VIDEO: True Blood Stars on the SAG Red Carpet

Several members of the True Blood cast were interviewed in yet another video taken at the SAG Awards. Amongst those were Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman), Mariana Klaveno (Lorena), and Mehcad Brooks (Eggs).

There were several small topics discussed in the video. First was about being at the SAGs. In that portion of the video, Deborah said “I think I was most excited about seeing my boyfriend in his fabulous suit. We’re such jeans and t-shirts kind of people that it’s nice to see him gussied up a bit.”

Alex talked directly about the SAG awards, commenting, “[It's] very humbling… Amazing. Very flattering to be nominated.”

Mariana talked about how the SAGs allow actors to see their peers. She said, “It’s a little surreal. I just passed by Betty White and Joan Allen and I’m a little starstruck.”

The next section of the video was about how and when different actors got their SAG cards (you must have a speaking line in something before you are eligible to get it). Alex played the joker in this section of the video. His response “I thought you were going to say ‘When did you get this tall?’” was rather amusing!

Mariana said she got her SAG card because [she] was blown up on Alias. (I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to see her character on True Blood have the same thing happen to her!)

Another portion of the video had the stars talking about the SAG Awards as a whole. Mehcad had this to say: “It’s us… You know it’s us voting for each other, it’s us patting ourselves on the back, it’s us respecting each other for work that we really appreciate and connect to.”

Alex’s comment was more about being around the cast of True Blood than the SAG Awards themselves. He said, “It sounds kind of boring but I’m actually really excited because it’s seventeen of us in the cast—we’re all here tonight and we don’t—we never work together because there’s so many storylines going on on the show… I’m actually quite excited to hang out with the whole group tonight.”

In the final part of the video, which showed some various show casts with their awards, there is a two-second glimpse of Patrick Gallagher (Vampire Chow) saying “Thank you, thank you” for winning his award for his work on GLEE.

This is a rather long video (around 11 minutes), but just to see the cast of True Blood makes watching the whole thing worth it! After all, who doesn’t enjoy seeing actors we all love dressed to the nines?

Click here to watch the video.

SOURCE: SAGAwards.com

Rutina Wesley in TV Guide Magazine

TV Guide Magazine is used by most subscribers than just the television listings nowadays. In my own household, it is actually used more for the articles about our favorite shows and the pictures from different awards shows.

For example, in the February 8-14, 2010 issue of TV Guide Magazine, there is a two-page photo-article that has pictures of some of the stars who attended the SAG Awards. True Blood’s very own Rutina Wesley was featured in a three picture spread along with some quotes regarding the SAG Awards.

Rutina looks lovely in her robe as she was getting made up for the SAG Awards and smiling at her makeup artist. Rutina was quoted below that photo as saying,

“Getting ready [for the SAGs] was very fun.” She said that it normally takes her an hour and a half to get ready, but she always keeps some buffer time because “you never know—something could go wrong.”

Rutina and her husband and fellow actor Jacob Fishel looked fabulous on the SAG Red Carpet as Rutina is quoted as saying in the The TV Guide Magazine issue,

“I’m always trying to get [Jacob] to take a picture.”

She also commented about how wonderful it is to have someone there for you all the time.

Rutina was quoted in the article about her surprise of True Blood’s nomination for a SAG Award and how she found herself star-struck being surrounded by so many famous and talented actors in the industry and how fortunate she was to be among them. As Rutina said, “is a grown girl’s dream come true.”

To see the gorgeous pictures of Rutina and to enjoy her down-to-earth attitude pick up a copy of TV Guide Magazine, available in stores and on newsstands now.

SOURCE: TV Guide Magazine

Win a True Blood Package from the SAG Awards Final Online Auction

The Screen Actors Guild Awards is running their annual online SAG Awards Auction with proceeds from the auction benefiting the SAG Foundation, currently celebrating its 25th year, to help make possible the Foundation’s nationwide children’s literacy programs now reaching 100,000 children per week through BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) and Storyline Online, the Foundation’s Actors Center and Foundation programs providing emergency relief to members in economic distress, emergency funds for members with catastrophic illnesses, video and audio preservation of the creative legacy of SAG members and scholarships for performers and their children.

The last installment of the Screen Actors Guild Awards® online auction to benefit the SAG Foundation starts Thursday, Jan. 21 and closes Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at 8:30pm EST / 5:30pm PST. The auction offers a variety of exciting items and experiences in celebration of this year’s SAG Awards®-nominated films and television series. Among the collectibles are sheet music from the hit show “Glee,” signed by the cast; a special photo book shot, put together and signed by “Crazy Heart” star Jeff Bridges; TravelPro luggage from “Up In The Air,” Signed copies of SAG’s official photo of Life Achievement Award recipient Betty White and her latest book “Here We Go Again,” a day paired with a celebrity in the 1st Annual SAG Foundation Golf Tournament at Lakeside Golf Course, plus many more exciting items including an exclusive 16th Annual SAG Awards® tote bag signed by this year’s Actor® recipients.

