The Vault – TrueBlood-Online.com

Charlaine Harris speaks with The Shrevesport Times’ Derick Jones about the end of the Sookie Stackhouse series, which inspired True Blood.
 
Question:What drove you to start the Sookie Stackhouse series?
Answer: Well, my career had kind of reached a stopping point. It wasn’t really going anywhere but I was still being published, which as you know is all a writer requires. I thought if I’m ever going to do something different that will bring me out, now is the time. It came to me that I really wanted to break out of writing conventional mysteries and write something with an element of the supernatural. It seemed to me like it would be fun to write about a woman who was trying to date a vampire.
 
Q:Why make the setting Louisiana?
A: Anne Rice had taken the southern part of Louisiana and done such marvelous things with it. Since I intended for my books to be funny I thought I would take the less atmospheric northern part of Louisiana and do the same thing for northern Louisiana.
 
Q: Do you find yourself in any of the character that you’ve created?
A: I find a little sliver in myself in all my characters, I think, which is kind of a scary thing about me I guess. It’s just fun to coax a little humanity out of the most off-putting characters and to find the parts that aren’t so agreeable in the nicest characters.
 
Q: What do you think about HBO’s interpretation?
A: I entrusted my books to Alan Ball, and I knew it would not stick with the letter of the books because that would not be entertaining for him. I knew he would go his own way sooner rather than later, and of course he did. I constantly am amazed by his inventiveness.
 
Q: Were you a part of the creative process?
A: No, because that’s not my area of expertise. It’s a very rare deal that gives the writer that kind of power, and I certainly did not have that in my bargaining for HBO. It would be very unusual for a writer to have that kind of power.
 
Q: You’ve just wrapped up the series with “Dead After Dark” and gotten a lot of up and down feedback from that. I’ve seen a lot of anger displayed. Has that subsided now since it’s been over a month?
A:A lot of the hating has. There are some people who evidently have no life what so ever, that are evidently going to pursue this until they drop dead of old age, and I don’t know what to think about that. Are their lives so empty that they cannot get over a book series ending in a way they had not anticipated? The accusations have been really vile and disgusting. I can only think that these people would not say that to my face or hope that they wouldn’t because I just think the Internet is responsible for a lot of this overly invested entitled attitude.

One reader said “You should turn over characters to someone who can write them they way we want them.” I said “You know, you don’t get it. It’s not like going into a bakery and ordering a cake where you say ‘I want butter cream filling and chocolate icing and I want a decoration of pink roses.’ Writing a book is not like that. You don’t get to vote on how I write my books. They’re mine,” and they would have never have met any of those people if they hadn’t come out of my head. They say “You sold out” and I say “To whom?” To whom did I sell out?

After some painful painful days and thinking I might not ever come out of my house again, I’m kind of coming out of the other side of that. I’ve gotten an overwhelming expression of support and pleasure in the book from many more people than ever told me they hated it, and it’s in its fourth week on the New York Times best-seller list.
 
Q: Had you ever dealt with anything like that before?
A: Yes, on a smaller scale, but I had and I could tell the past two books especially when I said the thirteenth book will be the last one. I could tell which way the wind was blowing. I did everything but put a neon sign saying “This will not end the way you think it will” and I just felt like I made it very obvious and clear, more so than I wanted to. Nothing was going to stop this from happening.
 
To read the rest of this interview with Ms. Harris, go to: shreveporttimes.com

Share with your friends

When True Blood’s Jessica Clark (aka Lilith) enters that room, all 5ft-11 of her drenched in blood (and nothing else), fully fanged with a smirk that says “don’t run dear you’re already dead” the room comes to an immediate halt. As the mother of all vampires she’s also convincingly nailed the delivery of that uneasy feeling, straight to your gut! A mix that has been working a treat for HBOs “True Blood” since her show stopping entrance in Season 5.

One thing is for sure Jessica is very comfortable in her own skin, and not just for embracing full frontal nudity on the bloodsucking soap opera. Her voice is husky and low, with an ever so slight transatlantic drawl privy only to fashion models and jet-setters. Her intelligence and calm, are charming yet strangely… relaxing. Like sipping warm whole milk or soaking in a piping hot bath. For a woman who is dangerously good looking, her presence is rather cozy. So she’s either an evil genius, or just a genuinely chill gal from London—I’m leaning towards the latter. We chatted about her recent Vogue cover, “True Blood,” her dog’s name that might be mistaken for an alcoholic beverage; and why in the next life she’d be quite happy to come back as a couch. Or if all else fails a horse riding archeologist, she’s not fussy.

