All posts by Jenny Loritiz

News, Sam Merlotte, Sam Trammell, Season 3 News

Sam Trammell’s Nude Confessions

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It’s safe to say that True Blood has established itself as a fan favorite due to its stream of sex, blood, and everything underneath one’s clothing. Sam Trammell reveals, however, that the nude scenes he has as Sam Merlotte are a lot more trying than one would think.

Unlike the vampires and werewolves of True Blood, Sam Merlotte is a shape-shifter who can change into any animal, but usually takes on the form of a collie. When he shifts, an actual dog plays his part until he shifts back again, which usually leaves him in the middle of swamp land naked. Sam remarks,

“We shot that scene in the middle of the night…It was freezing. You’re standing on a road in the desert, in a robe, and then you jump in the dirt. It’s not glamorous.”

Anyone who frolics outside either in a skimpy swimsuit or nude knows that when skin is exposed, you come home with unexpected gifts. Sam is no different; after a long shoot of running in the wood, Sam is left with dirt in weird places, like his ear and under his nails.

Most of the other characters on True Blood enjoy soft lighting and a gorgeous nude cast-mate bedside them when they are called upon to do a nude scene, but Sam’s nude scenes are a little differently. He notes,

“It’s very humbling when you’re standing next to huge trees and you’re just a little naked guy…It’s not a real majestic thing. That happens to my character all the time.”

Nudity is not a new thing for Sam; the 39 year old has spent years in the New York theater, performing in several plays that required the full frontal nudity. It’s not shocker that Sam has become comfortable or even used to the nude scenes he has on True Blood. Though Sam still can’t  help but feel that shooting a sex scene is bizarre.  For him, it simply weird and awkward to shoot a scene at seven in the morning where one is naked with someone else and pretends to have sex in front of cameras and a whole crew watching.

While sex and violence is what grabbed the audience’s attention, True Blood is full of characters’ personal stories and a deep layers of resonance. For Sam Merlotte, this means discovering and learning about his birth parents as well as a brother.

When not dealing with his television family, the New Orleans native has been helping in the relief efforts concerning the oil spill in the Gulf. In his recent participation at a Larry King telethon, he found the whole thing as bizarre as his nude scenes. Pete Wentz wanted a picture of him for his wife, he was seated next to Nicole Richie and Victoria Principal was flirting with him.

He might find the attention baffling, but Sam Trammell has become a bayou sex symbol for fans and celebrities alike.

SOURCE: nypost.com

(Photo credit: HBO Inc.)

Events, News

Tru Blood For Charity

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Let the blood spill at the party. Well, actually, let the Tru Blood flow freely at the Emerging Magazine’s 2010 Pre-Emmy Celebrity Luxury Party & Fashion Show. HBO’s official Tru Blood drink produced by FMCG Manufacturing is the Supporting Sponsor of the event.

If that wasn’t enough, the sponsor, FMCG Manufacturing, is donating items for a silent auction in order to gain funds for Shining Star Kids of America, which is creating a new way for long term residential care for foster children. The event is celebrating the best of Hollywood, past and present, while also honoring the nominees of 2010 Emmy Awards. Guest will glimpse the hottest fashions; not only will they see gowns, but also clothes and designs straight from vampire genre films and television shows.

During this two day charity event, Supporting Sponsor, FMCG Manufacturing will be giving away bottles of Tru Blood. The beverage is a product of the HBO hit True Blood. Mixing sex, danger, and romance, the show revolves around vampires as they try to integrate themselves openly into society and how certain humans and certain vampires are effected by all this. The reason for human-vampire coexistence is due to the Japanese creation of synthetic blood, which allows a vampire to gain all needed nutrients without a human victim. The beverage is called: Tru Blood.

In reality, the Tru Blood fans and celebrities enjoy is a carbonated blood orange flavored drink. While it pours like regular soda, in a glass the drink appears dense and opaque. It’s club-goers new favorite as it can be mixed with spirits and bartenders are creating fun new drinks.  Great flavor without the bite. Great taste that matches a great cause.

SOURCE: emergingmagazine.com

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Anna Paquin, Behind the Scenes, Bill Compton, Cast, Characters, News, Season 3 News, Sookie Stackhouse, Stephen Moyer, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Alan Ball on True Blood

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What makes True Blood so fascinating? Is it the dense plot that has fans and critics glued to the screen every Sunday at 9 on HBO? Or is it the mere fact that the events on the show are so bizarre and complex. Whatever the case, True Blood has gained so many fans that the show had to create its own Wiki in order to keep the audience up to date.

Recently Gina Piccalo from the LA Times got a sneak peek of the Emmy nominated show; she was backstage watching as Stephen Moyer was swinging on wires, baring his fangs as Bill Compton, ready to attack. Meanwhile Evan Rachel Wood was in her trailer perfecting the undead pallor of vampire Queen Sophie-Anne.

True Blood has become HBO’s biggest hit since The Sopranos and has made Alan Ball a creative hero. Stephen Moyer noted,

We do things that you’ve never imagined…The darker, the odder, the weirder, the better for me.

Weird and twisted has become True Blood’s mantra. The show is the grown up answer to the Twilight craze. It’s targeted for adults and not only has brooding vampires, but also a good sense of humor and lots of blood.

It came at the perfect moment. With the fall of 2008, came the series finales of both The Sopranos and Six Feet Under. HBO fumbled when they passed on Mad Men opting for John From Cincinnati, which was not a fan favorite.

During this time, Alan Ball wanted to create a 5 season project with levity. In 2005, he found Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels, devouring them quickly. Alan Ball had to wait a whole year to obtain the rights, due to a previous film option for the books. HBO agreed to green light the series based solely on Alan Ball’s creative genius. No one thought that the Southern gothic satire would gain such an audience. However, it popularity surprised HBO executives, but not Alan Ball who has called True Blood “popcorn for smart people.”

