SPOILERS: Official Synopses for July’s Episodes

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HBO just released the official synopses for the True Blood episodes airing in July and they are spoileriffic! Seriously, don’t read ahead if you don’t want to know some juicy details.

Episode 204:  “Shake and Fingerpop”
Debut:  SUNDAY, JULY 12 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT)

With Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) in tow, Bill (Stephen Moyer) and Sookie (Anna Paquin) head to Dallas to carry out Eric’s (Alexander Skarsgård) vampire-reconnaissance mission – but a surprise awaits them at the airport.  At the Light of Day Institute, Jason (Ryan Kwanten) falls victim to a practical joke, but has the last laugh when the Newlins anoint him for a higher calling.  Maryann (Michelle Forbes) throws Tara (Rutina Wesley) a birthday party at Sookie’s, attracting much of Bon Temps to its Bacchanalian revelry.  Sam (Sam Trammell) postpones his departure from town to attend the bash, connecting with Daphne (Ashley Jones) in the process.  Having barely escaped Fangtasia, Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) finds himself reluctantly pulled back into Eric’s orbit.

Written by Alan Ball; directed by Michael Lehmann.

Episode 205:  “Never Let Me Go”
Debut:  SUNDAY, JULY 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

In Dallas, Sookie connects with one of her own, then joins Bill and Eric for a strategic summit at the lair of the missing vampire, Godric (Allan Hyde), attended by his lieutenants, Stan (Ed Quinn) and Isabel (Valerie Cruz).  Meanwhile, Jason shows his mettle at a Light of Day boot camp, and is rewarded for his hard work with a gift from Sarah (Anna Camp).  Rebuffed by Tara in her relocation efforts, Maryann decides to cast her spell on the staff of Merlotte’s, softening Tara up towards her new “family.”  Eric shares a little-known secret about his past with Bill, and Sookie makes a decision that might solve the Godric mystery – or get her killed.

Written by Nancy Oliver; directed by John Dahl.

Episode 206:  “Hard-Hearted Hannah”
Debut:  SUNDAY, JULY 26 (9:00-10:00 p.m.)

Accompanied by Isabel’s human boyfriend Hugo (Christopher Gartin), Sookie embarks on a dangerous mission to locate Godric.  Meanwhile, Bill is shocked when a vampire from his distant, more violent past resurfaces in Dallas.  In Bon Temps, Daphne presses Sam to get comfortable in his own skin(s); Hoyt (Jim Parrack) continues his unlikely courtship of Jessica; Andy (Chris Bauer) interrogates Lafayette about his disappearance; and Tara and Eggs (Mehcad Brooks) take a detour while on a road trip.  At the Light of Day camp, Jason faces difficult emotional and physical choices.

Written by Brian Buckner; directed by Michael Lehmann.

SPOILERS: Tidbits From The First Four Episodes

Ausiello has several spoilery tidbits for True Blood in this week’s column. Don’t read if you don’t want to know!

Read more

True Blood, Season 2: A Bigger Show

As the video promos keep rolling in, firing us up for the premiere on June 14th, take a look at this behind the scenes clip featuring Alan Ball, Rutina Wesley, Anna Paquin, Michelle Forbes, Sam Trammell and Stephen Moyer. I was especially taken with Bill in a tux.

VIDEO: True Blood In Production

HBO’s The Buzz has a new behind the scenes peek at True Blood in production for season 2. The video includes some minor spoilers, plus interviews with Alan Ball, Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Alexander Skarsgard, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Michelle Forbes, Ashley Jones, and more. Enjoy!

Things To Do In L.A. When You’re Dead: The True Blood Set Visit

If you listened to last week’s True-Blood.net Radio show, you heard us allude to “other things” we were hoping to accomplish while we’re in Los Angeles for the PaleyFest panel. We didn’t want to be specific in case we jinxed it. There was no jinxing, so Tuesday we found ourselves, along with writers from two other fansites, meeting up with Kelley, one of the wonderful publicists from HBO, on the lot where portions of True Blood is filmed.