The Ceremony auction includes the follow True Blood item along with other items up for auction that fans may be interested in:

• “True Blood” swag including poster signed by Anna Paquin, the complete Season 1 DVD, hat and Merlotte’s Bar & Grill t-shirt

• “30 Rock’s” pilot script autographed by Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, and Tracy Morgan
• A Wynning Event: Two consulting hours for Party Planning with Awards Event Supervisor Andrea Wyn Schall via phone and a free downloadable version of her book “Budget Bash.”
• “An Education” screenplay autographed by Lone Scherfig, Carey Mulligan and Nick Hornby
• Betty White Memorabilia: “Here We Go Again” book, Life Achievement Photo and Screen Actor Magazine, all signed by Betty White
• Champagne Taittinger Rauschenberg Collection 750ml bottle from their limited production of the 11th Taittinger Collection Series. An American painter, sculptor, printmaker, photographer and performance artist, Rauschenberg was the latest artist to create for the Taittinger Collection Series. This 2000 vintage champagne, from one of the last family-owned and most esteemed champagne houses, is a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir
• Chef Suzanne Goin offers dinner for four at her restaurant Lucques as well as an autographed copy of her James Beard Foundation award-winning cookbook, “Sunday Suppers at Lucques”
• Columbia Pictures offers two tickets to a 2010 Premiere
• “Crazy Heart” Special Edition Photo book autographed by Jeff Bridges. (1 of 1500)
• “Curb Your Enthusiasm” box set DVD’s seasons 1-6, t-shirt, sweatshirt and hat
• “Dexter” Memorabilia Gift bag including Bobbleheads, Figurines, Coasters, Season DVDs, Dexter Cap
• Dry Creek Vineyard’s 6 liter Cuvée Wine bottle celebrating their 10th Anniversary with the SAG Awards
• “E! News” set visit for two people
• “Extra” Set visit and gift basket
• “Georgia O’Keeffe” Set Props including Shabby Chic Porcelain Serving Dishes, Retro orange and green ceramic jewelry box, Classic hand-painted and polished wood jewelry box, Leaf-detailed Iron chest, Hand painted Bird chest with Wrought Iron tray, and Vintage Mini-Traveler’s Trunk with detailed wooden serving tray
• “Glee” lyric sheet signed by Matt Morrison, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, Jayma Mays, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Kevin McHale, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jane Lynch
• “Glee” sheet music signed by Matt Morrison, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Dianna Agron, Jayma Mays, Cory Monteith, Lea Michele, Kevin McHale, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jane Lynch
• “Grey Gardens” DVD and frame of East Hampton estate
• “Inglourious Basterds” poster signed by Michael Fassbender, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Brad Pitt, Eli Roth, Rod Taylor, Christoph Waltz and Quentin Tarantino
• “Law & Order, SVU” T-shirt and cap, photo signed by Christopher Meloni and nominee Mariska Hargitay. The script is signed by Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Tamara Tunie, Dann Florek, and Ice T
• “Major League: Back to the Minors” poster autographed by Scott Bakula
• “Medium’s” script of the pilot, DVD set of the 3rd season and photo all signed by Patricia Arquette. She will also leave a personal voice recorded message to the winner.
• “Modern Family” autographed Script by Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet, Rico Rodriguez, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould
• “Necessary Roughness” photo and college football signed by Scott Bakula
• “Nine” Autographed Posters by Nicole Kidman, Fergie, Penelope Cruz and director Rob Marshall
• PEOPLE Magazine’s Gala Gift Bag
• “Poltergeist” Movie poster signed by JoBeth Williams (poster is 11×17)
• SAG Awards swag including a black backpack, 11th tote bag and 12th-16th hats in various colors
• SAG Foundation’s Actors FORE Actors: A day of golf with a celebrity for four people in the 1st Annual SAG Foundation Golf Tournament at the Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank
• “Saving Grace” Poster autographed by Holly Hunter
• Shelley Fabares memorabilia including autographed posters of “Spin Out” “Girl Happy” & “Clambake” and her hit record “Johnny Angel”
• “Star Trek” DVD autographed by writers Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
• “Taking Chance” DVD starring Actor® nominee Kevin Bacon
• Tavern’s Picnic Box by Chef Suzanne Goin including the food served at the 16th Annual SAG Awards
• “The Good Wife” script autographed by nominee Julianna Margulies
• “This Is It” CD autographed by Kenny Ortega and Orianthi
• “Up in the Air’s” Travelpro® Platinum® 6, 22” Expandable Rollaboard® Suiter, as used by nominees Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga

To place a bid for your chance to win the True Blood pack with a poster signed by Anna Paquin, Season 1, a hat and a Merlotte’s shirt click here.

