Cracking the CoffinTrue Blood Panel Opens Up at the Paley Center in LA
Patricia Morris Buckley — Associate Staff Writer
pmb@thetwocentscorp.com
You’d expect that a gathering to True Blood fans would bring out folks in cloaks and fangs. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the Paley Center panel for HBO’s True Blood, the most creative anyone got were a group of women in T-shirts that read “Bill’s Babe.”
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Part II of our True Blood Panel coverage: Vampires and the People who Love Them
Part III of our True Blood Panel coverage: Sneak Peek
[photo: Kevin Parry/The Paley Center for Media]
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You’d expect that a gathering to True Blood fans would bring out folks in cloaks and fangs. Nothing could be further from the truth. At the Paley Center panel for HBO’s True Blood, the most creative anyone got were a group of women in T-shirts that read “Bill’s Babe.”
ReplyDeleteThe evening began with clips from the first season and just under 10-minutes from the Season Two opener. Just before the panel came out, their guests were seated and as I hoped, Michael Emerson took a seat in the audience. Emerson, best known as the baddie Benjamin Linus in Lost, is married to Carrie Preston, who plays Arlene the red-haired waitress in True Blood. Yes, I did get his autograph later!
The panel consisted of Alan Ball (creator/executive producer), Anna Paquin (Sookie), Stephen Moyer (vampire Bill Compton), Ryan Kwanten (Jason, Sookie’s brother), Sam Trammell (Sam. Sookie’s boss), Rutina Wesley (Tara, Sookie’s best friend), Nelsan Ellis (Lafayette, Tara’s cousin), Preston (Arlene) and Alexander Skarsgard (Eric, the head vampire).
For Alan Ball’s comments on creating the show, why its different in some ways from the books and what he’s planning in S2, see separate article.
HOW DID EACH OF THE ACTORS GET INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT?
ALEXANDER SKARSGARD: Two years ago I went in to read for Bill (the part that went to Moyer). At that point, I didn’t know much about the books. When I didn’t get the part, I was devastated. Then Alan called and said he’d found a great actor for Bill, but there’s a smaller part he thought was better character for me. At one point, it looked as if it wouldn’t happen because I was in Africa shooting a movie. But fortunately, the Writer’s Strike happened and it worked out.
CARRIE PRESTON: I met Alan when I was in his movie “Towelhead.” We’re both for Georgia and it off because of the Southern thing. He told me then he might have something for me in the series. He sent me the script and I had no idea what part he was thinking about. Arlene is read-haired, buxom — Carrie doesn’t immediately come to mind when reading that description.
NELSAN ELLIS: I read for the part of Lafayette three or four times. The first time I was terrible. I’m still not sure why he picked me. I was still working on who Lafayette was.
RUTINA WESLEY: I was in New York (she’s just graduated from Julliard) and I got called to test with four other girls.
SAM TRAMMELL: I read for the casting director and then met Alan and he gave me notes. It was a stressful process. Four hours later, I got a call. I was screaming in the car like a girl. I’ve never been so excited two get a part.
RYAN KWANTEN: I also Read for Bill’s character. Alan told me Jason would suit me more. Jason is nothing like me, so I have fun jumping into his skin. He’s a red-necked Cassanova — two words that don’t normally go together.
STEPHEN MOYER: (joking) I auditioned for Sookie. Actually, I had been cast in another pilot and the pilot didn’t work, so I left it. When I went to audition, it seemed like me and half of Equity from England was there that day. Judi Dench was there (joking). I got the part that day. It’s been an amazing process. There was a lovely feeling in the room that day.
ANNA PAQUIN: I don’t know if you would call it auditioning as much as stalking. I called five times, which might classify as stalking in some states. I was the only pale brunette in a room of tan busty blonde tan. That didn’t inspire a lot of confidence. I was grateful that Alan and HBO were able to look past looks. I am incredibly blessed. This is a dream job.
WAS EVERYONE LOOKING TO GET INTO TV?
ANNA: I absolutely did, 100 percent. I was looking for a job like this. I’ve been in films since I was 11 (when she won an Oscar for “The Piano”). I thought it would be great to be part of one of those HBO shows. It was kind of freaky how it came around.
STEPHEN: I wasn’t even looking to come to America. I have kids in England (with a previous partner; he’s now living with Anna). But I knew if I found the right job, I’d have to follow it. So my kids and I Skype everyday on the computer. There’s not another job out there I’d rather be doing on TV or film.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER?
CARRIE: It’s fun to do a character that speaks her mind. If she’s thinking it, she’s going to say it.
ALEX: Eric is sometimes a little malicious. I don’t see him as an evil guy. He’s a no bullshit guy. I love him. If he likes you, he’s a very good friend.
