The Globe And Mail’s R.M. Vaughan chats with Charlaine Harris about True Blood, gay rights, sucess and more:

--- The great thing about the vampire myth is that anybody who takes it on gets to reinvent the mythology. Yet, you must have had some core texts in your head.

CH: Right. Well, of course, I kind of ricocheted off Anne Rice. I don't write anything like she did, and I don't have the same content or anything, but some of my world is simply a reaction to hers.

And your books are far more political. The vampires' struggles for equal rights can be read as a stand-in for gay rights, or even a reflection on the integration battles of the last generation.

CH: I do have a political take, I definitely do. Yeah, they are stand-ins for gay people, and I didn't really care a lot if there was resistance to that. It was incredibly hard to sell – it took my agent two years to sell the first book. I didn't expect that, 'cause I thought editors were just gonna eat this up. Not. In fact, it was rejected often and with vehemence. Some people just hated it, and said, “How could we market this, where would we shelve it?” Maybe they're thinkin' twice now. ---

Full Article:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/behind-true-blood-a-fight-for-vampire-rights/article1177802/

Tags: Articles, Charlaine Harris, True Blood

/ Though season two of HBO's "True Blood" will further diverge from the Charlaine Harris series of books that inspired it, the author herself will be making a guest appearance in the season finale.

Series creator Alan Ball told reporters Wednesday that though he and Harris don't talk much about the direction of the show, they keep in touch.

"She actually is going to come out and do a cameo probably in the last episode of the season," said Ball. "But I do think it's best to just respect that boundary. Maybe I'm just being chicken because I don't want to hear that she hates this or she hates that." /

Full Article:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/06/04/2009-06-04_novelist_behind_hbos_true_blood_planning_guest_appearance_.html#ixzz0HRxPLMOr&A

Tags: Charlaine Harris, Season 2, True Blood

" The formula of small-town life regularly disrupted by the supernatural world — and some mind-blowing sex with vampires — has propelled Ms. Harris through nine Sookie novels. For her latest three-book contract, of which “Dead and Gone” is the second, Ms. Harris was paid a seven-figure advance.

The books have also spawned “True Blood,” the HBO adaptation created by Alan Ball, the maestro of “Six Feet Under.” The first season of the series, which roughly followed “Dead Until Dark,” concluded last fall as the cable network’s most popular show since “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City.” The new season, based on the second novel in the series, “Living Dead in Dallas,” begins on June 14.

This heady brew of success has allowed Ms. Harris, 57, some luxuries: earlier this year she hired her longtime best friend as her personal assistant. She bought a diamond ring. And this year, because of Julia’s graduation, she could afford the ultimate indulgence: she refused to go on a book tour.

“It was just a huge relief that I finally hit on the right character and the right publisher,” said Ms. Harris, who had previously written two mystery series that never quite took off. Or, as she put it more succinctly, with a cackle that evoked a paranormal creature: “I had this real neener-neener-neener moment.” "

Full Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/books/20sook.html?_r=1&ref=arts

Tags: Articles, Charlaine Harris, True Blood

"An Evening with Charlaine Harris
Tuesday, January 6 | 7 PM, 2009

Central Library
500 McKinney
Houston, Texas 77002
832-393-1313


Charlaine Harris, whose Southern Vampires series has been made into the hit HBO series TRUE BLOOD, will be promoting the hardback reprint of "LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS," the 2nd Sookie Stackhouse book. Charlaine Harris has been a published novelist for over twenty-five years. A native of the Mississippi Delta, she grew up in the middle of a cotton field. Now she lives in southern Arkansas with her husband, three children, three dogs, and a duck. The duck stays outside."

Source: http://www.houstonlibrary.org/

Tags: Charlaine Harris, Appearances, 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

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

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

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

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