TRUE BLOOD's Anna Paquin answers burning questions about the show's premiere and beyond!

Tags: Anna Paquin, True Blood

Hollywood 411 chats up the cast of TRUE BLOOD at the premiere of its second season. Also talk with Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer who are now a couple on and off screen. They discuss their relationship, and, creator Alan Ball talks about new cast member Evan Rachel Wood.

Tags: Video, Anna Paquin, True Blood

--- “After I was cast and I realized my body would be exposed all the time, I went out and bought some shorts — I owned none — to help me get used to it,” Paquin reveals.
Her scantily clad character has crept into her real life as well. “You stop thinking, Do I look weird at this angle? I’ve learned to feel comfortable wearing very little. It’s liberating!” she says. ---

Full Article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/06/16/2009-06-16_anna_paquin_beats_the_heat_in_style.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood

/ Sure, Twilight and True Blood are vampire stories that include romance, violence and the constant struggle between good and evil.
Even so, they're very different.
"They're completely different age groups that they're trying to appeal to," says Oscar winner Anna Paquin, who stars in HBO's True Blood as mind-reading Sookie Stackhouse. "It wouldn't be appropriate for teenagers to be watching our show. I wouldn't have been allowed to." /

Full Article:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b128831_anna_paquin_true_blood_twilight_not_same.html

Additional:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/marc_malkin/b128689_bite_this_true_blood_partying_in.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood

Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin took part in an article and a dazzling cover shoot for the June 15th, 2009 issue of TV Guide.

/ Unless you’ve been locked in a coffin lately, you know the hit HBO vampire drama True Blood helped ignite a true romance between stars Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer. As telepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse and Civil War–era bloodsucker Bill Compton, their sizzle is undeniable. “Our characters have had f---ing lust, romantic sex, emotional sex...” Moyer says. But as the show returns for Season 2, “it’s more like a normal relationship. They argue. But there’s a yang to that yin. There’s makeup sex.” Phew. Who wants to see these hot supernaturals paying bills and shopping at Wal-Mart? /

Full Article:
http://www.tvguidemagazine.com/feature/bloody-valentines-1373.html

...and here’s a video of the True Blood cast on the set of their cover shoot for TV Guide:


For more with Anna, Stephen and the rest of the cast, pick up the June 15 issue of TV Guide Magazine, on stands now!

Tags: Articles, Video, Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, True Blood

The Paramount Theater in Los Angeles hosted the second season premiere party for "True Blood" on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009. Members of the cast and crew were in attendence, including Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Alan Ball, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Todd Lowe and several others.

You can view video from the event at:
http://extratv.warnerbros.com/videos/channels/?channel=channels/79356

Forum member Beerwolf is posting numerous photos from the event in our forum:
http://thebluewhalepub.com/viewtopic.php?p=132501#p132501

Tags: Appearances, Cast, Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Alan Ball, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Carrie Preston, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Todd Lowe, True Blood

Thanks to all the super fast YouTube vidders for these clips:

True Blood - Paquin wins GG, plus the after party interview


True Blood on E's Golden Globes preshow


True Blood on TVG's Golden Globes preshow
(Lisa Rinna's portion is cringe-worthy but Joey Fatone seems to be a fan)


30 Rock & True Blood: Join the Celebration!
By Kristin Dos Santos

Ashlan Gorse chatted up everybody's favorite fangbangers from the vampire drama True Blood at the HBO afterparty

Tags: Video, Appearances, Awards, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Nelsan Ellis, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, True Blood

True Blood's Anna Paquin won a Golden Globe for "Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama" On January 11th, 2009!

Congratulations, Anna!

Tags: Appearances, Awards, Anna Paquin, True Blood

Hello everyone, I hope all of you had a terrific holiday season. Only a few days into the new year and there's already a juicy backlog of True Blood related news. Here are some of the highlights:

Anna Paquin and Nelsan Ellis Win 2008 13th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards

The Award for "TV/ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION" goes to True Blood's Nelsan Ellis for his wonderful portrayal of Lafayette!

The award for "TV/ACTRESS IN A SERIES, DRAMA" goes to True Blood's Anna Paquin in the role of Sookie!

Congratulations!