To bid on items at the full auction site click here.

So what are you waiting for True Blood fans, start bidding!

SOURCE: SAG Awards

(Photo credit: cinefille.blogspot.com)

Sam Trammell at Eyecon

What follows is Sam’s great Q & A session from Eyecon. Unfortunately I was so busy clapping and taking pics that I didn’t get the recorder turned on until he’d already started but we have most of it transcribed thanks to Cyrenna’s hard work!

From Eyecon ‘09:

Q: The scene with you and Arlene’s kids, it’s one of my favorite scenes. What were the kids like to work with? I love those kids I think they’re real talented.

Sam: They’re really cool, those kids are really cool. And you know what’s funny? At the scene at the bar when I’m talking to them…The way they put the camera, I couldn’t look at their faces, they put X’s on the mat box which is this thing right around the lenses so I had to act to the X’s. I was so bummed because they’re kids and you always get such good stuff from kids. They had really cute accents, too. They put on Southern accents. They were so cute.

Q: What was the hardest scene to do?

Sam: A really tough one was the one was in the last episode where I had to go and see my adoptive mom who gave me up. That was a tough one. I don’t know why it was tough, maybe because I didn’t want to be too “I don’t like you, I’m mad at you.” I didn’t want to play the obvious thing. But at the same time it was written that I was angry at them and my character didn’t want to be angry he just wanted to get information on how to find his biological parents. So that was a tough one. One of the toughest things, honestly, and this is a technical thing, is wearing short sleeves or being naked when its cold and then having to be pretend that you’re not cold. That’s always really hard. Seriously! Because you’re thinking “Oh my God, I’m really cold!” and they say “ACTION” and you have to act like “Yo, what’s up!? I’m chilling out in Louisiana and it’s hot!” ~laughs~

Q: Do you think we’ve seen the last of Maryann?

Sam: That’s a good question… I know she’s bad…really bad. I don’t know though because she’s a weird energy and even though she died I wouldn’t be surprised if Alan brought her back in some weird way, like her energy through someone else. I think for now we have [seen the last of Maryann] but I wouldn’t count her out because she’s like the devil.

Q: Is it difficult for you to get into character and do have a favorite line?

Sam: The character is not too difficult. It’s not as easy because I have to do a Southern accent but I’m actually from the South so that comes back fairly easily. But whenever your putting on an accent or a limp that adds a little bit of a, ya know, it’s an extra thing to do. I’m not that far away from the character. I mean I am not quite as much of a loner as he is but I’m kind of a private person and I did move around a lot as a kid. I wasn’t abandoned by my adoptive parents but it’s not too terribly much of a stretch.

Q: When you’re not filming and you have down time what type of hobbies do you have and what do you like to do?

Sam: I like to surf and I took that up when I moved to the West Coast. My brother lives in St. Augustine and he surfs on the East Coast and he always said you’re an idiot if you don’t surf in California because there’s great waves there and he was always jealous.
So I started doing that and that’s a weird hobby because you get up really early in the morning and the waters always really cold and you’re always like “Why am I doing this?” And then, it’s really fun once you start doing it.

Q: Do you have a favorite book?

Sam: I’m reading a book right now that’s pretty good called “A Shadow of the Wind”. It’s a Spanish writer. It’s kind of a mystery-thriller. It’s really well written. But you know one of my favorite books, this is kind of random and I don’t know why this came into my head, is “Beloved” by Tony Morrison. ~applause~ Anybody read that? Yeah, because I’m from the south and it’s really well written and it’s heavy, it’s so intense. And I’m going to sound so pretentious now, I like Dostafski a lot but it takes a little work to read him and I haven’t read him for a while. I’ve been lazy.

Q: Who’s your favorite supporting actor?

Sam: Well one of my favorite people for sure is Chris Bauer who plays Andy Bellefleur ~applause~ You guys like him??? Yeah he’s good. But I knew him because I used to live in New York so I knew him before and actually we go surfing together. Whenever I work with him I just try not to laugh because his character is so funny. Like… there was a scene in the first season where I’m telling him, “I’m a naturist,” remember that??? and I swear we would do that scene and I would walk up to the table and say “Well, you know Andy, I’m a naturist” and he would just look at me and we would literally just try not to laugh and they would say cut and we would totally laugh. And then this season when we were in the refrigerator and he’s telling me about his nanny named Annie and I was like, you’ve got to be kidding me, you’ve got to be kidding me. I was SO trying not to laugh. I love working with him. He’s a lot of fun

Q: First of all I just want to say thanks for being here.

Sam: Oh! You’re welcome it’s great to be here.

Q: Did you have any second thoughts about playing the role of Sam?