The show does not simply target one population of viewers, rather it appeals to everyone: men, women, and all age groups. Every episode is racy and exciting, balancing the idea of danger and comedy with surprising ease. The network’s president of programming, Michael Lombardi feels that if Alan Ball keeps up with the pace of the novels, the show could be on for a decade. However, as of now, no one knows if Alan Ball will continue after his contract expires given that he has been given the green light for his new project a pilot based on Charlie Huston’s novel, “”The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death.”

However, Ball is having too much fun to walk away right away. A simple tour of the True Blood set gives all the reason that he is hesitant to leave. With such a large budget, the set consists of a custom built cemetery in Calabasas as well as shooting on location in Mississippi and Louisiana.

The show has also taken over all but two of the seven soundstages on The Lot, a historic compound off Formosa Ave. Production designer Suzuki Ingerslev has meticulously created the world of True Blood from the fully functional kitchen in Merlotte’s pub to the hot rollers in Sookie’s bathroom counter.

Behind the scenes, in between shoots, Moyer and Wood chat; she shows him her engagement ring from fiance Marilyn Manson. This seems appropriate as the show revolves around the love of a telepathic waitress and a Civil War era vampire. Though love isn’t the only important thing on True Blood. Horror is key to any vampire tale; True Blood is no exception. There is a large body count and lots of blood.

None of the violence and outrageous sex is simply gratuitous. The writers try to use these scenes to push the story forward and create moments that are both deeply disturbing and extremely poignant. It is apparent that Alan Ball has used vampires as stand in for every genre of the disenfranchised. People struggle with shame and desire.

This season each character is struggling with an identity crisis. Sookie will also learn shocking details about her powers. As the show goes deeper into vampire politics, viewers will find a reflection of the American political system, which will give rise to many questions about government and power.

With politics as well as sex, the third season will question power and where it is concentrated. Viewers will be faced with shocking scenes, such as the vampire hate sex between Bill and Lorena.

Some viewers can view True Blood as pure entertainment, but the more aware viewers will be able to see the underlining meanings and the deeper intentions that Alan Ball wants to draw out. The show will leave many with thought provoking questions, which makes True Blood so much better than a simple television show.

SOURCE: LA Times

(Photo Credit: HBO, Inc)

News, Supporting Cast

Jim Parrack Performing in Top Story! Weekly

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Where will you be July 18th Sunday night at 9pm? If you’re a Truebie, you’ll probably be singing along to the opening theme of True Blood. However, this Sunday True Blood‘s own Jim Parrack will be performing in Top Story! Weekly. That’s right Truebies if you want to see Hoyt in person, visit IO West  LA’s Best Improv Comedy  (6366 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA).

Tickets are $5 and you must be 21 years and older for this main stage show. Jim Parrack will be performing at 9pm; this 60 minute scripted show that is a mash up of SNL and the Daily Show, consists of news-driven sketches based on events that have happened in the week.

To order tickets, go to ticketweb.com or visit topstoryweekly.com. If you want to see past performances or learn more about the directors, writers, and past special guests, you can visit Top Story! Weekly‘s main page or www.youtube.com/topstoryweeklyvideos.

If you’re in the LA area and a Truebie, go out and support Jim Parrack. Not only will you get to meet one of you favorite actors on television today, but you’ll get True Blood bragging rights!

SOURCES:

topstoryweekly.com

ticketweb.com

(Photo Credit: Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos)

Bill Compton, News, Stephen Moyer

Stephen Moyer and a True Blood Diet

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One of the great things about True Blood is the eye candy; on the show, there’s someone for every fan to sigh about.  However, Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton on the show) reveals that keeping his body fit for the True Blood is hard work.

Stephen revealed to Rachel Ray in the new issue of her magazine, Every Day With Rachael Ray, that for nude scenes, like the one he recently did for the 3rd season, he has to watch what he eats days beforehand (Stephen joked 13 days in advance). It’s a lot easier for a vampire to keep a diet when he doesn’t crave anything, but blood.

When it comes to his character’s diet, Stephen doesn’t seem to complain. He remarked,

“When I drink ‘blood’ on the show, it’s actually sieved raspberries blended with a little bit of pomegranate juice…Not a bad deal: Drink your girlfriend’s blood and be healthy, too.”

Off-screen, Stephen is engaged to Anna Paquin, who plays  Sookie Stackhouse and Bill Compton‘s love interest. When it comes to their off screen diet, rather than blood, Anna indulges in Stephen‘s love for curry. He noted,

“Anna loves Indian food as well, so we’ve been searching for a good restaurant, but they can’t compare to the ones in the U.K.”

With so much talk of food, the next obvious question would be: who would Bill want over for a dinner party? Stephen was quick to give his ideal guest list: Anna Paquin, Jack Kerouac to read his poetry, Thelonious Monk to play on the piano, and Sarah Vaughan singing. For vampires, if half your guests are dead, it isn’t a bother…rather it’s a comfort.

SOURCE: popeater.com

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc )

Crew, Music, News

Talking Music with Jace Everett, Nathan Barr and Gary Calamar

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Music is the universal language; no matter who and how it’s played, musicians and music fans alike will talk for hours about this wonderful craft. Jace Everett, Nathan Barr and Gary Calamar are no different. APM Music created three podcasts with these musicians, better known for their musical work on the HBO hit show True Blood.  All three men discuss their music, their success, and the future of their musical endeavors.

Though only six minutes long, Jace Everett shines in Podcast 65. He not only discusses how he got involved with True Blood, but he also explains how the show inspired his new album “Revelations.”  The first thing Jace mentions is that while having his song, “Bad Things” be the theme song for True Blood, he must tread lightly; he doesn’t want to be known for the rest of his life as the True Blood guy.

