Australia is Spoiled for True Blood Events This Year
July 19, 2012
True Blood Convention News:
Boy are Australians in for a treat this year in relation to True Blood events! Not only do we have the Hub Productions convention occurring at the end of this month, but a second convention is also booked for the end of the year. Not to mention the awesome True Blood-inspired Halloween party that Seamus O’Toole’s holds every year in Melbourne…
Firstly, for those of you who ordered tickets for the Tru Blood 2 convention, Carissa from Hub Productions has verified that due to a printing issue, tickets will now be collected from the venue – so make sure you bring your photo ID for collection. So far, Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte) and Charlaine Harris (Author of the Southern Vampire Mysteries series that inspired HBO’s True Blood) are the only confirmed guests but negotiations are still under way and there should be a final announcement shortly.
If you are unable to make the Tru Blood 2 convention, why not aim for the one being run by First Contact Conventions: Full Blood. $120 will get you entry unlimited access to all areas of the convention. $500 will get you VIP tickets which includes a seat in the first two rows of the Q & A sessions with the stars, exclusive access to the VIP Chill Out room, a ticket to the Club Fangtasia Halloween party and so much more. Full details can be found here. So who are the guests for this event? The confirmed actors so far are: Kristin Bauer (Pam), Tara Buck (Ginger), Kevin Alejandro (Jesus) and Lauren Bowles (Holly). Wow – what a line up!
Finally, we come to Club Fangtasia, the awesome True Blood-inspired Halloween party that Seamus O’Toole’s runs every year in Melbourne. This year it will be a little different — there will be True Blood actors attending! Unfortunately, all the VIP tickets for this event are sold out, but if you are really lucky, you might be able to snap up one of the few remaining general admission tickets here. While this ticket means you can’t hang out all night with your fave True Blood stars in the VIP room, you will still be able to see them during the night when they come downstairs for the auctions and other special appearances.
So who has tickets for any of these events yet? Let me know in the comments below. Also, what questions would you like me to ask Sam and Charlaine?
Sources: Hub Productions – Tru Blood 2: A Second Bite
First Contact Conventions – Shock Horror Full Blood
Seamus O’Toole’s – Club Fangtasia
(Photo Credits: Hub Productions, First Contact Conventions & Seamus O’Toole’s)
True Blood Score Featured At SD Comic-Con 2012
July 9, 2012
Lisbeth Scott to Discuss Providing Her Voice to the Music of True Blood:
HBO’s series True Blood will be a topic of multiple discussions at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. ‘Behind the Music with CW3PR: Perfect Sound for TV & Film’ is a panel highlighting singer and composer collaborations that create memorable music in TV and film. One panelist is singer Lisbeth Scott, who has lent her voice to the score of True Blood, among other notable projects (Avatar, Iron Man 2).
Ms. Scott will join top composers and singers from TV and film to discuss the singer and composer collaboration. Topics that will be covered are: how these dynamic partnerships work, how they are essential to create poignant and memorable music, and how a singer’s voice can amplify an original score. Ms. Scott is one of only two singers featured, along with four composers.
The panel featuring Ms. Scott and her work on the score of True Blood will be held at SD Comic-Con on July 15th from 3:00-4:00 p.m. in room 7AB of the San Diego Convention Center. Attendees of the panel will receive exclusive giveaways. They will also be the first to see and hear surprise sneak peeks from upcoming projects of the panelists. A fan-led Q&A will follow, as per usual.
Source: Lisbeth Scott
The Greatest True Blood Prize Ever – Money Goes to the Choroideremia Research Foundation Inc.
June 20, 2012
Win Alexander Skarsgård Signed by the Rest of the Cast!
There is a unique opportunity to not only win an awesome True Blood prize, but to do your bit for Deborah Ann Woll’s (Jessica Hamby) favorite charity, the Choroideremia Research Foundation Inc.
So What do You Get?
Well, during the San Diego Comic-Con of 2010, a cardboard cutout of Alexander Skarsgård (who plays the vampire Eric Northman) was used to represent the unattended actor. This has now come into the hands of E.J. Scott, who is not only Deborah Ann Woll’s boyfriend, but a Choroideremia sufferer. He plans to raise $144,000 for the Choroideremia Research Foundation by running 12 marathons in 12 states in 12 months in 2012 – BLINDFOLDED! The Eric Northman cutout is the grand prize.
This cutout has now amassed over 60 signatures from the cast, writers, directors, producers etc of HBO’s hit show True Blood. Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) has drawn fangs on Mr Northman and Michael McMillian (Rev. Steve Newlin), the eternal prankster has also added bite marks to his neck. During Season 5, more prizes will be added to this one of a kind piece.
So How do You Enter?