Sam: Oh did I ever have any second thoughts like, “Oh, was this a bad choice?” or something??? No ~laughs~ No, No Way!

Q: The naked scenes did you have any problem with that?

Sam: No, not so much. I kind of knew, whenever you work for HBO they’re like, “If you’re going to work for us you’re going to have to sign a thing that says you’re going to show your butt.” and I said “Yeah, fine.” That was totally fine. So, not really. It is kind of tough doing the naked scenes, kind of, it’s not too bad, but just when it’s cold. But I was always psyched and when I got the script and it said Alan Ball and HBO, I said “I want to do that!” I hadn’t even read it because Alan Ball is such a good writer and HBO is the best place to work. So I’ve been pretty psyched about it.

Q: I know Charlaine has already decided who Sookie will end up with in the end. What are your feelings on that because I would love to see Sookie and Sam end up together.

Sam: Aww that’s nice. So are you saying that Charlaine’s already decided that in the books? Oh, she has, but she hasn’t written it yet?

Well, I think that would be good because, you know, I’m not a vampire ….I’m alive! I turn into a dog, but I’m alive, so that’s a good thing! You know like a live man right? I mean vampires are sexy, I guess. They bite you and everything….I can bite! Just because you’re a vampire does not mean you can’t bite! Alright…you should know that! You should know that! Dogs bite…exactly! So I think it would be good. I think that I’m good for her. Team Sam!!! [Spotted a woman with a Team Sam T-shirt on in the audience] Oh my god I’ve never seen that! I’ve never seen that! Got one member! Two members! Ya gotta start somewhere!

Q: What season did you like better? Season one or season two?

Sam: I kind of liked season 2, I mean I loved season 1 but season 1 felt a lot to me like me pining after Sookie and saying “Don’t go to the Vampires. Stay with me. Don’t do this, don’t do that” like “Mr. Rules guy”. Like, “Oh that’s bad, that’s bad.” Then season 2, I kind of stood up to her a little bit and I felt like I was a little bit more of a man. And then I got to squeeze the heart and save the town! So I kind of like season 2 a little bit more in that sense.

Q: How were you inspired to pursue a career in acting? Were you influenced by anyone?

Sam: You know it’s interesting I never ever thought about acting. I went to college and I’d never acted and I went to be a physics major of all boring things. But I wanted to be an astrophysicist and ended up being a philosophy major. I was a musician. I was always in bands since I was like 13. I played guitar in bands and this friend of mine who is now a musician was an actor then, and my last semester of school he said, “You should audition for the new plays festival. They need a bunch of actors because they do like 8 new plays by graduate students.” It just took somebody saying to do it because I always thought it looked kind of fun, like playing house but like really taking it seriously. Like really pretending whatever you are. So that’s all it took was somebody saying, “You should do that.” and I was like, “Yeah, yes I should.” And then I auditioned and got a part and that was my last semester of college and I just did a couple more plays and I had already applied to graduate schools and I said, “Forget that, I’m going to move to New York.” And I literally moved to NY on a bus with some sort of suit case I could hold in my hand. A classic story. And that was it. I got a late start.

Q: Is there another character on the show that would be interesting to play for you?

Sam: Yes I think there are so many good characters. Jason has a great part, Bill has a great part. I mean, Bill’s part is tough because he’s playing a vampire. There’s so many good ones like Alexander, you know ~applause~ Love it ~laughs~ I think Rutina’s part is great, Tara’s part its so good. A really good part isn’t it? ~applause~

Q: Lafayette?

Sam: Lafayette! Yes! You know, Nelson, he brings so much to that part. It’s not just on paper, he brings like a whole new level to that part.

Q: Could you do it? Could you do a part like that?

Sam: Probably not ~laughs~

Q: Do you think you’ve got it in you?

Sam: I don’t know if I’ve got it in me, you know? ~laughs~

Q: Since you’re a shifter and you can only turn into something you have come in contact with, do you think in season 3 in at least one scene can you shift into an alien or a predator from your past movie?

Sam: Wow, that’s a good question, that’s a good question. Maybe a predator!

Q: Do you watch the show every Sunday when it airs and where do you watch it?

Sam: Oh yes, I have to. I mean it’s really hard for me to watch myself, it’s very hard and I’m very overly critical. I usually like to watch it alone first, because the first time you watch it… If there are other people you are just so embarrassed and you want to get used to it. I usually watch it at home, sometimes we have people over.

Q: We had a contest and asked our readers what they would most like to know from you and what they answered was, they want to know “Has True Blood changed you and if so how?”

Sam: I don’t know if it’s changed me but it’s changed my life a little bit because I just get recognized a little bit more, especially after the second season and especially in places where there’s a lot more people like New York City. And it’s definitely fun. There’s no question it’s great. People come up and say they love the show or they like my part and it feels good and I’m not going to pretend like “Oh, I’m over that”, it’s pretty great. I don’t know that it’s changed me at all. It hasn’t changed me but it’s definitely changed my life a bit.