However, True Blood has been a great opportunity and he was lucky that Alan Ball found his song. While writing, Alan Ball took a break and while searching through iTunes, discovered Jace‘s song, which he had wrote and released years ago. Alan Ball gave the song to Digital Kitchen and asked them to add visuals to the song; when the finished product was made, Alan Ball knew this was the mood and tone of the show. Jace believes having Alan Ball find his song was like a jackpot and really pulled his career out of the stagnant place it had been.

With being part of True Blood, Jace was able to create and push his new CD quickly; many of the new songs are inspired by the first season, but don’t have to be literary taken. “Burn for You” is based on the scene where Bill walks out under the sun in order to save Sookie, while “Damned if I Do” can be taken as a love song between a human and a vampire. However, the songs transcend the show and the genre of vampires.

Even if people aren’t into vampries, they can enjoy Jace‘s songs. The inspiration of a song is not always what the songs can represent. For example, “Bad Things” was inspired by a time when Jace was living in Nashville working as a bass player for someone who was pursuing a record deal. The guy owed Jace money and he was a little upset about not getting it. The original song was based on Jace doing bad things to this guy, like moving his furniture around. Soon though, he realized the idea was ridiculous and the song held more of a sexual mood than a menacing one.

Currently, Jace is on tour on the West Coast for the next ten days and moving through the country gaining fans. He does sing “Bad Things” but not surprisingly fans leave with a lot more favorites by Jace Everett than just the True Blood theme song.

With Podcast 66, Gary Calamar discusses his job as music supervisor for True Blood, the differences between “Six Feet Under“and True Blood, the Southern influences of the show and its music, as well as how the show has influenced his own work. He also gives us an inside view of Alan Ball as a songwriter.

After serving as the music supervisor for “Six Feet Under”, Gary is now working with True Blood, “House“, and “Dexter.” He also chose the songs for the feature film “Varsity Blues“, which won him a gold record. He hosts a hit radio show on KCRW in Santa Monica California every Sunday. He is also in the process of writing a book about the rise and fall of the record store, which will be released on record day.

It seemed natural for Alan Ball and Gary Calamar to work together again. However, there’s a difference between working on “Six Feet Under” and True Blood. While Alan Ball is still meticulous about the music, he seems to want to have fun with the music for True Blood. Gary felt like perhaps his initial music choices were too serious and Alan Ball reminded Gary that the show was about vampires, giving them license to get crazy with the music.

There is a strong Southern influence as the show is set in Bon Temps, Louisiana. For Gary, it makes it easier to choose music; there is such a rich music that comes out of that region, old artists and new. Gary gets to use twisted rockabilly Southern rock in Merlotte’s, while bringing in some dark and heavy death metal in Fangtasia. Gary is allowed to explore different types of music and be creative in the choices he makes in order to create a true atmosphere for True Blood.

Gary appreciates working on True Blood; given the large budget, Gary is allowed to use five to ten solid songs in one episode, which gives him a lot to work with. Other shows don’t give too much money or thought on the music of a show. While they do end up sounding fantastic, they rely heavy on the score, while True Blood is allowed to combine score and different artists to create something interesting and new.

Speaking of new and interesting, Gary tells a great story about Alan Ball and his song writing abilities. In Season 2, there was a party scene where they wanted to have a unique sound attached to it, rather than a song that was overly exposed. Alan Ball collaborated with the music editor to create a rough song called “Dig“. The song somehow managed to make it on the end credits; though initially a joke, the song ended up causing a flurry of inquiry from fans. No one thought the song would be such a success, but it is now a part of the second volume of the True Blood soundtrack.

When asked about the end credits and how the songs played at the end seem to be connected to the last gotcha of the show, Gary noted that the last song of every episode usually come from a collaboration, between himself, Alan Ball, and the writers. In the end, it truly is about having fun and creating intrigue in their fans through music. By using fun and inspiring music, fans get to view True Blood in a different and exciting way.

In Podcast 67 in the APM Music Podcast Series, Nathan Barr explains how he got involved with True Blood, what inspires the music for the show and how he has created the sonic themes for each season, and his views on himself as a musician as well as his collaboration with Lisbeth Scott.

Composer Nathan Barr has scored more than 24 feature films, including the “Dukes of Hazzards” and his most ambitious project to date has been composing the music for each episode of True Blood. His score for “Hostel” was used for the temp in the pilot, which placed him on the short stack of composers Alan Ball was considering for the show. Though he was proud of his work in “Hostel” he didn’t think it fit the mood of True Blood and gave Alan Ball a CD of his other work, which won him the job as composer for this hit show.

When it comes to inspirations for the show, Nathan wanted something that had a small and intimate feel; the show is always revolving around human interactions: couples, or close friendships. Nathan wanted to keep it very simple, using instruments such as acoustic guitar, cello, and the piano to name a few.

The best part of working for the show is that Nathan plays his own instruments, which allows him to be a part of the musical process 100%. He composes by improvisation and he finds that he can completely be involved in the process and truly infuse himself into the music and show.

Other than the instrumentation, the sonic theme of the show consists of the characters and their relationships. Bill and Sookie‘s theme, the love theme or as Stephen Moyer puts it “Bill‘s Lament” is the most famous and comes up throughout the season. Many of the characters have a musical themes: Godric, Eric, and Sam.

When he started this project, Nathan bought a few new instruments in order to mix up the way he writes and show him new ways of thinking about music. When he first saw the pilot, he new the sounds he wanted to create would be dark and scary. He had a piano sawed in half in order for his to have access to the hammers and strings.

However, Nathan doesn’t write and play alone. For the show, he’s collaborated with his ex-wife Lisbeth Scott. As dear friends and collaborators, they worked together to really create great texture in music and add lyrics that showcase the emotion of the show. Nathan praises Lisbeth’s unique voice and her talent as a singer.

Currently, aside from True Blood, Nathan is working with Anna Paquin’s brother on his first feature film “Open House“, as well as working with Eli Roth on a film titled “Cotton“. He is also composing for a film called “Mother’s Day” (starring True Blood‘s Deborah Ann Woll) and a dramedy called “Peep World“. With so many projects that Nathan will be infusing his musical skills and talents into, fans will be able to truly experience the emotion of these films.

