The Vault – TrueBlood-Online.com

The Vault wishes Todd Lowe, Terry Bellefleur a Happy Birthday – May 10th.

Todd Lowe is tight lipped about what’s happening on the set during filming of Season 6 of True Blood when he was interviewed at the Teen Oscar Awards last week. All he would say was that we would be getting some new characters and we would see some old ones and that the viewers will be surprised. However, he did talk about where he would store an Oscar if he ever won one.
  

  
source: YouTube.com

In last Sunday night’s episode of True Blood we saw resolution to Terry’s suffering from his time in Iraq. In past seasons we had hints about his past, but in Season 5, flashbacks revealed that during his tour of duty, in the Iraq War he killed a civilian woman while high and under orders from his commanding officer, Sgt. Patrick Devins (Scott Foley). As this season progressed, the two former Marines continued to be haunted by the spirit of their Iraqi victim in the form of a mysterious smoke monster called the Ifrit. In last Sunday’s episode, Terry silenced his demons for good, at an enormous cost: he shot and killed the cowardly Patrick, effectively vanquishing the Ifrit and making his family safe again.

So, after spending much of True Blood on the periphery of the major plot lines, Todd Lowe has found himself at the center of his own dramatic story arc this season.

Texas native Lowe checked in with Rolling Stone recently to chat about playing a character with PTSD, his new honky-tonk band and his latest gig acting alongside Will Smith.

One of the defining aspects of Terry Bellefleur has always been the fact that he suffers from PTSD. Did you do any first-hand research on it?
Lowe: I knew some people growing up – some family members, some friends of the family – who had done time over in Iraq and done a couple of tours, and I kind of based it on them. I didn’t do too much medical research into it – I’m leaving that up to the writers to determine what’s going to happen – but I didn’t know until the beginning of Season Five, when Alan [Ball] sent me an e-mail saying what was going to go on with my character, what had actually happened over there. I didn’t know in Season One that I had shot an innocent woman while high. So having that at the beginning of this season, like, “Ok, you did do something just terrible and nightmares are going to plague you forever.” That is the cause of why he’s been [the way he is], among other horrors I’m sure he saw over there. That’s the one that was the most personal.

In shooting that scene where Terry kills the Iraqi woman, you guys were outfitted in full-on Marine gear. Were you able to get in any training during rehearsals? Was it impossible to move around?
Lowe: Well, what I was hoping for – but it wasn’t logistically possible – was that we could’ve timed it where I could’ve shaved my beard and cut my hair. But because we also had to shoot stuff that was happening in the present day, it just wasn’t logistically feasible. So we put pins in my hair and tucked it up under a headband. I had my chin strap kind of covering my beard, and they made the decision that, “Well, you guys have been out there for a long time, you haven’t had time to shave.” But everyone I know who’s a Marine said, “It doesn’t matter: We shaved every morning.” With a dry razor and using an Evian bottle or whatever – just with the little water that [they] had. It’s a very important thing. I hope I don’t catch too much flak from cousins I have who are actual Marines that we weren’t doing it right. Hopefully they’ll overlook that.

But they gave us a half-hour boot camp on how to walk and how to hold a rifle, and how it’s going to feel when we’re shooting, like, “This is the way it recoils, this is the way you hold it, the way you scan a perimeter.…” So we got a really quick, basic lesson on that.

Since the Ifrit was something that had to be added in post-production, what was your reaction when you saw the finished product?
Lowe: I’m not a big fan of CGI, personally – I’d rather see old stop-animation that they used to do with monsters or even somebody in a monster suit – but that being said, I liked the way [the Ifrit] moved around and engulfed Private Eller. So all in all, I’m happy with it.

In previous seasons, Terry has had more of a comic-relief role, but now he’s got this major dramatic arc. Is that something you were hoping for? Or do you prefer doing comedy?
Lowe: I guess I do prefer doing comic roles, but you have to play it truthful and the drama that I’ve been playing this year has been great. I haven’t been able to find, really, moments of levity. Even me having to grab Patrick’s hand and put it on the table for that ridiculous séance at Lafayette’s was, like, totally serious. So you play that in all seriousness, but it still kind of comes with a little bit of a chuckle.

Speaking of that séance scene in last week’s episode, Nelsan Ellis did such a fantastic job – how did you guys keep a straight face?
Lowe: It’s really hard, especially when he had to memorize those few lines in Arabic, and he’s sitting there shouting and getting really into it – spit’s coming out, people getting hit in the face – but he’s so powerful, it’s hard not to flinch when he really turns it on like that. But, yeah, him rattling those bracelets – we got all that silly stuff out in the rehearsal. Once you do a scene 10 times, it’s not quite as funny anymore.

The human population on True Blood is rapidly dwindling, especially now that Tara’s been made a vampire. So would you like to see Terry go supernatural? Or do you think he works best as a human?
Lowe: I think we need humans in there for balance – to give supernatural characters more weight. If there are no humans left, it becomes like a Dungeons and Dragons game; there’s gotta be something that grounds it in reality. So I’m happy staying human; whatever the writers want to do with me is fine. If they want to at the end of the series reveal that I’m the Easter Bunny, I’ll take that and play it as straight as I can. But no, I prefer staying human. All of Terry’s monsters are on the inside.