That’s right, we got to walk the hallowed halls of Merlotte’s, the Stackhouse ancestral home, and the Compton manse. It was just as awesome as it sounds. The sets were empty while the show filmed some Fellowship of the Sun scenes with Ryan Kwanten, Amy Camp and Michael McMillian on location, so we were able to wander around and look at everything with the guidance of production assistant Khadija. The attention to detail on the sets is amazing. Suzuki Ingerslev and her team deserve every design award out there for their work. Just a hint to Emmy voters. While we wandered, we took lots of photos to share with y’all in the Gallery and include in our recap of the tour.

We started at Merlotte’s Bar & Grill, which is actually set up like a real tavern, allowing the cameras to follow the actors from room to room without cutting between sets. Sam’s office (where Mel got to sit in Sam’s comfy leather chair) is all masculine wood, leather, and hunting decor. The number of dog pictures and figurines at Merlotte’s is hilarious, given the circumstances. From Sam’s office, you can walk across the hall to the kitchen, where Lafayette serves up biting commentary along with the burgers. Down the hall are the restrooms, labeled Bucks and Does, and a cigarette machine.

The hall also provides access to the bar/dining room which looks like it’s been around for decades instead of just a couple of years. The wooden walls sport vintage tin signs advertising different beverages and Louisiana delicacies; the bar itself has vintage coasters embedded in the acrylic, coffee-ringed top; and the menu features some tasty (and reasonably priced!) options. Behind the bar is a ‘fridge full of (empty) bottles of beer, but  no Tru Blood, and other bottles of liquor line the shelves. Tons of snapshots are tacked up along the wall, including several of the characters we know and love. One of our favorites is a snapshot of Sookie and Tara doing a “best friend” pose and smiling. Awwww. Just inside the front door and off the dining room, an old pool table waits for someone to rack up and play. We were delighted to look out the windows and see cars in the “parking lot”, against the swampy backdrop. It must make it easier for the actors to get into character at Merlotte’s when it’s so authentic!

After our trip to Bon Temps’ favorite dining establishment, we walked over to the Stackhouse home, a half-sized house built on the soundstage. Gran’s second-floor bedroom is separate, since the house set is only the first story, so we started there. It’s as homey as you’d expect, full of well-worn books, vintage furniture, needlepoint, and even a tea tray with some (fake) jam thumbprint cookies. Framed photos of Sookie and Jason as children and as adults are scattered here and there, adding even more personal touches. At the main house set, we explored the front porch with it’s peeling paint and wicker furniture before moving inside to rescind any vampire invitations. Who are we kidding, we’d invite Eric and Bill and Pam in anytime!

The main house set features the foyer with a half-staircase and the ceiling fan where the poor cat was left on display (we took a photo in memory of the cat), the dining room, the kitchen, the backporch/laundry room/gardening room, the living room, and the sewing room. Again, the details are astonishing. You could move into that set and feel at home instantly. There’s even food in the ‘fridge! Standing on the spot where Sookie found Gran prompted discussion of that scene and its impact on all of us, even after several viewings. So powerful. In the livingroom, we recalled the “Sookie and I are going for a walk” scene and exclaimed over Ryan Kwanten’s ability to express so much without saying a word. That guy, we can’t wait to see what he does in season 2!

Bill Compton’s house was our next stop, and what a contrast to the other two sets. Where Merlotte’s and Sookie’s place were full of homey clutter and memorabilia, the Compton house is sparsely furnished. The walls feature peeling wallpaper and a tarnished mirror in the foyer, but no pictures or other decorative items. A couple of candleholders, an ornate clock, a beautiful old piano, a large mirror, and a couple of lovely old couches in the living room are almost all you’ll find downstairs. Almost. Another part of the house will be revealed in season 2, so stay tuned for some behind-the-scenes scoop on that after the season premiere.

Unlike the other sets, Bill’s house has an upstairs that is accessible by the once grand staircase. The rooms up there are “half rooms”, more like facades for those sweeping entrance shots of Bill’s house, and are in dire need of renovation, as is the rest of the house. Suzuki’s team did a tremendous job of making Bill’s house look derelict. The depth of detail – gouged and broken plaster, painted over, then wallpapered – looks as real up close as it does on television. We even spotted some “water damage” in the foyer. Bill really needs to get that renovation going. Back downstairs, we tried to find Bill’s hidey-hole, but it wasn’t set up so we just pretended it was there and tried to get each other to lie down on the floor and pose. No one was willing to play “undead”, though.