Q: Do you like people coming up and asking me for autographs or just coming up to you?

Sam: I really don’t mind it but there’s definitely every once in a while you’re just like not in a good mood as you can all imagine and you just kind of just want to be alone or you’re just not feeling confident or not feeling like you have it in you to be friendly. But those times aren’t that much; I just don’t usually mind it that much. No. I don’t mind it at all.

Q: If you could be stranded on a desert island with anyone from the cast who would it be and why?

Sam: Wow, did I really hear that question? Sorry, trying to buy some time… buy some time. Wow, like stranded on an island forever? Forever…wow. Well if was going to be forever it would have to be a woman. Wow. I don’t know who do you think? Daphne?

Q: She would probably hit you.

Sam: Hit me? No you know who hits me all the time is Anna. You know, she hits me all the time because she knows I won’t hit her back. It would be a woman from the show. I don’t know who.

Q: How did you land the roll on TB and how do you do the CGI scenes?

Sam: Okay so I landed the roll pretty normally. I just got the script and I read it. And then I went in and auditioned and they put it on tape. And Alan saw it and liked it. And then you have to go to a final audition in front of the President of HBO and all the big executives. And that’s so nerve racking because you have to sign contracts before you go in and it’s just very nerve racking.

And then I found out the same day that I got it! Which was great! Oh yeah, and the CGI…it’s kind of complicated. What they usually do, for instance in that scene in the shower where the dog stood up and then I stood up and you see my butt? They shot the dog first, I think, and they had that somehow on film and they had to line me up exactly with the dog. I’m not exactly sure how they do it. I had to be in an exact spot and stand up in a certain way.

Q: When you have naked scenes do you wear something in the front?

Sam: Do I wear something in the front….yes! We call it ‘the sock’. It’s not an actual sock but it’s this thing that you tie and it goes over your whole situation. And it’s beige.

Q: How much does it cover?

Sam: How much does it cover? Just the tip. No! It covers up pretty much the whole situation. Oh God, I’m embarrassed now…wow! Ryan has to wear that a lot and I have to wear it…but different ones! I have a larger size ~laughs~ I am so embarrassed now! Wow!

Q: How much is Alan Ball involved with the series from season 1 to season 2 and how much do you work with him on set?

Sam: That’s a good question. He’s really involved. He’s not on set as much as you might think. One of the many things that he’s really talented at and great at is he hires really good people, like department heads. So he really trusts the directors and the director of photography and the actors. He trusts everybody. And he sees everything in editing. So he’s not on the set a lot but he’s always in editing. And of course he’s writing all the time and he’s casting so his day is totally full. He kind of puts his energies where he needs to and he’s very involved. I think he re-writes almost every script and like I said he’s in the editing room.

Q: Does he pull like a 24 where you have no idea what happening until the next script and you read it that morning?

Sam: No, not all actually. He likes to shoot everything before the season comes out. Now that didn’t happen last year but it happened the first year. So he likes to have everything done ahead of time. And he’s really cool because he’ll give us scripts when they’re done. Most TV shows they’ll just give you the script that week. I don’t know why, either they’re behind or they just don’t want you to have the information and they play weird power games. But he’s so cool. When they have it done they give it to you. It’s really helpful because it helps you prepare when you know what you’re going to be doing in the 5th episode when you’re working on the first.

Q: How does the feeling or the adrenalin rush you get from filming a television series vary from when you’re on stage?

Sam: That’s a good question. It’s definitely different when you’re on stage. Obviously you get the immediate, “Oh my!” people who are out in the audience and you can feel it and then you do the whole thing and you’re done and you’re like “Yes! It was brilliant.” and you bow and everybody claps for you. But there is sort of an excitement when you’re filming for the show. Sometimes it’s really mellow though. You’re shooting a lot of scenes that day and there may be only a few people in the room where you’re shooting. And maybe you shot a really intense scene and it kind of goes without any fan fare. But then obviously TV reaches out to so many more people so there’s this delayed gratification where you shoot that episode like 5 months ago and you’ve forgotten it. You’re trying to remember that scene and then it comes on and you see it and everybody else sees it and then people are saying they like the scene that many months later, so it is really different.

Q: I know they have “The Vampire Musical” the Series; what about a ‘True Blood Musical’ with your background?

Sam: Wait a minute, you want to see a True Blood Musical?

Q: Would you be interested in doing it if they ever came up with it? What would Sam sing about?

Sam: If there were a musical, what would I have be singing about? I don’t know. I would have a song about turning into a dog and getting to sleep with Sookie or something. I don’t know. That’s pretty funny. That would be a weird musical wouldn’t it?