I like Lilith because I believe she could do real damage. She could destroy an entire village!!

I love that about her, so that’s a huge compliment, that’s why I really wanted the role. Her nudity is primeval as opposed to titillating. Even when she’s sexual, she’s predatory. I’m really glad they allow me to bring that to the table, it’s frustrating when you have to be sexy or badass, but you can’t be both.

But it’s equal opportunity nekidness on that show. Which is great!

That’s the most reassuring part, everyone has done it before. So they are very supportive, they know the deal and everyone is super professional. Besides the ladies (and some of the fellas), need their eye-candy too.

We do.

Also I like the diversity of “True Blood” in general. Look at Lafayette, a gay man who wears eyeliner and will kick your arse! No room for stereotypes, fully developed and realized characters only thanks.

Jessica talks all about herself in the rest of this article, which you can read at: meinmyplace.com

Share with your friends

Kristin Bauer van Straten spoke to  TV Fanatic and explained that the upcoming episodes in True Blood Season 6 are different for just how much is very different in Bon Temps, from a ruthless governor (played by Arliss Howard) to the relationship between Pam and Eric, which is changing in ways that do not make Pam very happy.

TV Fanatic: The season starts out with Pam and Eric not exactly connecting as he pushes her away. How does that make Pam feel?
Kristin Bauer: Not good. Eric is all Pam has ever needed, besides clothing, hair and makeup. But all that can be replaced, Eric cannot.
 
TVF: Eric never told Pam he had a sister (Lucy Griffiths)! Guessing Pam feels a little betrayed, right?
KB: Terribly betrayed! How can she have shared everything with him and there are things she doesn’t know about him? Pam and Eric’s relationship is changing and Pam doesn’t want it to.
 
TVF: Pam and Tara (Rutina Wesley) are quite a pair and as Eric pushes Pam away, she pushes Tara away! Would you like to see Pam let her guard down and let Tara in?
KB: I enjoy both the pushing and the accepting. I think too much acceptance from Pam would betray all we know of her. She is a tough woman, who comes from a tough time and chose to be a vampire over 100 years ago. She is too wise and independent to let her guard down without a fight.
 
TVF: Pam and Tara did kiss last season before they were interrupted. Do you think they’d be a good match or will Eric be in the way?
KB: I think Pam and Tara are very similar. Whether that makes for a happy relationship or not I’m not so sure…but sure makes for a fun one to watch on TV.
 
TVF: With everyone at odds, is this a good time for the new Governor to try to take the vampires down?
KB: It may be a good time for the humans, not so sure it is a good time for the vampires.
 
TVF: If Fangtasia is truly shut down, where will Pam focus her energies?
KB: She only has a couple options – go underground or fight back. We definitely see how all the vampires react under pressure.
 
TVF: With Tara or not, any romance (or good old fashioned lust) for Pam this season?
KB: Well, we’re under fire….but it’s True Blood, so I wouldn’t rule it out.
 
TVF: Eric talks about how the world is changing. Is Pam good at change?
KB: She is a resilient creature and also a volatile one just like most vampires. They’ve seen a lot of history and have a unique perspective not based in fear. Thank God, or the show might be really dull!
 
source: tvfanatic.com

Share with your friends

Todd Lowe, who plays loving husband, daddy, and step-daddy, Terry Bellefleur discussed his character and more with the Austin Chronicle.  
 
Below is part of that interview with Todd that pertains to True Blood:
 
What made you decide to move to L.A.? How did you get your start in TV and films?
Todd Lowe: I moved from Austin to L.A. with my girlfriend at the time because she got accepted to USC’s grad school. I had been doing OK in Austin. I had a little children’s theatre company, and I had gotten a job at Esther’s – I worked there for about a hiccup before I left. I moved to L.A. for love, but that didn’t work out. I got a job here in L.A., struggled for a while, did some plays. I got my equity card, found my agent, and then I got a part on Gilmore Girls. That turned into a job that kept giving – they wrote more for me. I did a couple pilots that didn’t go anywhere. I paid off my student loans. Then True Blood hit. I started in the first season as a recurring guest star, and in the second season they gave me a nice contract. Yeh, I guess I’m still treading water until I get back to Austin.
 