Full Listing:
http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2008.shtml


THE FUN-DEAD: ALAN BALL, HBO AND AUTHOR CHARLAINE HARRIS HAVE MADE US ALL WANT TO BE VAMPIRES AGAIN WITH TRUE BLOOD.
by Mr. Norman Maine
SOHO Journal

"So you think Alan Ball (Six Feet Under) and HBO have made vampires cool again? Wrong. They may have brought it to your attention but it’s the eight great books by author Charlaine Harris that’s really brought vampires back and
made us all want to be one…again. It’s the continuing saga of the adorable Sookie Stackhouse, with her ‘disability’ (she can read minds), her merry band of Southern-fried friends and family, of course, vampires.

These books are so much fun that you’ll want to go from one to the next right away and honestly, you should."

Full Article:
http://www.sohojournal.com/?p=1600


Best Shows Of 2008: True Blood
TV Guide

"Alan Ball read our minds, Sookie Stackhouse-style: We didn't know we were looking for a love story/true-crime mystery about Southern gothic vampires, but now that we have it, we're in true love."

Full Article:
http://www.tvguide.com/special/best-of-year-2008/galleries.aspx?gallery=Best-Shows-1000372&page=10


A West Virginia werewolf in L.A.: Charleston product talks about life as a shapeshifter in HBO's 'True Blood'
By Bill Lynch
The Charleston Gazette

"Trammell has been a very busy guy, with guest appearances on other television shows, such as "Law and Order," as well as the occasional daytime talk show. He's busy, but not too busy to talk to the gazz to let people back home know he's doing just fine, even if the crowd he's been seen running with lately are a bunch of bloodsuckers.
"'True Blood' is definitely the biggest thing I've ever done," he said. "I love working with Alan Ball. He's one of the best writers for television, and it's fun. The show is set in an edgy, swampy gothic world. It's scary and bloody, but there's a lot of dark comedy."

That's not even the best part.

He laughed, "The studio where we shoot 'True Blood' is less than a mile from where I live.""

Full Article:
http://wvgazette.com/Entertainment/television/200812170603


Best was worst ... and worst even worse in fall TV season
By Ted Cox
Daily Herald

"1) "True Blood" - HBO's vampire drama came on at first like a soft-core-porn "Dark Shadows," but it found writer-creator Alan Ball, formerly of "Six Feet Under," developing a new set of expressions for his old obsessions. Late in the season it also developed a sense of itself and, even more important, a sense of self-deprecating humor reminiscent of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It's easily the best of a bad bunch."

Full Article:
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=258492


Top 100 People of 2008
By Whitney Matheson
USA Today

"17. Nelsan Ellis. As gay, drug-dealing chef Lafayette on HBO's True Blood, he's the show's most complex and compelling character. (He's also one of the few actors on the series who doesn't speak with a mangled Southern accent, so he gets extra points there.)"

Full Article:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2008/12/20-rob-pattinso.html


Ryan Kwanten on Guardians of Ga'Hoole
The Daily Telegraph

"Ryan Kwanten is back home to voice a character in the animated feature Guardians of Ga'Hoole. Kwanten arrived in Australia a week ago and went straight to work in a sound booth at Sydney-based production firm Animal Logic, the masterminds behind the Academy Award-winning hit Happy Feet."

Full Article:
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24842348-5006002,00.html


Trueblood: Internet Marketing Story of the Year
Posted By Matt O'Hern
Marketing Shift

"Jason Dowdell wrote the first Trueblood plost after he received an unusual package containing a vial full of red liquid along with a small card with Japanese writing on it and a URL. Eventually, Jason realized it was HBO's creative media pack to promote the new series, Trueblood.

Before we knew it, readers were hooked on the HBO hit series about modern vampires."

Full Article:
http://www.marketingshift.com/2009/1/trueblood-internet-marketing-story-year.cfm

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, Nelsan Ellis, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Marketing, True Blood

Alexander Skarsgard Takes Your Questions
Uinterview

"Q: There’s a lot of sex and violence on the show. I was wondering what your feelings are regarding this. Have there been any scenes that made you pause at all?
-Micah, Boston
A: No, Micah, I did not hesitate at all. I’m Scandinavian, damn it. We love to be naked! It was kind of liberating. I’ve worked on movies before when people come with contracts–20 pages–if you show this nipple from this angle, but not that one. I did not grow up in that kind of movie climate. It’s quite different in Sweden. I don’t mind it all. Nudity is great!"