Three podcasts with three talented musicians, who are the best in the business of film, television, advertising, and video game music. APM Music has given fans a chance to really learn and experience the music they hear in the background of their favorite dramas in a whole new different way.

The podcasts shed light on the creative process as well as inspire young musicians to look for collaboration opportunities with visual projects. These are only three out of a number of amazing interviews. Of course, because they revolve around True Blood‘s great musicians, Truebies will sink their fangs into these interviews a little faster than the rest!

To listen to the Jace Everett’s podcast click here.

To listen to the Gary Calamar’s podcast click here.

To listen to the Nathan Barr’s podcast click here.

SOURCE: apmmusic.com

(Photo Credits: apmmusic.com)

Cast, Interviews, Kristin Bauer van Straten, News, Season 3 News

Kristin Bauer van Straten Behind the Scenes of True Blood

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Everything is bigger on the third season of True Blood and that goes for Kristin Bauer van Straten‘s role as Pam. In this season, Pam has already established herself as sassy, sexual, and ruthless. Kristin sat down with tvchick.com to talk about her character, working with Alexander Skarsgard and her environmental work.

Though Pam is a vampire and has been for quite a long time, there are human elements to her. Pam was eager to join Eric when she discovered the power and immortality vampires had. Kristin remarked,

“She is un-remorseful, unapologetic, which are two traits some of us could probably use a touch of. She is, in some ways, who I wish I could be but alas, that directness might leave me very lonely.”

Though the show has not delved into Pam’s past, it has sparked some creative thinking on Kristin’s part. For her, Pam was a free spirit during a time when women were seen as property and had no real freedom. When Pam became a vampire, she was given the freedom to choose what she wanted to do with her life, as opposed to being told what to do.

This line of thinking proves how powerful Pam can be. Though she is soft spoken and at times appears to careless about the situation, she is actually listening intently and taking stock of what is going on. By doing this she can control the situation, which perhaps is why she is being given a bigger role on the show this season.

Pam is no longer in the shadows of her maker, Eric Northman, but that doesn’t mean Kristin dislikes playing alongside Alexander Skarsgard. On the contrary, she considers Alex to be a good friend and a joy to work with. Kristin seems to be very loyal to Alex, which is a reflection of Pam’s loyalty to Eric. For Pam, Kristin believes,

“Loyalty is huge for her, and for me in life as well… Power is actually not as alluring to her as integrity. And that motivates me too, it’s fun to find those things where the character and I overlap but I guess that is inevitable as all Pam has is her creators so pieces of all of us and our imaginations will be in her.”

For Kristin, the show and the cast are brilliant; though she would love to work with everyone on the show, she believes that the characters and the storyline are going along as they should. There’s no need to be greedy in her desires to act alongside each and every cast member when the show is allowing each character to grow organically. Who knows, given Pam‘s growth on the show, there may be opportunities for her to act alongside each and every cast member.

Perhaps being a fan helps create such an amazing piece of television work. The cast and the director Alan Ball, are focused on creating a compelling story that fans will love and feel satisfied with. On working with Alan Ball, Kristin has noted,

“Alan seems to be very aware of the big picture and at the same time the details which is also rare and special. He has assembled an amazing thing here, all out of his vision one day after picking up a book. Many people are being employed and entertained by that vision…Visions becoming reality is a thrill for me to see and be part of as I think it’s what makes the world go round. Without artistic vision, and the ability to transmute those visions into something others can see…life would be…well, unlivable.”

Even with a great cast and a great director, what makes True Blood vampires so much better than the slew of vampires that have sprouted up? For Kristin, she believes that because True Blood is Alan Ball’s baby, he is willing to push the envelope a bit more. Given that the show is intended for a more mature audience, True Blood is able to delve deeper into more taboo topics.

Speaking of delving into deeper territory, what about Season 3 spoilers? Kristin simply noted that for Pam, her loyalty and strength will be tested. Audiences will come to understand the relationship between Pam and Eric. However, this can all be said about all the characters this season. Each character will be defined and will be faced with hard questions.

It seems that Kristin is thoroughly enjoying her time on True Blood as well as her role in Secret Life of the American Teenager. However, there is more to her life than simply her acting. She is active in the efforts to make the public aware of the situation in the Gulf Coast. Kristin believes that as a community, people can work together to help save one another. She noted,

“Abri, my husband, and I work well with IFAW to do just that for Whales and The Elephant Ivory trade in Africa. The Gulf is a horror. And I think it should be a wake up call for us and a time to examine all of our dependence on oil. If you are alive you use and need oil. The soles of my shoes I’m wearing right now, the frames of my glasses, parts of this computer and my couch…but we could be much more conscientious and efficient or we will keep harming others.”

To find out ways of helping Kristin’s cause and learn great tips to keep the earth alive and well, please visit: www.kristinbauer.com. There are actors that inspire audiences to dream and to believe in imaginary worlds. Kristin is not only one of those actors, but she also manages to inspire people to believe in our own world and to believe that we can create beautiful place for ourselves and for the future.

Credit: tvchick.com

(Photo Credit: Sophia Quach / PR Photos via exposay.com )

Cast, News, Supporting Cast

Beauty Secrets From Carrie Preston

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While vampires are cooler than ever, it’s Carrie Preston’s portrayal of anti-vampire enthusiast Arlene Fowler in the Emmy nominated series True Blood that has fans begging for more. Not only is Carrie talented, she is also quite beautiful; in an interview with The Beauty Bean, Carrie gave her take on beauty.

For Carrie beauty seems to be very simple: wearing something that truly represents who you are and knowing what looks good on you. When a person is unique and doesn’t simply follow someone else’s style, for Carrie it really does show a person’s beauty.