AC: I’ve read enough interviews with the True Blood cast to know that you’re under orders to not leak details about the upcoming season. But can you tell me how you feel about the upcoming season without breaching any confidentiality?
TL: I have to be guarded in what I say. It was an emotional season for my character this year. The show has changed show runners, and now it’s kinda this big, global brand that I’m happy to be part of. I get to go to science-fiction conventions. I’ve gone to England, Germany, and Australia. I never thought something like this would be part of my career, but when jobs and opportunities and a little bit of money present themselves to you, you go. You think to yourself, “This isn’t what I set out to do as an actor. I didn’t set out to do science-fiction conventions.” But it’s a chance to see the world. I’ve been very fortunate to be on True Blood. It’s kinda like winning the lottery. It’s given me some exposure, and now I’m starting to get some film offers for quirky kind of characters in different films. I love it. It’s great. I feel so blessed. And I’m thankful for my training at the University of Texas. I put my time in there. I guess I used that training to help me along in my career.

 
AC: So what’s this I hear about you being a musician, too?
TL: I have this band called L.A. Hootenanny. We hope to come to town and play in Austin sometime. Recently, we ordered some food from the Salt Lick for an upcoming gig. We’re going to play at the American Legion here in L.A., have a Sunday brunch, and feed the folks some barbecue.

AC: What do you think about playing the part of military person without having been one?
TL: I was a guy who was lucky enough to go to college. Enlisting in the service wasn’t an option for me. I have respect for people who have seen stuff way worse than I have. The worst thing I can stir up for any emotional recall is that I saw my dog die. I haven’t had to see anything that is very, very ugly. I’ve worried during the run of the show that I’m giving an inaccurate portrayal or someone who has really seen some shit, to use some military parlance. But I’ve gotten compliments from veterans saying they really liked my portrayal of the character and that I give him a lot of sympathy. I credit the writers for that. But I’m a never-enlisted Austin musician. My hands and wrists don’t stay rigid like a combat veteran. I took some martial arts classes in Kali [Filipino stick fighting] from a friend of mine to firm them up and learn some basic fighting stances. I have to tell my body to constantly stand up straight because I’m a natural slouch. I don’t want to get portraying a veteran wrong and certainly don’t want to offend someone who can kill me in two moves.
 
AC: How has it been at True Blood since Alan Ball left?
TL: I do miss Alan and his vision. The show got large. But Brian Buckner was on the writing staff since the first season and now he has taken the reins. He has brought back a sense of camp and humor and a lot of threat, which I think the show has been lacking since the first season. He has brought back threat and a sense of danger to the show. I think he has tapped into something that has really made the show click when it first aired.
 
AC: I was looking at the first season and saw this touching moment of you and Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer) hugging because he had made a speech to a church group about the horrors of war. That’s when we first really meet your character, when he approaches Bill saying that he also understands war is hell. It was as if at that moment you two were the only veterans in the whole room.
TL: I can tell you how I played that scene. I was new to the show, and I was just written in as a guest star in the first season. We had a table read, and I discovered I’m taller than him. I know he’s a big, powerful vampire who can kill me, but I’m going to dominate his space and give him a big hug he can’t get away from. I just ran in and charged and gave him a big-ass hug. That’s how I played the scene as an actor. I used my physical size. I’m not as tough, nor as pretty.
 
AC: Your character is not supernatural, but looking back at season five, you encountered that Middle Eastern spirit …
TL: The ifrit.
 
AC: Yes, the ifrit. The first thing I did when I heard the word was Google the term to find out what it was and if it really existed. Have you gotten something out of the show and wondered if it was really part of some mythology, gotten you interested in doing research?
TL: I learned about the ifrit when Alan Ball emailed me at the beginning of last season. He told me, “This is what’s going on with your character. You were in a Marine platoon in the Middle East. You guys got high. Things escalated and you ended up shooting a bunch of civilians. And there’s this lady there, and the last thing she does is put a curse on you with an ifrit.” And he actually said, “You can Google it.” Obviously, he had. So I Googled “ifrit” and learned basically it’s a fire demon. We had problems with the pronunciation of it. That was the first time I had ever learned of an ifrit.
 