Q: As we see in Season 2 Eric’s been messing with Sookie and Lafayette. I’ve heard rumors from a couple people in Alan’s camp that they’re planning to have Bill mess with you.

Sam: Are you serious? What does that mean????

Q: The same way he’s messed with Lafayette and the same way he’s messed with Sookie.

Sam: Am I going to be dreaming about Bill now?

Q: Something like that.

Sam: Man you never know. You never know what they’re going to do on the show. Oh boy. Well I have to go back to that question whether I ever regretted doing this part!~laughs~ No, I’m totally kidding.

Q: What projects did you do while on break from True Blood?

Sam: I did a movie called “The Details” over the break. It’s a really cool script. It’s this independent kind of dark comedy that Toby McGuire and Laura Linny star in and Elizabeth Banks, too. It’s a really good script, it’s really good. I have a part in that so check that out. It will come out next year some time.

Q: God bless the man who made those jeans because I’d wear him like a scrunchy…

Sam: I forget who I was talking to last night. The woman who gave that line, that was an improvised line. And she’s kind of a comedian and they were just totally ripping and they were so funny. They were saying the funniest stuff.

Q: I still laugh at that

Sam: I know you’re laughing now ~laughs~ I know! And she said a lot of other pretty racy stuff that didn’t make it. I wish I could remember what it was.

Q: You could have been stranded on the island with Eric…he could have flown you off the island.

Sam: He could have flown me off the island; I knew there was a better answer, like someone who could cook.

Q: I was wondering is there any chance that you’ll do another play on Broadway?

Sam: Oh, yeah, I would do another play on Broadway for sure. The last play I did I think was 3 years ago. Yeah, I would love to do another play.

Sam: Do I go to New York City? Yes in fact I flew in from New York. I was their visiting friends and seeing some plays. I love New York and I love the theatre and for sure I am definitely going to do another play.

Q: What’s your favorite line?

Sam: What’s my favorite line? That I have said in the show? Oh gosh that’s a tough question, geez I can’t even remember. Like I forget all of my lines once I do them. What are some good lines that I’ve had?

Q: “Smite me, Motherfucker!!!!”

Sam: Oh….”Smite me, Mother Fucker!” So that’s my answer, you gave me my answer.

Yeah “Smite me, motherfucker!” that was a crazy scene. That scene, I swear when we saw that written we were like this is ridiculous…totally ridiculous! But it turned out pretty good I think. People are definitely into it.

Q: HBO has disappointed us with Carnival and Deadwood. I know you can’t predict but how long do you think True Blood is going to go?

Sam: First of all I can’t even tell you how grateful and psyched we all are that we didn’t end as quickly as Deadwood and Carnival and the surf show. But anyway, to answer your question, how long? I know that Alan Ball is having the best time of his life doing this show, he’s said. He loves doing it. He wants to keep doing it. We all want to keep doing it. Charlaine keeps writing books so hopefully we’re going to go on and on. And I know HBO’s psyched so hopefully we’re going to go on. It just depends on whether people are watching it. But if you all keep watching it and telling your friends to watch it, it could go for a while. I think there’s a lot of stuff to explore. There’s so many, it just kind of seems endless, like the different relationships and supernatural creatures and that world is so rich. I think we can explore that world for a while.

Q: I know you mentioned something about how you landed the show and so forth. I know sometimes the actors they audition for different parts in the show. Did you only audition for Sam’s part or different parts?

Sam: I did. I just auditioned for Sam. Yes that was the one.

Q: You also mention traveling through different countries and stuff; I am originally from Brazil so I was wondering if you plan on doing travels throughout the world?

Sam: I hope so. I just went to Paris. I would hope so because I love to travel. It’s funny because I was just tripping out the other day because I was in New York and I was in a restaurant and these two women from Brazil came and asked me for my autograph! They were really pretty, too. And that was one of the only times that people have come to me in a restaurant and asked for an autograph. But just the fact that they were from Brazil and knew me from watching the show in Brazil… just freaked me out.

Q: Everyone asks about your relationship with your human co-workers. I was wondering about your relationship with your little furry friend on the show? If you’re a dog lover?

Sam: I’m a total dog lover. I’m definitely a dog lover. I grew up with dogs. I love dogs. The dogs on our show are great. They’re not the smartest dogs. The one who I had to work with is actually a little bit brighter. They’re sweet dogs, they’re just not… Working with dogs is tough. Working with animals and kids is always very tough, like little kids. But they’re sweet. There are two of them. It’s like Dusty and Rusty or something like that.

Because they get tired you work with one for a while, and then you have to work with the other. But they have all kinds of tricks. They’ll hide treats in my hand when I’m trying to talk to them but inevitably you have to edit the scene and cut around it because they just don’t get it. They don’t get that they’re on “True Blood“. It’s like, “Come on, be serious!” ~laughs~

Q: I know that you have read all the books.