With our society being so focused on perfect bodies, Hollywood stars are scrutinized and expected to be perfect. When asked how she deals with this kind of pressure Carrie remarked,

“I take the time to exercise and eat well so that I can feel good and comfortable in my own skin. Then I don’t feel the need to compare myself with other women, whether in the media or in my own life.”

Carrie seems very comfortable with her body and who she is, but when she was younger she was shy about her body, hiding behind over-sized clothes. She also kept her hair long and neutral. Looking back, Carrie wished she could tell her younger self to get a better haircut, and to show off her body…being young only happens once.

Aside from all these wonderful beauty secrets, Carrie did give us one more beauty tip she couldn’t live without: Indu body lotion. Carrie noted,

“It smells like a little bit of heaven on earth!!”

With all these wonderful tips, True Blood fans are going to look, feel and smell even better than the vampires they adore!

SOURCE: The Beauty Bean

(Photo Credit:Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos )

Anna Paquin, Cast, Events, News

True Blood Breaks Award Barriers

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Doesn’t everyone like to be seduce by a vampire? Apparently not; TV academy voters don’t seem to be attracted to fangs. While “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” received glowing reviews from both critics and fans in the 1990s, it never received an Emmy nomination.

The yearly snubs were received with outrage and when the show finally ended in 2003, the TV academy tried to make amends by staging a tribute at its headquarters in North Hollywood. Funny enough, Sarah Michelle Gellar, or Buffy to fans, didn’t show up.

With True Blood being such a success, many believed that it would be able to seduce the voters. Not only was the story line well done, but it also had HBO muscle behind it as well as Oscar winner Anna Paquin (who won best supporting actress in 1993 for her role in “The Piano”). Unfortunately, the show was only nominated for a few minor categories in crafts.

However, this year True Blood has successfully gained four nominations in the craft categories (art direction, casting, makeup and editing) as well as a nomination for best drama. Though this is a significant move on the part of TV academy,  Anna Paquin wasn’t nominated for best actress. Paquin has been recognized in the past for her 2007 work in the miniseries Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.  Her work on True Blood has also been award worthy; she won best actress at the Golden Globes in 2009 and was nominated once again this year for portrayal as Sookie Stackhouse.

While vampires may not be the TV academy’s favorite subject, they do enjoy good writing and impeccable acting. With True Blood’s nomination for best drama, perhaps this will help change the academy’s mind when it comes to vampire shows. This is a small step, not only for True Blood but for all wonderfully written vampire genre shows. Only time will tell, but for now the biggest award True Blood can receive is the fact that millions of fans all over the world wait all week to enjoy watching their favorite telepath as she tries to make her way through a world riddled with seductive vampires.

SOURCE: LA Times

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Bill Compton, Characters, Eric Northman, Jason Stackhouse, News, Sookie Stackhouse

True Blood Nominated for Tater Top Awards

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What’s better than a potato? A Golden One! E!Online is hosting its annual Tater Top Awards chosen by the fans or better known as the ultimate couch potatoes. Official voting began June 28 and E! has compiled a final list of nominees.

The Tater Top Awards bypass Emmys, and the Golden Globes, giving trophies to the shows and stars the fans adore. Winners receive an actual trophy and better, the realization that so many fans appreciate and love their work. However, it’s also a place where the fans can gripe and moan about things that they don’t appreciate too much on television.

True Blood has been nominated for a few Tater Top Awards and if they haven’t already, Truebies have to start voting in order for their favorite vampires and telepath to win. The first award that True Blood has been nominated for is under the category The Best Bitches and Baddies. The one vying for this award is none other than viking vampire Eric Northman, and maenad Maryann.

Villains are great and all, but it’s the sexy and sweet moments only the perfect couple can bring to television sets all over the world. The aww and eww moments between two soulmates are what fans wait for all week long. However, what happens when a fan gets tired of a romance, specifically a love triangle? True Blood has been nominated for Love Triangle We’re So Over, featuring Bill, Sookie, and Eric. Perhaps if True Blood wins this award, Sookie will finally pick one vampire.

Finally, what’s better than a great villains and great romance? Fists and Kisses! The Tater Top Awards acknowledge the Best Smackdowns and Smooches on television. Nominated for the Best Smackdown is True Blood’s very own Jason with the help of his enemies, the Newlins.

Winners will be announced July 20. Fans still have time to vote. Go to eonline.com to  vote and to see the official list of categories and nominees. Come on Truebies, let’s sink our teeth into the competition and bring a couple of golden taters to Bon Temps!

Source: eonline.com

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Cast, Characters, News, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Natasha Alam From Uzbekistan To Hollywood

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Not only does HBO’s hit True Blood acquire the best actors, the show even scores royalty. Natasha Alam, the newest addition to True Blood and Playboy model is also a princess.

In 1998, Natasha married former Shah of Iran’s grandson Amir Ebrahim Pahlavi Alam, granting her the royal title. Though their divorces was finalized in 2005, Natasha gets to keep the title until her ex remarries. She notes,

“I kind of forget that fact…But in situations like this (speaking to the media), I get refreshed about it…In London, being a princess was a big deal – because of the whole royal family and everything. You get reminded of that in London. I loved that feeling and experience…But I felt lonely and unfulfilled. I felt there was more to life.”

Natasha is focused fully on her acting career; she is playing Yvetta, the newest Fangtasia dancer. Whether she is on a television screen or in a print ad, the 27 year old strikes a stunning figure with her blue/gray eyes and an Amazon height of 6’2 with 4 inch heels on.

Though, Natasha isn’t simply relying on her beauty to grab acting gigs; using tapes and a voice coach, Natasha is trying to strip away her Russian accent in order to gain more acting opportunities. However, all this hard work and great opportunity on True Blood almost never happened.