Read the rest of this interview by going to: rollingstone.com

Carrie Preston confesses she cries at weddings.

Todd Lowe talks about holding a gun to his head.

Scott Foley talks about the emotional draining scenes with Todd Lowe.

True Blood’s Terry Bellefleur, Todd Lowe spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in THR’s Cover Lounge about the dramatic episode and how this new character will affect Terry’s fate.

“He is going to reveal something to us, that it is not a surprise to my character, but it is going to be a surprise to Scott’s. And it’s going to have major significance on the second half of the season,” Lowe tells THR.

Terry, an Iraq vet who continues to suffer from PTSD, has fallen deeper down the rabbit hole this season due to the arrival of Devins. They decided to go on a road trip together to find their fellow marine who may have something to do with the mysterious fires that have been attacking the homes of marines from their group.

When THR asked Lowe if he felt that his character was in more danger this season then ever before, Lowe said, “Yes, absolutely.”

“Terry isn’t the only one who’s gone crazy,” Lowe adds. “There was an event that happened over there, and Terry and Private Eller are the only ones who are witnesses, so far. There’s still a lot more secrets coming out.”

Sunday’s episode revealed much more about Terry’s past, with flashbacks of Terry in Iraq, and a bloody scene that went down there.

THR asks Lowe about shooting the flashbacks, which were a very different scene from the usual setting in Bon Temps.

“We went out to the desert, and it’s just the facades, behind it, it’s all plywood and support beams, but when you’re in the middle of it, it’s like, ‘Wow, we’re really out here,’” he says.

Lowe adds that there were former servicemen on set to help the actors with the basics of military garb and patrolling.

As for the rest of the season, Lowe couldn’t reveal Terry’s fate, but did promise that HBO’s season 5 will be rewarding for fans.

“I think this season, hardcore viewers of the show are going to be rewarded with storylines involving secondary characters, while still keeping a focus on Sookie and her love interests and suitors,” Lowe says.

Watch THR‘s interview with Todd Lowe below.

True Blood’s Todd Lowe gives THR a little more insight into his character Terry Bellefleur in season five of True Blood.  In the video below, he explains that his character’s anger issues stem from his tour in Iraq.

The Iraq vet, who spends his time as a cook at Merlotte’s, got a visit from a former Marine buddy (Scott Foley) which has sparked a heap of trouble for him. In the first three episodes, he’s had troubling flashbacks, pushed his wife Arlene (Carrie Preston) and hovered creepily over their bed.

source: hollywoodreporter.com

Anna Paquin talks about how Sookie can take down Pam even though she doesn’t look like it.

Todd Lowe talks about the difficulties Terry and Arlene face.

According to Michael McMillian his character Rev. Steve Newlin is thrilled to be brought into the Authority at such a young age.

Chris Bauer talks about Andy and Holly and how he attempts to move the relationship to the next level.

source: HBO Go

Todd Lowe spoke with Celebuzz about what’s in store for Terry this new True Blood season.

Celebuzz: Terry is a great character, but we’re sensing that trouble is coming. How will we see his character change?
Todd Lowe: Well, his commanding officer come back into town, and they can’t be bringing any good news. It’s not like the government is going to take care of us veterans better and we just want to fill you in … that is as much as I can say right now.

CB: So many characters have met their end over just a few seasons. Is there any fear that Terry will get killed off?
TL: There is a little bit of that, sure. I can’t really address what is going to happen, because it will ruin it for the viewers. I know I am in it for the majority of the season. I can say that.

CB: What is the number one thing that fans say to you about the show?
TL: They are very flattering, they compliment my character. They tend to think I might be like my character, but I’m a little bit different. I’m not a war vet, I am not always immediately sympathetic to people, and I have a bit of a temper. People really like the story telling and the cliffhangers seem to help a lot and they always want to know what is going to happen next.

Is there any chatter on the set where people worry if they are going to get staked?
TL: Well we are a pretty good family those of us who have been around since season one but yea certainly your job can end at anytime. But yea just trust the writers and Alan and his team and the way they want to craft the series I guess.

CB: You’re also set to guest star on Bunheads. Will you be a reoccurring character on the show or a guest spot?
TL: Fingers crossed. I know I am doing a guest spot reason one, I am hoping to get a reoccurring spot. I like working with [executive producer and Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman]. I read a couple of the scripts and they are just as fun as Gilmore Girls. I feel like I am almost going back to my old family.

CB: Speaking of that old family will there be any chance of a Gilmore Girls reunion?
TL: I haven’t heard of one but I would be a participant.

On UInterview you get to ask the questions. See what the fans asked Carrie Preston, Todd Lowe and Kristin Bauer.

Not that we had any doubt about with newly appointed show runner Mark Hudis, but it seems that True Blood will indeed be back for a sixth season.

Todd Lowe mentioned a sixth season in an interview with Celebuzz while talking about Anna Paquin’s pregnancy.

“I think she is due right before we start (filming) the sixth season.” Lowe revealed.

No official word from HBO (yet) about a next season.