Full Article:
http://www.uinterview.com/videos.php?i=40


'True Blood' actor Nelsan Ellis credits Thornridge teachers with on- and off-screen success
By Andrew Herrmann
Sun Times News Group

"When actor Nelsan Ellis is on the set of HBO's vampire saga "True Blood," show producer Alan Ball says, "We all just stand back and point the camera in his direction.''

Ellis, Ball has said, "channels from his own planet.''

Ellis is, of course, from this planet. He grew up in the south suburbs -- metamorphosing from troublemaker to an artist commanding critical acclaim and expanding parts.

For that, he credits two of his teachers at Thornridge High School in Dolton. Without their support, he figures, he would have ended up just another statistic."

Full Article:
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/people/1294133,CST-NWS-blood23.article


Music man sets the mood
By Geoff Boucher
LA Times

"Meet Gary Calamar, a man whose hilltop home has a garage with sliding shelves three-deep to handle just the old stuff in his CD library. Calamar is a sort of Mr. Sunday Night when it comes to handpicked music; there's his KCRW-FM (89.9) show "The Open Road," and it's also the night HBO airs " True Blood," the vampire show that has music in the, uh, spooky vein but also songs speaking to the Louisiana setting.

"True Blood," which has its season finale tonight and has been renewed for a second season, is part of a string of shows Calamar has worked on, along with " House, M.D.," "Six Feet Under," " Weeds," "Dexter" and " Entourage.""

Full Article:
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-newcalamar23-2008nov23,0,7559819.story


Taste For 'Blood': HBO's vampire series has slowly built an audience
By David Bauder
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS / Winston-Salem Journal

"Catching the wave of a public fascination with vampires, HBO's True Blood has steadily increased in stature to become the cable network's most popular series since The Sopranos and Sex and the City.
Based on the series of Sookie Stackhouse novels written by Charlaine Harris and starring Anna Paquin in the lead character's role, True Blood has increased its Sunday-night viewership by 66 percent since its debut in September."

Full Article:
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/23/taste-for-blood-hbos-vampire-series-has-slowly-bui/


HBO Draws 2.4 Million For `Blood’ Finale
By R. Thomas Umstead
Multichannel News

"More than 2 million viewers sampled the Nov. 23 finale of HBO’s vampire-tinged True Blood drama series.

The series, based on Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels with Anna Paquin in that role, averaged 2.4 million viewers in its finale, nearly double the 1.4 million viewers for the show’s Sept. 7 premiere, according to the network. Overall the series, which also stars, which also stars as Stephen Moyer as Sookie’s vampire love interest Bill Compton, sucked up an average of 2.2 million viewers during its 13-episosde run.

HBO is hoping the cume showings of the finale will exceed the 7 million viewers the show is averaging thus far."

Full Article:
http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6617782.html


Exclusive: FEARnet talks Vampires with 'True Blood's' Michelle Forbes!
FEARnet

"FN: You’re known for playing quite strong women, and your character on True Blood is pretty much in that vein.

MF: She is, indeed. I have yet to see where it’s going to go. But when it starts off, yes, she really has her own strength. But I have to say, having done In Treatment, it was really nice to play a repressed woman, a housewife, with no self esteem. That was actually a great luxury and gift to me. It was really fantastic to play someone who was not leading everyone and knew what was best, it was nice to be a woman who was like every person, who, you know, doesn’t know all the answers. You’re in a muddle, and you make wrong decisions. And she was all sort of elbows and knee joints emotionally. It was great fun to play, because I normally play very smart, together people, which I’m not."

Full Article:
http://www.fearnet.com/news/b13886_exclusive_fearnet_talks_vampires_with.html


Talking HBO's True Blood with One of Its Writers - Raelle Tucker
By Mary Borsellino
Sequential Tart

"Sequential Tart: The attitudes writers take in adapting a story from one medium to another vary quite widely. How does the True Blood team approach the task?

Raelle Tucker: We’re extremely lucky — Charlaine Harris has created such a cool, cinematic world, with so many unique characters ... and managed to keep them fresh and entertaining for eight novels, that it’s really an embarrassment of riches.

Obviously there are certain challenges in translating something so beloved to the screen. It was hugely important to honor Charlaine and the fans of the books, but it was equally important to allow the show to take on its own life."