Sam: I’ve read four of the books.

Q: Do you plan on reading more or are you just going to stop because it’s so different?

Sam: I think I’m going to stop for a while. I wanted to read them because I wanted to make sure that Sam wasn’t like a crazy transvestite. And thought “Oh well, there we go.” But I kind of want to be surprised now. I’m always asking my friends who read the books if I’m still alive because still alive is good! But I’m probably going to take a break from them for a little bit. But I am sure I will ultimately read all of them, just for fun.

Q: Are there any practical jokers on the set and can you tell us about some of the jokes made behind the scenes?

Sam: Oh God, well I know Ryan has this whole thing with our cameraman, and they’re always doing stuff to each other. I think one of them filled the other’s car with little Styrofoam snakes, like the whole car! Which is pretty crazy and they have a lot of that kind of stuff going on.

Q: If it were your preference, what would you prefer to turn into?

Sam: That’s a good question. Well dogs are good; the bird is good because you can fly. The thing that I haven’t done yet is water, under water. Like a deep-sea fish or something. I don’t know. It would be good to be able to breath under water.

Q: Do you belong to any charities?

Sam: There’s a group called Oceania that I’m involved with that protects the ecological integrity of beaches and oceans and also Surf Rider, which also does the same thing. So those two organizations I’m involved with. But I am very into preserving the environment. That’s kind of my big thing

Sam: Next Question, yes, Team Sam…

Q: Long board or short board?

Sam: Mostly short board right now but I always have a long board available for when the waves are smaller.

Q: I have two questions. Do you have a MySpace or a Facebook where you keep in contact with your fans?

Sam: I don’t but I’ve been trying to get something like that going. So I’m not on Facebook or MySpace yet but we’re working on that.

Q: What about Twitter?

Sam: Twitter I haven’t done. Should I do Twitter?

Audience: Yes!

Sam: Because I don’t know how to do that, I’ve thought about doing that. And you just type “I’m hanging out at the thing, I’m on stage right now”, is that what you do? You just tell people where you are? Is it good, would you guys follow it if I did it???

Audience: Yeah!

Sam: Maybe I’ll do Twitter because it seems like the most available. Wait a minute, she has another question.

Q: You were talking about how two fans from Brazil came up and asked you for an autograph, is there a weird question that a fan has asked you?

Sam: Is there a weird question that a fan has asked me? You know, not so much. I mean there’s always a question of what I want to turn into. I mean, that’s not that weird. No, not so much. I need to make up an answer for that question because that’s just a boring answer isn’t it. No, not really ~laughs~

Q: In the last episode you turned into a bull and a lot of the sites in the blogs they wanted to know how did you turn into a bull because you had to imprint it, like, see it. Isn’t that correct? So a lot of people were writing to us and said that they were like, “How did he turn into a bull?”

Sam: So the question is, “How did I turn into a bull if the bull wasn’t there and I couldn’t map my genes off it?” Well the answer to that is that I think the way they wrote the story that there was a bull there. What happened was Bill brought the bull. When he came and he said he had that idea for me in the bar, he had gotten a bull. So actually, maybe, they didn’t make that clear enough in the episode. Did they not do that? Because that was the idea behind it.

Q: It just seemed like….

Sam: Because he said, “I have an idea.” I said, “Well I’m not really interested in it.” and he said, “You better!” and I’m like, “Alright! Don’t bite me!” So, yes that’s what happened. He brought a bull and then the idea was to let me die almost and then give me his blood. That would hurt. Like I really sacrificed myself. I feel like I really sacrificed. But that was the whole idea so that’s a bummer that it didn’t get across.

Q: How did you prepare to express that feeling of dying because you really looked scared and how do you prepare for something like that?

Sam: Well, you know, gosh. Because I did a Dexter where I got killed and that was such a horrifying situation. You know what I did, I got this video tape. Have you ever heard of “Faces of Death?” Terrible, terrible! I think some of it is fake but they show real people dying sometimes and that’s always been like a taboo thing for me. I don’t want to see that. It’s horrible. I don’t know why that exists. But I thought if I could watch some of that… for the Dexter role. So that’s what I did. So I could have that kind of horror when seeing him. Now with “True Blood,” I kind of pulled on a little bit of that for the scene where they struck me through the heart and then a lot of it is just instinct. Like when you’re a kid playing cowboys and Indians, just pretending. What would that take? Would it take the energy out of you? Or would it be really painful first. Then some of it’s just pretend, just playing pretend.

Q: Will it always be so long between seasons and any chance for a movie?