When Natasha was a child, her grandmother fed her beer in order to get Natasha to gain weight. Understanding what it means to go hungry during the Nazi invasion in WWII, Natasha’s grandmother didn’t want her grandchild to suffer. However, once Natasha’s mother got wind of the situation, the beer diet ended. So rather than starting a brewery, at 17 Natasha was enrolled in the University of Technology for aviation where her major was aircraft mechanics. Natasha remarks,

“I found the Technology school boring…I think I would have been much happier if I was studying quantum physics or astronomy or something like that.”

Natasha said goodbye to her blue coveralls and opted for 100% nude pictorials in an 8 page spread, which gave her a new title: a Playboy centerfold. Before enchanting everyone on the July cover of Playboy, Natasha started modeling in Moscow only to then perform on the runways of Rome, London, Milan and New York.

There’s no doubt that Natasha enjoyed being a model but she felt like she could do more, specifically on screen. Her first acting role was a cigarette commercial in Italy. The commercial was sexy, and full of special effects, which could be why she’s so comfortable on True Blood. Aside from these performances, Natasha has also appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful, The Unit, Entourage, and NYPD Blue.

Natasha still isn’t satisfied. She is looking to expand her screen story and star in a movie, perhaps even an action movie. She does have the skills as Natasha competes in Wushu, a form of intense Chinese martial arts.

An action flick could also distance her from the stereotypical Russian characters that she dislikes. Natasha doesn’t want always want to play a mail order bride or a prostitute in Saint Petersburg. In order to avoid being type-casted, Natasha has worked hard to eradicate her Russian accent and prefers to use a more neutral accent at auditions.

For Natasha it’s all about opening her horizons, growing and learning with every job she has. She’s overjoyed to be on the cover of a legendary magazine, such as Playboy, and feels like she is living her dream. Fans may only know Natasha as Yvetta on True Blood, but it seems like the American audience will be seeing more of this talented princess.

Credit: Kentucky.com

(Photo Credit: Associated Press)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, Jason Stackhouse, Ryan Kwanten

Ryan Kwanten Real Life Romance

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Jason Stackhouse may have a hot girlfriend every other week on True Blood, but Ryan Kwanten has been without a real life love interest for a few years now.

Ryan’s life right now is focused on his career, which with the success of True Blood has blossomed brightly and with astonishing speed. Ryan notes,

“It would be very selfish of me to try and bring someone into that world when I can’t give them the time they deserve.”

Though American gossip magazines have linked Ryan to country music singer Whitney Duncan, he is quick to diffuse those rumors as well as the rumors he is writing a sex book. What he is actually writing is more of a satirical take-off of many of the self help books being published today.

There are so many rumors, but in truth this untrained actor is shy, and his life is far away from any controversy, which may be why paparazzi don’t hound him. Ryan remarks,

“I’m not the kind of guy that inspires madness in people.”

Has Ryan seen himself on True Blood? His body, not only stirs up madness, but also stirs a heat wave in fans’ living rooms. However, he isn’t a slave to exercise or obsessive healthy eating; he actually reveals that he’s a chocolate fiend. In order to keep his physique in top shape, Ryan relies on relaxing but heart pumping activities from yoga to boxing. He notes,

“I never want to be that guy at a dinner table saying, ‘I wish I could have dessert…I actually went through a stage when I would order dessert first.”

Ryan is now in the position to order dessert first; he’s on a hit show and is gaining fans with every episode. He was even invited to the Oscars, which he enjoyed very much, but he feels his plus one, his mom, enjoyed it much more. He jokes that when his mother met Jon Voight, she believed he was a long lost friend.

It seems like Ryan’s mother has found a home with the Hollywood celebrities and Ryan simply needs t0 follow her lead. Though the press may be concerned with Ryan’s lack of real life love interest, fans all around the world are saying thank goodness, and planning on wooing Ryan Kwanten with the same charm Jason Stackhouse woos his ladies.

To see a video of Ryan being interviewed, click here and check it out!

SOURCE: news.com.au

(Photo Credit: GQ.com)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, News, Rutina Wesley, Season 3 News, Tara Thornton

Rutina Wesley Reveals Season 3 Secrets

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Though fans of True Blood enjoy Tara Thornton’s in your face attitude, they are quite relieved to find how sweet and endearing Rutina Wesley truly is.

During a phone interview with the Boston Herald, Rutina was quick to note that, unlike Tara, she’s a nice person and a good girl. However, as a good Julliard trained actress, Rutina is able to leave that all behind and become Tara, a very complicated and distressed character whose life has always been tough, but now seems to be getting tougher.

After finding love in Season 2, in Season 3 Tara is grieving for the loss of Eggs, who died from a bullet wound after a very complicated situation involving Andy Bellefleur and Jason Stackhouse. With all of these emotionally disturbing events happening in Tara’s life, Rutina notes,

“I’d say she’s definitely unstable…I think we find her at her most vulnerable point now. She’s just had the rug pulled out from underneath her. That’s all she knew for a while. Her mother is messed up, her lover is gone, her face is bashed in – it’s the worst of the worst. That’s why she’s so susceptible to the vampire that comes in. It’s going to be an interesting dynamic between the two.”

While Season 3 focuses on the identity struggles keeping Bill Compton and Sookie Stackhouse apart, it is Tara’s struggle to find out who she is that have been capturing fans since Season 1. Tara’s character has been moving through Bon Temps looking for acceptance and a family; this season, it seems like she may get into more trouble before she can finally find any peace of mind. This season will find Tara in a very interesting and wild relationship with vampire Franklin Mott, played by James Frain.

With more of Tara’s life falling to pieces, Rutina has a bigger role on the show, however, Rutina quickly remarks,

“I know my role is bigger, but I consider the show to be more of an ensemble…I love that it’s not so one-sided. There is a main character – Sookie – but it’s like one big family. I enjoy going to work every day and working with everyone. It’s a dream job.”