Simply head over to Crowdrise.com and donate to the Choroideremia Research Foundation. Every $20 donation will entitle you to one entry into the prize pool. The competition started on the premiere night of Season 5 and will run through to the finale night on August 26, 2012. The winner will be picked randomly on video by Deborah Ann Woll. There will be free shipping of the prize to the winner – regardless of where they are in the world!
Make sure you donate now. Every donation gives you more chances at winning!
You can follow the progress of E.J. Scott and his marathons through any of the sources below:
TWITTER
@ejscott
@12marathons2012
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/ejscottpage
www.facebook.com/12marathons2012
www.facebook.com/ebaygaragesale
BLOG
www.ejcurechm.blogspot.com
WEBSITE
www.curechm.org
Source: Crowdrise.com – Win the Greatest True Blood Prize Ever! For Charity!!
(Photo Credit: Crowdrise.com)
Video: True Blood Cast Dishes Spoilers at Season 5 Premiere
June 7, 2012
New Couples, Old Adversaries, a Long Awaited Backstory:
When the cast of HBO’s True Blood turned out for the Season 5 premiere, they were interviewed on the red carpet. Everyone was happy to share information and insights into their characters and the events of the show itself.
*Warning: Mild spoilers ahead!
Alan Ball said that Season 5 is the season of church and state. It’s the season of politics and religion from the vampire perspective. When asked about Scott Foley’s character, Patrick, Mr. Ball explained that he made a bad decision in the heat of battle and it has far reaching consequences. Finally, Mr. Ball alluded to the introduction of some new romantic couples. He couldn’t elaborate because it would give too many story details away.
Jacob Hopkins (Alexander) described his character as feisty and strong minded. He says Alexander grew more obnoxious with each episode.
Denis O’Hare (Russell Edgington) said that vampire politics are the focus of Season 5. Mr. O’Hare explained that when people are brought back to life, they have to lose something. With Russell’s resurrection, he has lost his vicious ambition. In its place are a playfulness, ease, and humor. But make no mistake, Russell is still really dangerous. He still kills a lot of people, and kills them with glee. When asked, Mr. O’Hare said it took Russell about 4-5 episodes to heal. Most intriguingly of all, Russell unexpectedly falls in love again.
“Something happens from across the room. Something happens while sharing a body. Someone you know. You’ll be very surprised by it.”
Lucy Griffiths (Nora) explained that Nora and her ‘brother’ Eric love each other very much but haven’t seen one another in a long time. Their relationship can be very fraternal, in that they can be very aggressive toward each other. They make a great team when they work together but otherwise they just mess each other up.
Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) talked of the close relationship that developed between his character and Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgård).
“We’re good friends and it’s been a lot of fun. And we sort of love each other.”
Kristin Bauer van Straten (Pam) shared that Nora’s appearance caused a little bit of trouble for Pam. Ms. Bauer van Straten explained that she and Alex have been asking for Pam’s backstory for years and were thrilled to finally see it played out. She says the story explains the Pam we know.
Kelly Overton plays a new werewolf character named Rikki. She describes her character as a strong, resourceful werewolf, the opposite of the damsel in distress. She’s determined to find out what happened to the Pack Master and is not loving Alcide at the moment.
Rutina Wesley said that, despite people’s doubts, Tara is coming back.
Michael McMillian (Steve Newlin) said that becoming a vampire might be the best thing that’s ever happened to Steve. At first, he wondered if Steve would be self-loathing but the reality is, he’s very attracted to power. Jason is the guy Steve always wanted to be and he’s coming after Jason. But, Jason has a new vampire friend in Jessica.
“If you mess with Jason, you mess with Jessica.”
Apparently, the first four episodes are a Pam tour de force, and the origin story between Pam and Eric is fantastic. Fans don’t have long to wait now. Season 5 of True Blood premieres on HBO June 10th.
Check out the video below, if you’d prefer to skip to the good stuff (strictly True Blood related), it starts right before the 3-minute mark. Enjoy!
Source: TVLine
Alexander Skarsgård Takes a Break From Filming True Blood to Appear at WonderCon 2012
March 21, 2012
After a Night of Portraying Eric Northman, Skarsgård Promotes Upcoming Film:
First, a little background. WonderCon is a comics and 
media convention produced by the same group who brings us the San Diego Comic-Con. While much smaller in attendance (by several thousand) than its big sister, WonderCon does not fall short in quality programming.
I attended WonderCon on Saturday, March 17. It was held at the Anaheim Convention Center, not far from Disneyland. A primary, although not singular, motivation was to see the panel promoting the upcoming film ‘Battleship’. Panelist Alexander Skarsgård, who portrays Viking vampire Eric Northman on HBO’s series True Blood, plays Stone Hopper in ‘Battleship’. This is my first-hand account from dead-center in the room and reflects my perceptions, observations and opinions.
