
Edward 'E.J.' Scott suffers from Choroideremia (CHM), a hereditary condition that also affects his brother and grandfather.
The disease robs sufferers of their vision, and Scott, 33, is now reduced to walking around with the aid of a stick.
Woll, 24, says, "He is so proactive about preparing for this inevitability in the face of something so scary. I can only be awed by his strength and commitment."
The actress is determined to use her fame to help his plight and that of other CHM sufferers - and has enlisted a True Blood fansite to drum up support for a sponsored diet he is undergoing.
There is hope on the horizon, researchers claim they are just years away from clinical trials for a potential cure.
Woll meanwhile, is using her beau's strength to inspire her own medical battle with Celiacs disease - a severe intolerance to food types.
She said, "I honour E.J. by being equally as strong in my much less life-changing predicament with Celiacs."
08/16/2009 |
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Wow - Great article from The Vault:
Joint movie project for Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer
Posted by Shadaliza
 Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer will both make an appearance in Andrew Paquin’s latest movie “Open House“. With the horror thriller “Open House” Andrew Paquin makes his writing and directing debut, previously he was involved as a producer in projects like New in Town, Humanzee, Blue State (starring Anna Paquin), My Feral Lady and Balkanization.
The movie, shot in Los Angeles, tells the story of a wealthy couple in a strained marriage that hosts an open house in order to sell their palatial home. They are horrified to find out days later that one potential buyer never left their house.
In a recent live chat with the LA Times Anna said she shot her scenes for Open House in her brother’s garage: “we shot it this morning!! in his garage “poor mans process”. Also Stephen has finished shooting his scenes and the project is currently in post-production. Anna and Stephen will be playing the characters named Jennie and Josh.
[Continue reading...]
08/16/2009 |
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From Fangoria:
VAMPIRE CON '09:
CRY, LITTLE SISTER--come to your TRUE BLOOD!
 Before the New Beverly Cinema screening of THE LOST BOYS last night, G Tom Mac introduced a new video for his brand new version of "Cry, Little Sister", the haunting LOST BOYS' anthem.
Now the song is being used, appropriately enough,for the HBO series TRUE BLOOD -- in the video, he performs the song as we see clips of Bill, Sookie and the rest of the gang.What's interesting--and may be blasphemous for some Goths--is that it's a country version of the song!
"I wanted to do a version of 'Cry, Little Sister' that had a swampy, bluesy Robert Johnson feel, so it would fit in the Southern Gothic world of TRUE BLOOD," G Tom Mac explains."They wanted to use the song and I think it fits."
[Continue reading...]
08/17/2009 |
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Gotta love her bicycle - From Celebrity Gossip:
Anna Paquin: Santa Monica Beach Cruisin’
 Enjoying the sunny California summer weather, Anna Paquin was spotted out riding her pink Hello Kitty beach cruiser in Santa Monica on Saturday (August 15).
Joined by a gal pal, the “True Blood” beauty tossed on her helmet for safety as she peddled around town - despite looking to have a flat back tire on her stylish bicycle.
Meanwhile, Miss Paquin revealed earlier in the month that she plans to marry her “True Blood” co-star Stephen Moyer.
The 27-year-old, who will be a step-mom to Moyer’s two children, recently chatted with press about her desire to someday have children of her own.
Explaining that pregnancy will have to wait as she continues work on her hit HBO series, Anna told Stuff New Zealand, “I don’t know how they’d resolve me and my short shorts on the show with a baby bump. At some point, when that convenient time which never exists for actresses comes, somewhere between now and menopause, I will (have babies). I have time.”
08/16/2009 |
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From United Kingdom's Times Online:
(Season 1 is showing in Britain on FX.)
Let’s hear it for the weekly stag night
[Read entire article.]
 I have enormous difficulty finding things to watch on television: there’s just too much on, on too many channels, and wading through the listings takes up a disproportionate amount of time (which might explain why the Radio Times’s circulation has just fallen to below 1m for the first time). Like many people, I rely increasingly on word-of-mouth recommendations and I have a real humdinger of a one for you. It’s a series called True Blood, currently being shown on FX, a previously unknown to me cable channel. It’s about vampires (I know, but trust me) in a fictional Louisiana town called Bon Temps, and was developed by Alan Ball, who previously worked on American Beauty and the brilliant Six Feet Under.
True Blood is absolutely fantastic, with stunning cinematography, and is also the sexiest thing I’ve seen on television in a very long time (and not remotely suitable for family viewing).
If you’re scrabbling around for something to watch as the summer starts feeling more and more like autumn and the schedules limp on uselessly, I couldn’t recommend it more highly; check listings for the catchup times.
08/16/2009 |
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From Edmonton Sun:
In his Blood Trammell truly happy with show's success
By BILL HARRIS Last Updated: 16th August 2009
 PASADENA, Calif. -- Just what is an innocent shape-shifter to do when the whole dang town is going nuts?
"I'm kind of trying to rein in everybody," said Sam Trammell, who plays Sam Merlotte in True Blood.
Uh, that isn't going very well at this point, is it, Sam?
"No, it's not," Trammell said with a chuckle. "Everybody's satisfying their lusty desires."
True Blood, the vampire-based series which airs Sundays on HBO Canada and is in the midst of its second season, truly has hit the big time in the past month and a half in terms of buzz and fan attention. The series built slowly through its rookie campaign, but now it undoubtedly has become HBO's marquee property.
Trammell, a 38-year-old product of the theatre scene, didn't necessarily expect anything like this.
"When I saw the words 'created by Alan Ball' and 'HBO', I was interested before I even read the pilot, and of course you hope things take off," Trammell said. "I was hoping we might be half as popular as Six Feet Under (Ball's previous series). But right now it's at a frenzy.
"I was at the Mad Men premiere (at a theatre in L.A. -- the TV premiere of season three is tonight on AMC) and people in the business were calling relatives and asking me to talk to them on the phone.
"I don't know if it's vampires or if it's the talent of the people who have decided to write in that genre. It's a chicken-or-the-egg thing."
Trammell's character in True Blood is not a vampire, but rather a shape-shifter -- and much more.
True Blood has a unique structure. While Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, is the main character, the audience does not witness these bizarre events through Sookie's eyes. We actually see things more through Sam Merlotte's eyes. "Yeah, I have thought about that," Trammell said. "I understand what you mean about my character.
"I'm the bedrock of town. At the beginning, Sookie is ready to just run off with this vampire, and I'm warning her not to do that. I'm warning Tara not to go off with Maryann.
[Continue reading...]
08/16/2009 |
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