True Blood' star works with panthers

NEW YORK —"True Blood” star Ryan Kwanten, pictured, says he's the "go to guy” when a production calls for working with panthers, even though he has a healthy fear of them.

Real panthers were used in the HBO series, and Kwanten said recently that he was supposed to work with a panther in his new Australian Western, "Red Hill,” until he learned the feline turned on its owner in a deadly attack.
Instead, Kwanten acted while writer/director Patrick Hughes pretended to be the feline off camera. Kwanten joked that it was his "finest bit of acting to keep a straight face and try to stay in it while my director was licking his paws and carrying on.” Another panther was filmed for scenes added in later.
Kwanten, who plays Jason Stackhouse in "True Blood,” said the hairs on his back stand up when panthers are on the set, but the animals are always chained.
"You're definitely on your toes” when working with the big cats, he said.
The Associated Press

Read more: http://newsok.com/true-blood-star-works-with-panthers/article/3510531#ixzz14JuLGRXv

Should True Blood Fans Be Crying Wolf?

This does not make Dallas happy.. I think 'Your Face goes here' ( Ball) should address these concerns ( and yes,  I think real wolves ( most are hybrid ) can be used but they have to be very carefully handled.)

The latest season of HBO's True Blood ended on Sunday, and the wolves have a little time off — both the human actors playing werewolves and their animal counterparts. In case you had been wondering whether those wolves featured this past season were digital, they're not.
The growing popularity of the vampire genre has led to increased demand for wolf actors. The Wall Street Journal reported that, while big-budget movies like The Twilight Saga can afford computer-generated animals, many television producers turn to the real deal. It's a lot cheaper to rent a wolf than it is to rent a computer designer.
However, it seems like the decision to use creatures over computers was a creative one for True Blood. Executive producer Alan Ball touted the benefits of using real wolves: "Wolves are incredibly charismatic and very powerful creatures and you can't create a version of that that's as good as the real thing." Director Daniel Minahan also credits the decision to the writing team, not the budget department.

read on

Ask Dallas : Here Dean, come boy !

Btanalo sent me an email with a great question about Dean, the dog. I love receiving email but I can't promise that I will always be able to find or know the answer to questions , but this time I was able to find out the answer for her ...

She wrote :
Dallas,

I'd sure like to know more about the dog who plays Dean/Sam. Have you seen anything written up about him/her?
bt


Well BT - I'd like you to meet the animal actor who actually plays Dean , his real name is Duffy and he is an English Shepard. Dean as we know is Sam's alter ego , or what he becomes when he shifts to a dog from his human form.

Dean ... I mean Duffy actually works at Boone's Animals for Hollywood.
http://www.boonesanimals.com/



I also believe that the lovely Tina, the cat may also be one of the British Blue cats that also work with Duffy at Boone's.


http://www.boonesanimals.com/pages/3170/British_Blues.htm

True Blood also states at the end of every show " The America Humane Association Monitored the animal action. No animals were harmed.

To find out more about the Film & TV Unit of the American Humane Society
visit here :
http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals/programs/no-animals-were-harmed/

Established in 1940, American Humane’s Film & Television Unit is the leading authority on the safe use of animals in film. We are the only animal welfare organization in the world with on-set jurisdiction from the Screen Actors Guild to supervise the use of animals. We are also the only organization with the authority to issue our renowned “No Animals Were Harmed”® end-credit disclaimer.

Animals Trainer include :
•Boone Narr
•David Bruce Allsberry
•Shawn Weber
•Brian Turner
•Linda Rowe
•Brian Turi
•Scott Davis
•Tracy Kelly
•Richard Long
•Scott Rowe

Dean watches over Sookie-what a good boy!

TexasBell on the wiki points out these telling events quotes from Bill

I think Bill knows Sam is a shape shifter because of some of the remarks made.
- when Sook saved Bill and the dog came up. He told her he was checking up on her
- when they went for a walk and Bill noticed the dog in the bushes
- when Bill told Sam this is not the time nor the place "to be Marking your territory"!

Picture of collie in Sam's office

Dean - Sam ?
What a good boy !