Living just outside of Los Angeles, I have been privileged to see Mr. Skarsgård in person four times, including WonderCon. I have previously attended the True Blood panels at both Comic-Cons in which he appeared, as well as PaleyFest in 2011. He is typically very engaging and witty, answering questions openly and teasing fellow panel members.
When Mr. Skarsgård was introduced and entered the stage, a large group of 6-8 women seated around me gave a collective gasp. They all watch True Blood but apparently were unaware either that Mr. Skarsgård was in ‘Battleship’ or that he was scheduled to appear that day. The group began to giggle and squeal, shifting in their seats, several of them saying – in loud voices – “It’s Eric Northman!”
Mr. Skarsgård typically wears a suit to panel appearances, but this day he was dressed more casually in jeans, gray Converse tennis shoes, a gray t-shirt and dark jacket. It could have been a concession to exhaustion (due to a late night filming of True Blood) or to the unusually heavy rain storm we experienced. Rounding out the panel was Director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights, The Kingdom) and co-star, Brooklyn Decker (Just Go With It).
The first video clip shown was an actual sequence from the film. It featured Ms. Decker, Mr. Skarsgård and Taylor Kitsch (Friday Night Lights, John Carter). Mr. Kitsch plays Alex Hopper, brother to Mr. Skarsgård’s character (who did not attend the panel). Mr. Skarsgård’s performance in the clip ranges from funny, to brotherly, to annoyed, to resigned and culminates in horrified surprise. It was entertaining and a pleasure to watch.
Skarsgård Found Working on “Battleship” to Be “scary”:
When the panel moderator asked Mr. Skarsgård what it was like working on such a large and complex production, he answered: “Scary”. He then explained that in a particular scene, a window is blown out and the glass and debris strike him. The shot was accomplished with a large air gun that Mr. Skarsgård said resembled a World War II cannon. The blast had been strong enough that his reaction was genuine; no acting had been required.
Peter Berg, who directed the film, paid Mr. Skarsgård a compliment. He said that when casting, he seeks out smart and complicated actors, which he considers Mr. Skarsgård to be.
Two more clips were shown of the film before the panel was concluded. On the whole, the movie appears to be a traditional summer action flick that could prove to be highly entertaining. In addition to the cast already mentioned, it also stars Liam Neeson (Clash of the Titans, Schindler’s List) and singer Rhianna in her acting debut. Mr. Skarsgård’s role seems to be sizable and significant and makes me wonder if this won’t be what catapults him from genre popularity to outright stardom within the U.S.
Battleship releases overseas in April and hits theaters in the U.S. May 18th.
Photo: whoalopez.tumblr.com
True Blood’s Viking Vamp Hits Up the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards
March 5, 2012
Skarsgård Makes a Daytime Appearance:
Alexander Skarsgård took a stroll down the purple carpet at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards on February 25th in Santa Monica, CA. The Independent Spirit Awards, first held in 1984, brings together the film community to celebrate the best of the best of independent cinema. Skarsgård was sporting some pretty nifty shades in an effort to avoid the blistering sunlight:
ASkars makes that suit look good! Accompanying Skarsgård on the purple carpet was his brother, Gustaf Skarsgård.
Any Truebies here a fan of independent cinema? Did you catch the awards on TV? Leave a comment below and let us know!
Source Credit: WetPaint.com
Photo Credit: PacificCoastNews.com via zimbio.com
Joe Manganiello Dishes on “Magic Mike” and the “Season of the Werewolf”
March 2, 2012
A Werewolf Stripper?
As fans eagerly await the return of True Blood’s Season 5 this summer, Joe Manganiello seems to be the most prolific celebrity spoiler for the show. It has been noted that if we were to call season four the season of the witch, season five will be the season of the werewolf. That means a whole host of hot new werewolf cast members. Manganiello told Access Hollywood correspondent Tim Vincent (at GQ’s Men of the Year Party in LA) that he’s looking forward to the season. Last season, Alcide “helped end the reign – and life – of packmaster Marcus… and actress Dale Dickey recently joined the cast as Marcus’ – presumably grieving – mom.”
Manganiello said:
“I can’t wait to work with her (Dale Dickey) and I think there’s gonna be some werewolves who are gonna give Alcide some trouble this season, as well. I’m anxious to see who they’ll cast.”
The actor has revealed that he’s on par with the fans in wanting to see his character bump nasties with Paquin’s. “Alcide likes Sookie a whole heck of a lot. She’s single, Alcide’s single… I totally want to see them hook up.” Apparently, Manganiello’s mother is a big Paquin fan as well, and wants to see her son’s character “find love with Bon Temps’ fairy-waitress.”
He also raved about the disastrous return of Russell Edgington. “I love Denis O’Hare,” he said. “Him coming back – it’s not good for Alcide, but it’s definitely good for the show.”