Full Article:
http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=1156


Int'l Press Academy announces nominations Satellite Awards to be presented Dec. 14
By Gregg Kilday
Hollywood Reporter

"Actress in a Series, Drama

ANNA PAQUIN True Blood (HBO)
HOLLY HUNTER Saving Grace (TNT / Fox Televsion)
GLENN CLOSE Damages (FX)
KATHRYN ERBE LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT (NBC / USA)
KYRA SEDGWICK The Closer (TNT)
SALLY FIELD Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Actor in a supporting role in a series, mini-series or motion picture made for television.

JIMMY SMITS Dexter (Showtime)
ZELJKO IVANEK Damages (FX)
JOHN SLATTERY Mad Men (Lionsgate, AMC)
JOHN NOBLE Fringe (FOX)
NELSAN ELLIS True Blood (HBO)
HARVEY KEITEL Life On Mars (ABC / Twentieth Century-Fox)"

Full Article:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3i4fc2c2322d54edacc0e7fd33aff21998


True Blood's Nelsan Ellis On Sexy Season Two & His Dad Hating His Character
By Jen Smith
Fancast

"Before heading inside to attend the Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society holiday party Wednesday night in Hollywood, Ellis chatted about True Blood and his character's possible departure.

Will we see Lafayette on Season Two? "Naturally I love working on the show, so I want to come back," he said. "But it's up to the powers that be. So we'll see.""

Full Article:
http://thebiz.fancast.com/2008/12/nelsan_ellis_story.html


2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced
WGA

"NEW SERIES

Breaking Bad, Written by Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould, Patty Lin, George Mastras, J Roberts; AMC

Fringe, Written by JJ Abrams, Jason Cahill, Julia Cho, David H. Goodman, Felicia Henderson, Brad Caleb Kane, Alex Kurtzman, Darin Morgan, J.R. Orci, Roberto Orci, Jeff Pinkner, Zack Whedon; Fox

In Treatment, Written by Rodrigo Garcia, Bryan Goluboff, Davey Holmes, William Meritt Johnson, Amy Lippman, Sarah Treem; HBO

Life on Mars, Written by Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, Scott Rosenberg, Becky Hartman Edwards, David Wilcox, Adele Lim, Bryan Oh, Tracy McMillan, Sonny Postiglione, Phil M. Rosenberg, Meredith Averill; ABC

True Blood, Written by Alan Ball, Brian Buckner, Raelle Tucker, Alexander Woo, Nancy Oliver, Chris Offutt; HBO"

Full Article:
http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=3410


True Blood's Harris Looks Ahead
By John Joseph Adams
Sci Fi Wire

"SFW: I'm sure you and your publishers expected to get a sales bump from the TV series, but I'm sure no one expected you to end up with seven New York Times best-sellers all at once--what was that like?

Harris: That's still ongoing, believe it or not. All the books have been on the extended or print list for the last five weeks, give or take a week. And the boxed set is a hugely popular Christmas gift, apparently. Thanks, Alan Ball! For me personally, it hasn't made that much difference. I'm still faced with the problems I had before: a looming deadline, a book that won't write itself. Being the prom queen for a season hasn't changed the work any."

Full Article:
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?id=62676


2009 Golden Globes Award Nominations
HFPA

"Best Television Series - Drama
Dexter (SHOWTIME)

House (FOX)
Heel and Toe Films, Shore Z Productions and Bad Hat Harry Productions in association with Universal Media Studios

In Treatment (HBO)
Sheleg, Closest to the Hole Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Mad Men (AMC)
Lionsgate

True Blood (HBO)
Your Face Goes Here Productions in association with HBO Entertainment

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series - Drama
Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)

Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order

January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)

Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)

Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)"

Full Article:
http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard, Nelsan Ellis, Michelle Forbes, Charlaine Harris, True Blood

Terry Morrow of Scripps News has posted an article on True Blood’s Anna Paquin. In it she talks about why she loves her character, other roles and... about Stephen Moyer’s teeth:

“"Come in here and show them your teeth," actress Anna Paquin yells into another room.

Actor Stephen Moyer walks in, a bit perplexed about why she wants him to open his mouth to a room of strangers. Then she giggles and asks him again to bare his fangs.

And he does.

"See," she says, smiling. "He does have them."

As the star of HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," airing 9 p.m. ET Sundays, Paquin thinks her co-star's pointy real-life canine teeth are cool. They are long and sharp like a vampire's would be. Strangers might find them a bit disconcerting, especially since Moyer plays a vampire on "Blood."