AC: Do you have anything else you’d like to share about True Blood?
TL: There have been a surprising amount of Austin people on the show. Kevin Alejandro, who played Jesus, went to University of Texas at Austin. Marshall Allman, who played Tommy, grew up in Austin. Mehcad Brooks, the big muscley guy who was Eggs, is from Austin. Michelle Forbes, who played Maryann, is from Austin. A few years ago, the Statesman ran a piece on Austin’s connection to the show. A lot of us grew up in Austin. And there’s always a kinship when you run into someone from Austin. We all reminisce about Barton Springs. Apparently, y’all are getting some rain now. The creeks are filling back up.
 
AC: A little bit. But you live in L.A. where rain is scarce.
TL: Yes, it’s scarce here. Every time I go back, I go to Lake Travis. It’s a little sad that the water’s so low where those cliffs are we used to jump off of. Don’t want to jump in and land on a bunch of limestone. I’ll do an L.A. rain dance. I’d rather the rain come to Austin than Los Angeles.
 
AC: I’m impressed by everyone’s accents has on True Blood.
TL: No, c’mon, not everyone …

To read the rest of this interview, go to: austinchronicle.com

Share with your friends

Stephen Moyer has been stripping down for years on True Blood. But for some episodes of the new season, he was in charge of getting his costars naked, too – and found that just as enjoyable.

Stephen said Tuesday at True Blood’s season 6 premiere at Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome at the Arclight:

“It was a lot of fun doing three hours of makeup and getting into complete red-blob land, and then directing my fellow actors naked. That was a lot of fun,“

Stephen, who directed his second True Blood episode this season (episode 1) says he’s very understanding with the other actors when it comes to the pressure of baring all for the cameras.

“Given that I’m naked for a great chunk of it, I think I’m quite sensitive,” he says. “I’m a sensitive lover.“

Stephen, added that being on a show filled with sex leads to plenty of on-set hilarity.

“There are all sorts of inappropriate fall-out situations that we’ve all been through at various points,” he says. “[Legendary British actor] John Gielgud once said to one of his leading ladies, ‘I apologize to you if nothing happens below, and I also apologize to you if something does.‘ “

source: people.com

Share with your friends

Why not have the perfect cocktail party in honor of True Blood’s Season 6 when it premieres this Sunday night. As our favorite show returns this weekend, we have a great idea for those wanting to party before or after the show.

There’s still time to go out and buy the book “True Blood Drinks and Bites” which is just full of fabulous True Blood inspired cocktails that you can make for your party. And, why not liven up the scene with some True Blood Music by playing the True Blood Original Music Volume 4 CD; which includes some of the songs to be featured in Season 6.

Whatever you decide to do for your True Blood Premiere party, we hope you have a great time and enjoy the fun!  Let us know what you’ll be doing in the comments below.

Check out a sample recipe from the book for Lumiere Sparklers:

Purchase the book and the CD at Amazon.com

Share with your friends

Sam Trammell chatted this morning with Sam Rubin on KTLA. He talks about how embarrassed he was to be naked in front of Stephen Moyer last season, about cracking up during the shoots and pretending it’s hot outside while it’s really freezing.

Click on the video below to go to the site and see the video.

Share with your friends

Anna Paquin is set to make her directorial debut this year with the ‘The Pink Hotel’ based on the book with the same title written by Anna Stothard. Ms Stothard confirmed earlier rumors about Paquin directing exclusively to The Vault. It is not known yet when and where the movie will be shot.

The production company is of Anna and Stephen Moyer, CASM Films, is producing.

“The Pink Hotel” tells the story of a seventeen-year old London girl who flies to Los Angeles for the funeral of Lilly, a mother she’d barely known. Whilst there, she uncovers a suitcase full of photographs, letters and clothes in the attic of the eponymous hotel and, led by these clues, sets out to unravel her mothers’ secrets.

Share with your friends

Deborah Ann Woll spoke to CBSNews.com about what’s in store on the show this season; her character Jessica’s evolution in the series; and a special project she worked on recently outside of her normal vampire duties.