RYAN: I threw out the textbook on acting. Jason flies by the seat of his pants. Jason’s that kind of guy.
RUTINA: I love Tara’s big old heart. I love her loyalty to Sookie. I get Tara in a really deep way. Some of her life experiences are familiar to mine.
HOW MANY TAKES DO YOU DO?
ANNA: However many takes it takes to get it right.
STEPHEN: There’s a freedom at HBO that you don’t necessarily get at other networks. If it takes 20 takes, it takes 20 takes. There’s no pressure and because of that, so we usually get it in a few takes.
IS THE SHOW BEING SHOT IN LOUISIANA THIS YEAR?
ALAN: We shoot in LA. Last year we went there three times, this year maybe one or two times. We are currently shooting seven out of 12 episodes.
THE CHAT ROOMS LOVE TO TALK ABOUT ERIC. ALEX, ARE YOU WEIRDED OUT BY PEOPLE APPROACHING YOU?
ALEX: It’s flattering. I’m like a glorified extra in Season 1. I didn’t expect (the attention) at all.
ALAN: I was a fan of the books, so I know what a huge presence Eric is in the books.
RYAN, WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO DO THE DANCE SCENE?
RYAN: It was different. They shot it from many different angles. I’m not all of them were favorable. I just hope that the character is there. Is Jason smart? I’d like to think so. I think he’s misunderstood.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE? WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE SCENE?
SAM: I got to do a lot of great stuff. But my least favorite was running naked in (the graveyard scene in Ep. 12). I was naked in the breeze and wearing beige colored jazz shoes because there were anthills on the ground. It’s tough seeing yourself naked, but running naked is another thing.
STEPHEN: Everyone has amazing moments. In the pilot, Neilsan had this moment where he’s talking about women that was improvised. For me, it was the Civil War stuff, when Bill is being made (vampire). As an English schoolboy, we don’t get to learn about that. The burning scene took makeup hours and hours to do. It was over three days and there were three different burnt Bill looks.
ANNA: When Sam wakes up naked on my bed. It’s because he had to wear the sock (called the “sack of destiny” by the crew). It was just the giggle factor (of the sock).
ALAN: YOU told me you liked getting the shit knocked out of you.
ANNA: I get almost killed almost every other episode. Then there’s having vampire vomit all over you. It was fantastic.
HOW MUCH IMPROVISED?
ALAN: When you audition for me and veer from the script, as a writer I think, “OK, I guess you’re going to write this.” But when Nelsan improvised in the kitchen, I was laughing so hard, I had to think he’s channeling from another place because it was so not him.
WHAT ARE FAN REACTIONS TO YOU:
SAM: I had an older guy at the gym recognize me, then he brought over his song, who brought over his son. So the demographic of the show is unbelievable. It seems to engage everybody in some way.
NELSAN: People think you are your character, so they take certain liberties. It would be OK, but sometimes there’s certain touches and stuff.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WOULD TELL ALAN ABOUT WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO SEE FOR YOUR CHARACTER?
RUTINA: (to Nelsan) To be alive (Lafayette appeared to be dead at the end of S1).
STEPHEN: I told Alan I thought Bill would have used those 150 years catching up on books he hadn’t read and learning to play every musical instrument. Alan interpreted that that Bill listens Cambodian throat music. So I’m not going to pitch in anymore.
DID THEY WARN YOU AHEAD OF SHOOTING HOW MUCH NUDITY YOU WOULD BE DOING?
RYAN: No, I did not. But it doesn’t bother me. I came from an open-minded society and I’m comfortable with my own body. I learned that if I make sure the girl is comfortable, that would dissipate my own nervousness. My wrap gift to the crew was socks.
ALAN: They’re referred to as the “Sack of Destiny.”
ALEX: I’m from Sweden. I’m disappointed that I’m not naked all the time. I want that in my contract.
ALAN: We’ll call your people tomorrow!
WHAT DID THE MAKEUP ARTISTS USE FOR DIRT ON STEPHEN FOR THE GRAVEYARD SCENE?
STEPHEN: We called those artists the “ass crack unit.” Actually, it was organic peet moss. They had to build an underground shed so I could reach up out of the ground and grab her.
ANNA: I don’t why people are so fascinated with where the dirt ended up. We shot it at night and spent a lot of time rolling around. So we didn’t find it a problem. I mean, Sookie has just found out that her boyfriend is alive, so they’re having hot, crazy sex. And people wonder where the dirt is?
SAM: I had an older guy at the gym recognize me, then he brought over his song, who brought over his son. So the demographic of the show is unbelievable. It seems to engage everybody in some way.
ReplyDeleteThis was said by Stephen Moyer, not Sam
Sorry — I'm positive it was Sam.
ReplyDelete