True Blood has been enjoying its success because it is so sexy, bloody, and has a decidedly Southern gothic beat. However, Tara does suggest there will be some changes to the show; given that the True Blood has been picked up for a fourth season, which is due to air next summer, the writers are now thinking about long term stories for the characters. Rutina remarks,

“There’s a lot of things that are going to come up and shock fans…It’s bloody, there’s a lot of action this season and it’s very action-packed. And I think that’s kind of awesome.”

More blood, action, and overall awesome aren’t the only things that make True Blood so shocking and exciting. It’s characters like Tara, who reminds us about the humanity that exists in the midst of so many bloody fangs.

Credit: BostonHerald.com

(Photo Credit: HBO, Inc)

Alcide Herveaux, Cast, Characters, Interviews, Joe Manganiello, News, Season 3 News

Joe Manganiello on Werewolves Versus Vampires

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Every Sci-fi fan has asked the age old question: who would come up victorious in a battle between a werewolf and a vampire? There’s are lot of theories and True Blood’s own Joe Manganiello isn’t any different. Joe plays werewolf Alcide, which has given him a lot of experience on the show brawling with werewolves, vampires, and shape-shifters alike. Funny thing is, for Joe, shape-shifters don’t even make the cut. The real actions lies when a werewolf and vampire meet head on.

Joe admits that when it comes to brute strength vampires are superior, especially one that is thousands of years old. However, even with this being the case, there are werewolves that could undoubtedly take out a vampire.

In Joe’s opinion, Alcide is a werewolf that could hold his own  in any brawl against any supernatural. Joe notes,

“That was important for me in creating Alcide…A vampire can get away with being pale, thin and skinny but still being powerful. Werewolves have to look like animals — really big, strong animals. I wanted Alcide to be as powerfully built as possible so you would see him and think that he could take out a vampire. I think throwing him into an arena, you would have a pretty good fight between the vampires and the werewolves.”

What about the other supernaturals? Where would a shape-shifter fit in this chain of strength? Joe doesn’t really see a shape-shifter winning in a battle between a werewolf or a vampire, unless that shape-shifter was extraordinary…perhaps like Sam Merlotte or his little brother Tommy Mickens? Joe reveals,

“werewolves are generally thought of as being the strongest of the shape-shifters. Probably the most egotistical, too!”

It seems like Joe has been able to give Alcide all the traits he needs to be top of his pack; Season 3 is going to have a lot of face offs between vampires and werewolves…perhaps the age old question will be answered Sunday nights on HBO’s True Blood.

Credit: Hollywood Crush

(Photo Credit: IMDb.com)

Cast, Characters, Interviews, News, Season 3 News, Supporting Cast, Supporting Characters

Carrie Preston on Vampires and Redheads

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There has been a lot of speculation about the future of Carrie Preston’s True Blood character Arlene. However, with True Blood in its third season and already picked up for its fourth, it seems Carrie and Arlene are still as important to the show as when it first started.

While fans are contemplating the fate of Bill Compton and his relationship with Sookie, Deadbolt interviewed Carrie Preston on vampires, working with Alan Ball, and everyone’s favorite redhead waitress, Arlene.

When asked how she relates to Arlene, Carrie quickly mentioned the redhead’s confidence. Arlene isn’t one to deal with fools and takes her job seriously, making sure things get done right. Outside of the bar, Arlene is strong and can deal with whatever situation is thrown her way. Carrie admires the way Arlene seems to pull herself together; even in the most difficult of situations, she still manages to keep her sense of humor.

When it comes to being influenced by other people, Carries notes that Arlene is never without a man. She suggests that this is true for many working class Southern women. Arlene seems to believe she needs the help of a man and can’t handle  situations on her own. With this in mind, sometimes Arlene makes bad decisions when it comes to finding a partner. For her, it’s better to have a bad man than no man at all. In the end though, Arlene always manages to fall back on her own strength, focusing on what’s best for her and her children.

At the end of season two and now in season three, however, Arlene has found a very good man: Terry Bellefleur. Though he may have some emotional distress over his time in the Marines, he is still a warm-hearted gentleman and Carries hopes that Arlene makes is smart enough to make the decision to keep the relationship going.

Aside for her love for Terry’s character, another thing Carrie loves is the scene she had with Tara in the bathroom where Arlene is unsure if she slept with Terry or not. Tara bluntly replies “You telling me you date raped Terry Bellefleur?”

Carrie loves this scene because the stakes were high for Arlene yet there was a lot of comedy in the situation. It’s an example of how good True Blood is at portraying the real balance of every situation: the drama and the comedy that rises up at the same time.

It’s not just the great scenes that keeps Carrie so excited about the show. It’s also the red hair. She notes,

“It’s funny because now I have red hair in life but for a long time I was blond. Going to work and putting on the red wig, I noticed that once I got into that red wig and got into costume, the types of people, especially men, that wanted to talk to me and pay attention to me were completely different than the types of men that talk to me when I’m blond. I get to kind of experience two different women on the same day. It was very, very intriguing just from an anthropological standpoint and sociological standpoint to see just the reactions I get… it is slightly different and I do kind of feel different. I feel a little edgier, a little sassier as a redhead. It’s been a refreshing change of pace for me because I’ve been blond for so long. I’m really enjoying it.”

She isn’t the only redhead on the show; Jessica is not only a redhead, but also a vampire, which begs the question ‘what is it with the popularity of vampires?’ Carrie has a simple answer to that: in a youth obsessed culture, of course, a vampire is going to be admired. Vampires can stay young and sexy forever.

While vampires can stay young forever, not all of them are as well rounded as Carrie. Not only does she act, but she also directs and has a production company. She’d love to shadow a director for True Blood and learn the angles that aren’t privy to as an actor during a shoot. She feels she’d learn a lot from the experience both as an actor and director. When asked if she has picked up any tips from director Alan Ball, Carrie notes,

“I pick up a lot from all of the directors. I mean, that’s what makes it very interesting for me as an actor, that I get to also watch 100 percent more directors than a director gets to watch. If you’re only a director, you really only kind of watch yourself. If you’re an actor, you get to see and experience a bunch of different styles, ask questions, and all of that stuff. So yes, I have very much enjoyed not just from Alan, but from all of our directors, getting to know their styles, asking them questions, and talking to them about shots and things like that. It’s like a little masterclass.”