Sam: Interesting. You know why it’s so long between seasons? It’s because we only do 12 episodes, so it’s only three months of a great life of “True Blood” and then a terrible life 9 months without. And it is it’s always going to be 9 months because we have to have time to shoot it. I know it’s a bummer, I wish we shot more. I kind of wish we shot more maybe. And then a movie… maybe if we do it forever then it would be kind of cool.

Q: Two words for you Sam, “Nice balls”

Sam: ~Laughs Wow I’ll take that, I’ll take it. I don’t know where you got that but I’ll take it! Was that in the episode????

Q: Yes

Sam: Oh! I forgot that, “Nice rack” to you! That’s right I totally forgot about that. That’s a good answer for my favorite line, too.

Q: Congratulations on the Scream awards. Is it weird having the same name as your character?

Sam: Not really, it’s kind of easier; in a way it kind of does make me feel closer to the character unconsciously. So it’s kind of good and it’s easy for everybody.

Q: Do you ever read a script for an episode where you’re like, “Can we really do that?”

Sam: Yeah. Like every episode, every week. I’m thinking “Are people really going to be coming at us like “Dawn of the Dead”? You know, originally for that scene they had me burning down the bar – burning down half the bar to get all the people out. And then they would have to rebuild it but they were like, “We can’t do that, that’s too much work”. So then they changed it.

Q: Beyond True Blood is there any role you would like to play?

Sam: Gosh you know as far as plays go, I would love to do Checov or Gibson, those two Russian dudes, I would like to do that on stage. I would probably do any super hero.

Q: Aqua man?

Sam: Aqua man, yes….

Q: I was wondering if you could do a good Bill Compton impression?

Sam: Do Bill Compton? ~laughs~ “Sookie…where have you been Sookie…I want you Sookie.”

MC: As much as I worship you on Sunday nights I hate to tell you I have to cut it off .

Sam: Awwwww I hate being this person…you’re the bad guy…

MC: I’m Mary Ann

Sam: You gonna rock us out later? [MC was lead singer in the band]

MC: Yes. Give it up for Sam!!!!!!

TrueBloodNet.com wants to thank Sam for helping us fill in some blanks and Cyrenna for the tedious work of transcription and Kenny for making all this happen!

Transcription credit: Cyrenna
(Photo credit: Kasandra Rose)

VIDEO: Sam Trammell Speaks with TV Guide at the SAG Awards

True Blood’s Sam Trammell was quite busy on the the Red Carpet at the 16th Annual Screen Actor’s Guild Awards on Saturday, January 23, 2010 held at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. This time Sam along with Missy Yager by his side, were interviewed by TVGuide and as usual Sam was his endearing self answering questions about the show.

VIDEO: More True Blood Cast Interviewed at the SAG Awards

True Blood’s Deborah Ann Woll (Jessica Hamby), Kristin Bauer (Pam), and Todd Lowe (Terry Bellefleur) were interviewed on the red carpet at the 16th Annual SAG Awards by LAist’s TV Junkie (@TheTVJunkie), Thomas Attila Lewis. It was was a joy to watch and hear the cast talk about the show, their characters and this upcoming season 3.  Enjoy!

VIDEO: True Blood Interviews from the SAG Red Carpet

True Blood may not have won their award at the 2010 SAG Awards last night, but the actors involved DEFINITELY scored when it came to interviews on the red carpet! TNT has posted three interviews with cast members of True Blood so far: one with Mariana Klaveno (Lorena), another with Carrie Preston (Arlene), and one more with Anna Camp and Michael McMillian (Sarah & Steve Newlin). Watch and enjoy!

PHOTOS: True Blood Men Walk the SAG Red Carpet

The very handsome men of True Blood walked the red carpet at the 16th Annual Screen Actor’s Guild Awards on Saturday, January 23, 2010 held at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center.  Presented below is a series of photos here showcasing Sam Trammell, Alexander Skarsgard, Ryan Kwanten, Todd Lowe, Mehcad Brooks and Stephen Moyer looking extremely handsome. Enjoy the photos!

(Additional photo source: whosdatedwho.com)

PHOTOS: True Blood Ladies Walk the SAG Red Carpet

The lovely ladies of True Blood walked the red carpet at the 16th Annual Screen Actor’s Guild Awards on Saturday, January 23, 2010 held at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center.  Presented below is a series of photos here showcasing the beautiful Rutina Wesley, Deborah Ann Woll, Michelle Forbes and Mariana Klaveno looking fabulous in their gorgeous gowns.

PHOTOS: Anna Paquin Presenting at the 2010 SAG Awards

True Blood’s Anna Paquin had the honor of presenting at the 2010 SAG Awards alongside Simon Baker from “The Mentalist” the Best Female Actor in a Comedy Series category to Tina Fey from “30 Rock“.  Here are a series of photos of Anna onstage presenting the award along with a few of her on the red carpet modeling her Alexander McQueen print dress. Enjoy!

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