Bill’s place was the final stop on our tour, wrapping up a delightful couple of hours snooping around the characters’ favorite places. After seeing these gorgeous sets up close and personal, we have the urge to marathon season 1 and watch them in action, as it were. Many thanks again to Kelley, Khadija and HBO for giving us this opportunity and letting us take lots of photos to share. Be sure to visit HBO.com to keep up with their True Blood buzz as season 2 approaches!

Photos source: True-Blood.net

PHOTOS: New Set Photos from Season 1

HBO is giving the fans a little treat as we wait for season 2 to begin: they’ve released 23 photos of the True Blood set for us to examine! These photos showcase the award-winning work of production designer Suzuki Ingerslev and her crew as they created the Stackhouse home, Merlotte’s Bar & Grill, Bill Compton’s house, and the surrounding landscape. You can view all 23 photos in our Gallery or at the True Blood Wiki. Photos are copyright HBO.

Photo source: HBO

Bloody Good Times on True Blood

Fangoria.com takes a look at putting together Charlaine Harris’s southern vampire world. Among the people they talked with on set was the romantic vamp himself, (and my TV BF), Stephen Moyer.

Drinking Up TRUE BLOOD

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN

A group of 50 vampires are watching a legal proceeding in a junkyard. Naturally, it’s the middle of the night—both in the story, set in the small town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and in the real world in Sun Valley, California, where the TRUE BLOOD cast and crew are trying to finish before the sun rises.

Episode director Scott Winant relates just one element that has to get done before 5 a.m. “We’re doing a combination makeup/CGI effect,” he explains. “We have a vampire bite that I need to expose, but on our schedule tonight, we can’t do a makeup effect with a full prosthetic, which is how it’s traditionally done. So the effects people came up with a solution where they would make a very small rig which is just a blood feeder tube, and apply it to the neck. We consulted with Zoic, our digital house, and they confirmed they could paint the tubes out fairly easily. That way, we can have the blood flow naturally, but you won’t see the feeders.”

TRUE BLOOD, a 12-hour series which premieres on HBO this Sunday, September 7, is adapted by Alan Ball (Oscar-winning screenwriter of AMERICAN BEAUTY and creator of SIX FEET UNDER) from Charlaine Harris’ best-selling Southern Vampire novels. The novels chronicle what happens when a synthetic blood substance (known as Tru•Blood) makes it possible for the undead to stop subsisting on humans. The vampires “come out of the coffin” to a decidedly mixed reception, given that they don’t always abide by human laws, as demonstrated in the scene being filmed. The books and the show center on telepathic human waitress Sookie Stackhouse, played by Anna Paquin, who’s all for species mixing, and her undead suitor Bill Compton.

British actor Stephen Moyer, who plays Bill, says he’s still getting used to the nocturnal hours involved in filming TRUE BLOOD. “I got back [from the previous night’s shoot] this morning and I couldn’t sleep. The first night’s always really tough, because by the time you’re getting into bed, the birds are singing, people are starting to work, there was somebody drilling holes next door to me. I’ve been awake ever since. But by the third night, you’re so knackered, you’re so tired, you just get back into it.”

Bill Compton is actually Moyer’s second vampire role; 10 years ago, he starred alongside Jack (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN) Davenport as a London-based bloodsucker in another supernatural TV project. “ULTRAVIOLET,” Moyer explains, “was set in a very urban London landscape, and it was very clean-cut and English. And this is obviously,” the actor adopts the Louisiana accent he uses for Bill, “very Southern and laid-back. They’re quite different. My [ULTRAVIOLET] character was quite cocky and cocksure and brassy and bold, and Bill is far more considerate, more of a gentleman—and guilt-ridden.”

The TRUE BLOOD vampires are pale with retractable fangs, but differ from their screen brethren in having bloody fingernails. Moyer holds up his hands in illustration. “My hands are brushed white, and we have this blood thing [in the nails]. You can clean everything else off really quickly, but you’ll be at the store the next day buying milk and it looks like you’re really filthy, because that stays on for weeks.”