Carrie seems to be having the time of her life on the set of True Blood. Could it get any better? Of course,  if her husband Michael Emerson is brought onto the show now that Lost is over. Carrie would love to have her husband in the world of True Blood and hopes that there is an opportunity where he can join the fun. Right now though, he is enjoying his break and reconnecting with family, friends, and their dog.

Many fans will be focused on the drama between Sookie and Bill, but the more fans see of Arlene, the more they want to learn about her past, her present, her future, and how she keeps her hair such a lovely shade of red.

SOURCE: The Deadbolt

(Photo Credit: HBO Inc.)

Books, Latest, News

Charlaine Harris Discusses the Vampire Outbreak

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While vampires have been stretching the human imagination since the earliest of civilizations, Charlaine Harris has simply created an updated, dramatic, and sexy version of the undead. In May 2010, Dead in the Family hit book stores as the tenth installment of the Sookie Stackhouse novels and this June HBO premiered the third season of True Blood, the series inspired by Charlaine’s novels.

In the books, Sookie is a blond, buxom, telepath living in Bon Temps, Louisiana. As she falls into one dangerous mystery to the next, she must also decide between two vampires: the ex-Confederate Southern gentleman Bill Compton or the Viking Eric Northman. To make matter even more complicated there are tigers, werewolves, maenads, fairies, and shape-shifters all vying for a chance to court Sookie…or to kill her.

While Anne Rice set her famous vampire stories in the bayous and French Quarter of Louisiana, Charlaine sets her story in the less creepy Northern Louisiana. Charlaine sees Anne Rice as an integral part of the vampire genre and thinks she did a spectacular job at using Southern Louisiana as the home for her vampires. It was natural then, for Charlaine to use a part of Louisiana that was less known in the vampire genre.

While Anne Rice showcases the perspective of vampires, Charlaine wanted to go in a very different direction with her vampire novels. She notes,

“I didn’t want to write about being a vampire…I wanted to write about people who were interacting with vampires. I thought it would be fun to write about a woman dating a vampire, so I imagined what kind of woman would do such a stupid thing. It’d have to be a woman who couldn’t date humans for another reason.”

As it would happen, Sookie’s telepathic abilities leave her drained when interacting with humans. She’s either listening to their thoughts or trying to keep a steady wall up against all those thoughts crashing in on her. When she’s with a vampire, she can let out a sigh of relief as she is unable to hear their thoughts.

Another reason why Sookie would want to date a vampire is that in Charlaine’s world, they’re down to earth. Charlaine says,

“They’re just like everyone else…Some of them are good; some are bad…I wanted to kind of anchor them in reality and make them unromantic, since I just thought that would be funny.”

Funny is an interesting word to use in the vampire genre. With most television shows and films, vampires are admired for their beauty and superhuman sex appeal. The Twilight movies, CW’s The Vampire Diaries, and even True Blood follows this formula in order to get the viewers addicted.

This isn’t to say Charlaine’s novels don’t mention sex. On the contrary, Charlaine’s novels are aimed for adults. She points out that her novels predate Stephanie Meyer’s novels by several years and that while Stephanie Meyer’s books keep alive the story of Romeo and Juliet, hers certainly do not. Sookie is not a damsel in distress; she’s willing to fight and defend herself when necessary. When it comes to love, Sookie’s been betrayed by Bill, has been devastated, has picked up the pieces and has looked in new directions for love.

Oh, and then there’s the sex. Charlaine’s books contain detailed oriented scenes that make any reader feel like they just finished a workout. However, Charlaine refuses to go any further with the differences between her series and that of Stephanie Meyer’s. She firmly believes that she is not Stephanie Meyer’s critic, and rather she is glad that the Twilight series has been successful.

As for dishing about Alan Ball, Charlaine was enthusiastic about the genius who translated her books to TV. As a fan of Six Feet Under, Charlaine knew Alan Ball would do a great job at recreating Sookie’s world. She notes,

“I knew that he got the mixture of humor and horror that the books are. I knew he would do them justice…He wouldn’t gloss over painful parts and make everything shiny.”

With True Blood and the Sookie Stackhouse novels being such a success, one would think Charlaine is too busy for anything else. Aside from creating a world for Sookie to live and love in, Charlaine is busy with her family and a numerous amount of other projects. She lives with her husband, her college-aged daughter (while also keeping an eye on her two other grown up kids), various dogs, and a duck in Arkansas. She is a 10 time best seller, and the body of her work is incalculable. Dynamite Entertainment will be creating a comic based on the first book of her series Harper Connelly.

With the sucess of True Blood, not only is her vampire novels getting a bigger readership, but her other novels as well. Charlaine reveals,

“They’re selling more than when they were first published…I don’t know what happened with those books. I know I was really discouraged when they were released. I really thought at the time, That’s the best I can do and if this isn’t successful I just don’t know what I could do that would be as good. Well, luckily for me, I did come up with something.”

Currently, she is working on the eleventh installment of the Sookie saga. When asked about the other writers and all of the vampire stories being produced, Charliane feels that it is a reflection of the current social identity: youth obsessed and perfection searching culture. No matter, because these other vampire novels aren’t ruining Charlaine’s imaginative creations.

Charlaine Harris continues to be an inventive and prolific writer. With every book she writes, she creates a magical world that is accessible to the reader. Her characters are more than vampires, more than supernatural…they’re ultimately human. Readers can’t ask for more…well, there is one thing we can ask for: more Sookie novels!

Credit: Vanity Fair

(Photo Credit: shannonemmel.com )