Full Article:
http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/37344

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood

The leads of True Blood, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, were recently interviewed by Media Blvd. Magazine. You can read these articles online.

Anna Paquin’s Interview:
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/anna_paquin_takes_the_lead_in_%22true_blood%22_200809071268.html

Stephen Moyer’s Interview:
http://www.mediablvd.com/magazine/the_news/celebrity/stephen_moyer__in_%22true_blood%22_200809191289.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, True Blood

The Los Angeles Premiere screening of HBO's Series "True Blood" was held at the Cinerama Dome on September 4, 2008 in Hollywood, Cafliornia. This was followed up by an after-party where “Tru Blood” was served...

Photos of people arriving at the premiere:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/lyINc-n9krE/Los+Angeles+Premiere+HBO+Series+True+Blood/

Photos from the After Party:
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/pqJwTA5HBL8/Los+Angeles+Premiere+HBO+Series+True+Blood/

Tags: Appearances, Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis, Charlaine Harris, True Blood

Vanessa Lawrence of WWDLifestyle has posted a short interview with True Blood’s Anna Paquin:

“WWD: What attracted you to this part in the first place?

Anna Paquin: Well, this whole world is so kind of exciting and unusual as far as the supernatural elements but also has so much in it that’s really emotionally poignant and the characters are so strong and so well drawn out. My character is so tough but she’s sweet and she’s innocent, but she’s kind of worldly. There’s just so much to it that it does not get boring.

WWD: Vampire sex certainly doesn’t get boring. In fact, the show gets quite graphic.

A.P.: You know, there’s some pretty full-on stuff of that variety. And on the whole I think vampire fascination is so intertwined with the whole idea of dangerous sexuality and that sort of scary edge to it.”

Full Article:
http://www.wwd.com/lifestyle-news/eye/paquin-takes-on-the-vampires-1717893

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood

The True Blood “Cast & Crew” section has been updated with new photos and in depth biographies for Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell and Nelsan Ellis. Other cast and crew data has been ammended, as well.

Additionally, a new page has been added, titled “About True Blood”, that provides a general overview of the TV Series.

Tags: Site Update, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Rutina Wesley, Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis, True Blood

Extensive footage of the HBO True Blood Panel at San Diego Comic-Con has been posted online in 8 parts. These were recorded by an audience member and seem to be mosty of the view screen. You can view them below:

















(Source: Gonturan74 )

Tags: Video, Convention, Appearances, Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Nelsan Ellis, Rutina Wesley, Charlaine Harris

True Blood’s Anna Paquin discusses the series, her character Sookie Stackhouse, and more in a brief interview segment posted at Starpulse.com:

“Q: How did you get involved with 'True Blood?' Had you been considering getting into television?

Anna Paquin: I had been thinking that it would be really awesome to be a part of one of those really good HBO shows, and then this showed up. I thought, “There's no way in hell I'm gonna get this, but I'll give it my best.” There's nothing more exciting as an actor than getting to do something that you're not entirely sure that anyone would let you do, and getting to take a big jump in a completely different direction. The brightness of my character's personality is so refreshing; it doesn't mean she doesn't deal with heavy issues, or doesn't have hardship. It just means that she's not dealing with it by introverting and becoming this dark, tortured person, which I've done a lot of.”

Full Article:
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2008/08/11/anna_paquin_talks_about_new_hbo_series_t

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood

Yet another snippet of video footage from the HBO Tru Blood Comic-Con Panel has surfaced. This time from Daemons.tv, it features Q&A with Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, CHarlaine Harris and Stephen Moyer.




Thanks to forum member LadyAyla for the heads up.

Tags: Video, Convention, Appearances, Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Charlaine Harris, Stephen Moyer, True Blood

Six photos, taken during the HBO True Blood Panel at Comic-Con 2008, have been added to the “Appearances” section of the Photo Gallery. If you’d like to contribute some photos of your own, please let me know!

Thanks to aceattorney for the current photos.

Tags: Pictures, Appearances, Convention, Stephen Moyer, Anna Paquin, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, True Blood

Courtesy of KPBS, we have around 8 minutes of video from the HBO True Blood Panel at Comic-Con:


Alan Ball, Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, also, appeared on G4TV’s “Attack Of The Show” as part of thei Comic-Con coverage:

Tags: Video, Appearances, Convention, Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Charlaine Harris, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Nelsan Ellis, True Blood

The San Diego Comic-Con panel for HBO's "True Blood" took place Thursday afternoon between 4:30 and 5:30 Pacific time and reports are now coming in. Here is a quick summary of the event.