Todd Masters and Dan Rebert designed the look of the bloodsuckers, and chief on-set makeup artist Brigette Myre Ellis says one of the challenges of her job is making sure the actors playing the undead have suitable pallor. “Mondays are usually our hardest days, because everybody’s gotten some sun,” she notes. Ellis has experience in this area, as she’s a veteran of the entire run of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, and notes, “I did not think I would be signing on for a series that could possibly go for another seven years. If this goes and I do stay on it, it’ll be 14 years on vampire shows!”

One difference from her previous assignment is that HBO allows considerably more gore than the broadcast TV. “This is a big bloodbath,” Ellis acknowledges cheerfully. “In this scene, and scenes to come, they’re completely gore-streaked. We use everything: the brush technique of splattering it, spraying it on—it’s ‘get down and get dirty’ on this show, so it’s great. There are so many different kinds [of camera blood]: There’s pumping blood, drying blood, light-colored blood, we have things called fresh scabs, there’s gelling blood—so many different elements that every time, you have to take into account the situation, how [the character’s injury] happened. And then on the day, you see how they’re going to light it—is it day, is it night, is it interior or exterior? This show is so great, and to be a part of it is amazing. I really believe it’s going to go somewhere. Just the group of people—the cast is amazing, unbelievably talented, there are no big egos, everybody’s happy to be here and wants to be here, so it’s a real pleasure to be around.”

The show’s writers also want to be here—and, unlike on many film and TV sets, they’re welcome. Brian Buckner and Chris Offutt, who co-wrote the episode being filmed, are happily watching the camera monitors next to director Winant. “The real challenge of this show,” Buckner says, “is being truthful to Charlaine’s books and keeping the Sookie stories pretty well-preserved for the fans, but also fleshing out the other characters, so we have a little more of an ensemble. So it’s adding stuff without derailing ourselves on what we need to stick to.” The TRUE BLOOD series showcases more corpses than the books do, he notes. “We’ve added murders, so there’s a serial-killer type of thing, where [a main character] gets fingered for these crimes.”

“I like the vampire mythology,” Offutt says. “This is a reinvention of it in many ways. But essentially, the root of this show is emotional drama between characters, some of whom happen to be vampires and some of whom are human.”

“The trick is to strike a balance,” Buckner continues, “to unravel it slowly, so that we don’t throw a bunch of supernatural elements at our audience at once. Let them buy into what we’re giving them and then introduce something else, and dole it out. Not to speak for Alan [Ball], but I feel like that was sort of his hook into the story of this world, and that’s where you can see an overlap of the other themes in his work. I love the [civil rights] analogy, but we don’t go to it that often. It’s more of a backdrop.”

“It’s an underlying theme,” Offutt agrees. “But it can also be whatever your own personal ‘other’ is, whatever that person represents, whether it’s ethnicity or gender or civil rights. It’s the vampire as newcomer into the community.”

TV series involving creatures of the night seem to attract cult followings, and Moyer says he’ll be happy if that occurs with TRUE BLOOD. “Alan Ball is a bit of an extraordinary presence to work for,” he says. “He’s an amazing man, and if somebody had said, ‘What would you like to come out to America and get known for?’ I would pretty much have chosen this as the dream project.”

Discuss this article HERE.

Behind the Scenes of True Blood on HBO

Here is a video clip of Alan Ball talking about True Blood. There are more scenes from the show than we’ve seen so far, and we meet Nathan Barr, who brings us the music for the show. Follow the link below for viewing.

Alan Ball on HBO\'s True Blood

Nathan Barr Scores True Blood

According to Film Music Magazine, Nathan Barr has done the score for “True Blood”. Nathan recently did the score for “Shutter”, which is in theaters now.

Nathan Barr continues his working relationship with Broken Lizard, for whom he previously scored Club Dread and Beerfest. He is going to score Broken Lizard’s The Slammin’ Salmon, a comedy starring Michael Clarke Duncan, Cobie Smulders and Lance Henriksen. The film is directed by Kevin Heffernan, one of the Broken Lizard members who is making his helming debut with this film. The story is about a contest at a Miami restaurant where waiters compete to earn the most money in one night. Nathan Barr’s recent scores include two horror films, Shutter and Tortured. He is also doing the music for the HBO series True Blood, starring Anna Paquin.