As a fan, I was thrilled to see two of the True Blood women yesterday when I attended to book signing at the Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles. To celebrate the huge success of the first True Blood comic series, All Together Now, cast members Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley and Deborah Ann Woll signed copies and greeted their adoring and devoted fans.
At the event, Collider, Christina Radish interviewed the lady co-stars Rutina Wesley and Deborah Ann Woll and they talked about why True Blood is the type of show that works in other mediums and what it was like to see themselves in comic book form. They also talked about how Season 4 is coming (they’re just finishing up shooting Episode 4) and gave a few hints about how things will be different for their characters.
Below is a portion of the interview.
Question: What was it like to see yourself in comic book form, for the first time?
RUTINA WESLEY: I thought it was pretty cool. I think the images are right on. It actually looks a lot like me, so it’s awesome.
DEBORAH ANN WOLL: It’s a little surreal. They do a very good job, so it tends to look very much like you. In fact, my boyfriend and I were talking about how we can tell when they’ve found source material, like pictures of me either on the show or from publicity stills or photo shoots, that they’ve used as a base from where they bounce off from, so it is a little funny to know yourself in real life, see a picture of you, and then see that illustrated. It’s a real interesting round-about, in that way.
Were there things that you learned about Jessica from this comic that surprised you?
WOLL: Yeah. It’s been fun, actually. I’m good friends with Michael McMillian, who plays Reverend Newlin, is writing the second comic book series. He and I get together, every once in awhile, and talk about where he’s going with it. He’s asked me questions about where I think my character has come from – particularly that first night that they picked me up– where I think she was going, and what her life was before that. He and I have collaborated a lot, and we actually found that our ideas were very similar. It’s been exciting. It will be interesting for me to read that series and actually learn a little bit about my character that maybe was different from what I had imagined.
What do you think it is about this show that lends itself to other mediums, like comics?
WESLEY: Because it’s fantastical. You’ve got vampires and other supernatural beings, so I think it’s perfect for a comic book setting. I think this is only going to increase the audience and it gives people who are die-hard True Blood fans something else to delve into, when the show’s not on.
WOLL: I think a lot of drama, nowadays, is character-based and development-based, but True Blood is very plot oriented. I think there are great characters, but something is always happening. You never end one episode at the place where you began it, and what’s great about that is that you can tell that kind of story in any medium, whether you’re reading it, drawing it or filming it. There’s an advantage to it being a very fast-moving show.
Is it fun to do these fan events and get to interact with people who watch the show?
WESLEY: Yeah. I think it’s very inspirational. The reason why we’re still on TV is our fans, so it’s really great to meet them, especially those who really, really enjoy our work. I’ve met people who cry. It inspires me ‘cause that’s why I do what I do. I want to move an audience. So, when you actually meet that audience, it just reminds you why you’re here and it makes me want to keep doing better at what I do.
How far are you into shooting Season 4?
WOLL: We’re about a third of the way through. We’re just wrapping up on Episode 4.
How are things different this season than with previous seasons?
WOLL: I think things are more complex this season. We’re playing more with these being greyer times. There is no black and white, or good and bad. Everybody has a little of that in them. How do you live in a society that sees the world in black and white, when it isn’t that? There’s a lot more of the politics coming into play. Vampires have to be very careful in a society where they witness Russell Edgington (Denis O’Hare) commit an act of terrorism, essentially. How do you then become accepted again?
To read the rest of this interview, go to Collider.com
Insightful answers by Rutina and Deborah Ann to some very interesting questions. The ladies were as forthcoming as they could be without giving anything away about Season 4.
Thanks, Lynn, for providing.
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It must be strange seeing oneself illustrated in a comic book however it sounds as though they are pleased with the outcome. They were careful not to reveal too much but did give us a bit to mull on for bit.
Both are lovely.
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