Below are excerpts from the interview:
 
How would you compare this upcoming season compared to past seasons?
I would say for me the big difference I’ve noticed this season is we’re kind of gathering into our story lines. I would say that circumstances have pulled a lot of people together. I work with a lot more people this year. The story lines are a little bigger, more focused, where more people are focused on the same plot.
 
That last scene in the season five finale, where Bill comes back to life as this powerful figure after it looked like he died, was pretty incredible. Will there be a resolution to that in the new season?
Definitely something happened to Bill. We’re not sure yet, we’ll find out as the season goes on. I think even Bill’s not quite sure what’s happened to Bill, so there’ll be some searching for him as well.
 
What will happen to Jessica in season six for her? It seems like she’s gone through some maturity in the last couple of seasons.
Even though she’ll be 17 forever, time is what matures us. She certainly has a lifetime of experience in the last season. Yes, I think that she’s evolving. I think that this season — while there’s definitely still that youthful — I like to think of Jessica as irrepressible, that you can’t really get her down. These terrible things happen, she does terrible things, she feels horrible about them, but somehow she’s able to rally her spirits and start again. I find that to be a really admirable quality. I think [in] this season that comes off in a big way. She’s gonna be really tested to see if she is mature enough to pick up the pieces and start again because every season she seems to be alone and looking for someone to be there for her and we’ll see who it is.
 
There was obviously a romantic chemistry between Jessica and Jason. But then in the season five finale, he treated her pretty cold.
He’s also brain-damaged at the time, too. We got to give him that. Hoyt’s gone for good now and Jason’s not giving her the time of day, and even though she may not know it yet at the end of season five, her maker [Bill] has been completely transformed in some way. She’s really on her own and I think she’s gonna cling to whatever she can find.
 
By the way, the scene in which Jessica glamours (hypnotizes) Hoyt into forgetting about her so he could move on with his life was one of the most poignant moments of last season.
I think it’s one of the most beautiful ways we’ve had a send-off. Jim Parrack was really dear, — certainly to me personally — but I think to all of us. I think it meant a lot to everyone that he got such a beautiful send-off, we all really wanted to do right by him.
 
How is it like working with Ryan Kwanten, who really made the character of Jason Stackhouse as his own?
Ryan is awesome. He really is. I have to say I hit the jackpot when it comes to the people I get to work with on the show. I mostly work with Steve and then Jim previously and Ryan and all of them are just the kindest, most respectful and most talented. Ryan is just to watch him on set — sometimes I forget I’m doing a scene and I’m just observing — because he’s so excellent and he’s fun to hang out with as well. These are long days and 40 percent of them is just waiting around and it’s nice to have someone who is interesting and fun to talk to. He’s a smart, kind man.
 

Outside of True Blood, you served as an executive producer of a new documentary called Running Blind, which tells the story of EJ Scott, who has a degenerative eye disease called Choroideremia — and yet ran in 12 marathons in 12 states in one year while blindfolded. How did you get involved with that?
[EJ] is my boyfriend. This was a charity event, a fundraiser he was doing last year. We are trying to raise awareness and fund for a cure. But also this is a great story about people who face challenges and rise above them. We ended up making this short doc and we had a premiere at the Telluride Mountain Film Festival a couple of weekends ago. We’re very excited. It was really hard for him, but he did a great job.
 
From what you did on Running Blind, do you foresee yourself doing more behind-the-scenes work as your career progresses in addition to acting?
Not really. I think I did this because it was really close to my heart. It was very personal and I wanted to support EJ in what he was doing. I’m a bit of a writer — I’ve done a little bit of that. But mostly acting is really where my heart is and that’s what I really want to do.

Share with your friends

Sam Trammell was one of the many celebrity guests at the World Oceans Day in Santa Monica, CA on Saturday evening at the Inaugural Oceana Beach House presented by Nautica with support from LA Confidential Magazine.

In between the Hors d’oeuvres and kissing a turtle, Sam expressed his enthusiasm about the new True Blood season.  “There’s a whole new crop of characters and it’s totally different from last year. Every year, the show reinvents itself in a way, and I’m really excited about this year!”

source: Oceana.org

Share with your friends