In Attendance were Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Nelsan Ellis, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Alan Ball and Charlaine Harris.

The moderator for the panel was Entertainment Weekly’s Lynette Rice.

Panel Description: “Based on the popular Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris, True Blood is created by Alan Ball, creator of HBO’s Emmy-winning series Six Feet Under. The series takes place in the not-too-distant future, when, thanks to the invention of synthetic blood, vampires no longer need humans for their fix and can walk freely, if not yet comfortably, among their living counterparts. With their integration into a small Louisiana town causing a stir, a love story ensues between Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin, the X-Men films; Academy Award winner for The Piano), an innocent waitress with the unusual ability to read minds, and vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer, The Starter Wife). The series also features Ryan Kwanten (Summerland), Rutina Wesley (How She Move), Sam Trammell (Judging Amy), and Nelsan Ellis (The Inside). True Blood debuts September 7 exclusively on HBO. Room 6CDEF ”

*A trailer was prepared and played specifically for Comic-Con.
*They have only three more days of shooting for this season.
*The first season follows the first book with only slight transgressions beyond.
*Alan Ball says that the biggest challenge has been expanding the show’s universe beyond the book serie,s given they are told from Sookie’s point of view.
*The relationship between Sookie and Bill will be the centerpeice of the series.
*Alan Ball promises to avoid the vampire cliches of “blue light, contact lenses and opera music”.
*Alan Ball was tight lipped when asked if the book character “Bubba” would be in the series.
*Alan Ball says it’s a show about relationships, not just vampires.
*When asked if there was going to be a real Tru Blood beverage, Alan Ball answered “V8, Valium, Vicodin and Viagra”
*Alan Ball doesn’t have time to go online and worry about fan reaction. He’s respectful but won’t cater to them.
*We don’t learn why Sookie is telepathic this season.
*Sookie has remained a virgin because of her “disability”.
*Aside from working at Merlotte’s, Lafayette runs an adult website.
*When vampire blood is used as a drug in the series, the effects are different with each person.
*The vampire Eric will be introduced later in the season as part of the setup for season 2.
*Stephen Moyer tries to be ‘very still’ when playing Bill. Since there’s no heartbeat, there’s no extraneous or unintended movements.
*Ryan Kwanten lost all of his inhibitions after playing Jason Stackhouse.
*Sam Trammellwas drawn to the role because his family’s from LA.
*Nelsan Ellis loves playing a character without boundaries.
*Alan Ball doesn’t feel there’s need for competition with different vampire projects like Twilight, though Charlaine says they could take ‘em.
*Alan doesn’t have a rule on whether the cast should read ahead in the Southern Vampire novels. Anna has read the first three, for a better understanding of her character.
*Alan Ball ends the discussion by revealing that “ I wanted to do something fun and so far I’ve had more fun working on this series than anything else in my career.”

Did you attend Comic-Con? I’d love to hear of your experience and post your photos. Let me know.

Meanwhile, don’t forget about our Tru Blood Beverage Give-Away!

Tags: Appearances, Convention, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Nelsan Ellis, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Ryan Kwanten, Alan Ball, Charlaine Harris

Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer and series creator Alan Ball appeared at the TCA Press Tour on July 10th, 2008 to discuss True Blood with members of the TV Critic’s Association.

I’ve added a few pics to the new “Appearances” section of the True Blood Gallery. More to come!

Tags: Pictures, Appearances, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alan Ball, True Blood

Sean Daly of the NY Post had a chance to ask a few questions of True Blood’s Anna Paquin during the TCA Press Tour.

“Q: You have some sexy outfits on the show...

AP: My wardrobe is awesome! I am practically naked the entire time. What is not to love? [laugh] And they give me this nice spray tan, so I feel like I am sort of wearing an extra layer of clothing that is actually not really there. I feel quite naked actually. Or I did. I bought a lot of little tiny shorts to wear around on set.”

Full Interview:
http://blogs.nypost.com/tv/archives/2008/07/catching_up_wit.html

Tags: Articles, Anna Paquin, True Blood