Finally, in a separate interview with Access Hollywood, Manganiello spoke about his role in the new, star-studded, male-stripper movie “Magic Mike” in which he plays Big Dick Richie (Gasp! Drool.) While the movie was “loosely inspired by Channing Tatum’s own past,” the actors were treated to lessons from the likes of Britney Spears’ choreography team. “Body rolls, some hip stuff,” Manganiello mentioned. His costars include Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, and Alex Pettyfer.
I personally am waiting with bated breath for the release of this film (in post-production) along with the return of True Blood, of course. Who’s with me? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, and check out the two full interviews that I have listed as sources if you need anything juicier.
Sources:
Photo: Spike TV
Hub Productions Announces Rescheduled Tru Blood Convention!
February 7, 2012
Aussie Fans Have a New Confirmed Date:
July 28th and 29th, 2012 (Sydney and Melbourne, respectively) are the new dates set for the Tru Blood convention that was cancelled last year. Details can be found here. Disappointed Aussie fans missed out on seeing Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis and Joe Manganiello in Septemeber last year due to the stars having to cancel close to the event date.
The first guest confirmed for this year is Sam Trammell, who plays the wonderful Sam Merlotte. Trammell is a big fan of Aussie beaches, so it will be interesting to see if he will stick around a little longer to check out the waves again.
Fans who had already purchased for the 2011 event can rest assured that they need do nothing but wait by their mailbox for their tickets to arrive. But if you are a Sydney or Melbourne resident (or visiting during the month of July) and would still like to purchase tickets, you can still do so. Simply head on over to The Hub Productions website here and order your tickets.
I attended the 2010 event and was lucky enough to meet Sam Trammell, Kristin Bauer van Straten, Todd Lowe and John Billingsley. Are there any other fans who attended this event, or will be attending the next one in July? Please let us know in the comments below — maybe we could even meet up on the day!
Source: The Hub Productions – Tru Blood 2: A Second Bite
(Photo Credit: The Hub Productions)
True Blood Nominated for 2012 People’s Choice Awards!
January 10, 2012
Favorite Sci-fi/Fantasy and Drama:
Truebies, the 38th annual People’s Choice Awards are here, and True Blood is nominated! The two categories are Favorite Sci-fi/Fantasy Show and Favorite Cable TV Drama. The show will air January 11 on CBS at 9 p.m. /8 p.m. CT. You can see the entire list of nominees on the People’s Choice Awards website. True Blood should of course win, and according to lifegoesstrong.com, here’s why:
Favorite Cable TV Drama
The nominees are: Dexter, Game Of Thrones, Pretty Little Liars, True Blood, White Collar
The process of elimination is: Pretty Little Liars will capture the teen text-ers. White Collar is the sophisticated grown-up show. Dexter is the darkest of the batch, while Game of Thrones is something that all the quiet people who keep to themselves in the office loved (but they’re busy rewatching all the Lord of the Rings movies so they don’t have time to vote.)
Which means the winner should be: True Blood. This last season wasn’t its best but first, vampires seem to be everywhere these days and second, they can read your thoughts and if you aren’t voting for them, they’ll just compel you to anyway.
I agree, I think True Blood should win both categories. I voted for True Blood in both categories, what about you? Did you vote for True Blood to win people’s choice? Are you planning on watching the awards? What do you think of the list of nominees? Let us know by commenting in the comment section below.
Source: play.lifegoesstrong.com - Of the People and By the People
(Photos: peopleschoice.com)
2011 SCREAM Awards Honor Cast of True Blood
October 28, 2011
True Blood Wins 3 Accolades at SPIKE TV’s Awards Show:
The SCREAM Awards 2011 was Spike TV’s sixth annual awards ceremony that celebrated the actors, creators, icons and pioneers of the sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comic book genres. The event aired October 18th and True Blood went home with the Scream Award for Best Ensemble Cast, Best Horror Actor (Alexander Skarsgård for his role as Eric Northman) and Best Breakout Performance (Joe Manganiello as Alcide Herveaux.)
In the Best Ensemble Cast, the cast of True Blood beat out:
Game of Thrones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Red, and X-MEN First Class.
In Best Horror Actor, Alexander Skarsgård won over:
Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead), Patrick Wilson (Insidious), and True Blood‘s own Stephen Moyer (Sorry Bill, in this season, Eric was hotter!)
And finally in Best Breakout Performance, Joe Manganiello topped:
Jon Bernthal (The Walking Dead), Michael Fassbender (X-MEN First Class), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), and Tom Hiddleston (Thor).
To see photos, watch video highlights from the red carpet and ceremony or to scrutinize the other categories celebrated, check out the Spike TV Scream Awards.
Source: Spike TV
Photo: Spike TV
