Saturday, May 23, 2009

!!NEW!! True Blood Season 2 promo

New promo tonight and I have 241 stills in a slide show for your enjoyment



Ouch! HBO’s Vampire Show Bites Business Blog.

from Gawker

Here’s a scoop from Silicon Alley Insider, published Saturday morning: “Gawker Media announced last night that it acquired BloodCopy.com. It’s a blog about vampires. Really.”

No, not really.

While an earlier version of the story went on to include a graph depicting BloodCopy’s Web traffic and several theories that might explain Gawker Media’s purchase of a vampire-themed blog, the Alley Insider post has since been revised. It now explains that the news site was snookered by a “PR firm contracted by Gawker [that] sent us a release with the news.”

Said news is actually part of a promotional campaign for “True Blood,” the vampire show entering its second season on Time Warner’s (TWX) HBO .

More details about BloodCopy, the fake blog that HBO runs to promote the show, as well as other marketing stunts the cable network has rolled out, are available here. But if you don’t have time to read a whole blog post, do be aware that this anti-vampire rights group is a fake. So is this pro-vampire rights group. And so is this synthetic blood beverage.

Disclosures! I used to work for Alley Insider, whose parent company just raised a bunch of money, which makes me happy.

True Blood behind the scenes: A Passage Into the Primeval on a Bayou Lake in East Texas


This is where part of the True Blood opening credits was filmed ..

New York Times
EVERY visitor to Caddo Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border seems to come away with a profoundly personal impression. Anglers prize Caddo, the only naturally formed lake in Texas, for its trophy bass; canoeists rate its twisting, interlocking bayous among the most challenging to navigate.

Environmentalists cherish its 26,000 acres as a rare, if not singular, wetlands environment. Caddo is more of a large bayou, composed of many smaller waterways. It is home to over 200 species of birds; hundreds of kinds of mammals, reptiles and fish; and countless plants, most prominently the towering baldcypress — some as old as 400 years — that erupt from its surface like limbs of drowned giants.

But what struck me about Caddo Lake the first time I saw it was the powerful suggestion of the supernatural that it evoked. Honestly, it’s kind of a creepy place.

Spectral shapes shift in the mist that rises from its cilantro-colored surface; ghost stories seem to ooze from its forested shores. Spanish moss dangles like serpents from cypress branches; spooky tales lurk behind the wary eyes of egrets and rabbits.

Read on

Will Anna Paquin suffer the curse of the vampires at the Emmys?

From LATimes blog

I am positive she will get nominated- I am most interested in seeing if Nelsan get a nomination.The Emmy Awards will officially announce the list of hotly-anticipated 2009 nominees on the morning of Thursday, July 16, 2009.

The 61st Emmy Awards ceremony will follow on ABC Television on Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 8PM.

**It's also interesting to note that this The U.S. Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will expand the number of nominees from five to six in the 10 major categories for the prime-time Emmy Awards. The categories are outstanding comedy and drama programs, lead actor and actress in a comedy and drama series, and supporting actor and actress in a comedy and drama series.

Anna Paquin True Blood Sarah Michelle Gellar Buffy the Vampire Slayer

There's an eerie parallel between the Emmy bid by Anna Paquin ("True Blood") and that of Sarah Michelle Gellar. Back during the heyday of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997-2003), Gellar had a strong cult following among fans and TV critics, but Emmys voters seemed to turn away in horror just like Oscar voters shunned Bela Lugosi in "Dracula."

Fantasy fare performs poorly at most industry awards, of course, but Gellar apparently wouldn't easily forgive the fact that neither she nor her hit show had ever been nominated (at least for best drama series -- it was in the running for lowly tech awards). When the TV academy tried to make amends to "Buffy" in its final year by staging a tribute gala at its headquarters in North Hollywood, Gellar was conspicuously absent. Even though it was after sunset.

Photos: HBO, 20th Century Fox TV

Loving True Blood in Dallas book suggestion: "Steamed: A Steampunk Romance"

from my friend SciFiGuy

Now this looks absolutely delicious. Steamed: A Steampunk Romance comes out next February from paranormal romance writer Katie MacAlister. I for one would like to see more of this sub genre. Visit her website or blog for more information.

Jack Fletcher's heart is about to get punked.
Computer technician Jack Fletcher is no hero, despite his welcome reputation as one. In fact, he's just been the victim of bizarre circumstances. Like now. His sister happens to disturb one of his nanoelectromechanical system experiments, and now they aren't where they're supposed to be. In fact, they're not sure where they are when…

…they wake up to see a woman with the reddest hair Jack has ever seen-and a gun. Octavia Pye is an Aerocorps captain with a whole lot of secrets, and she's not about to see her maiden voyage ruined by stowaways. But the sparks flying between her and Jack just may cause her airship to combust and ignite a passion that will forever change the world as she knows it…

** Crouching Vampire Hidden Fang is Katie's latest book release.

'True Blood' actress goes from comic relief to gravitas


When journeyman actor Carrie Preston was hired for the cast of the HBO vampire series "True Blood," she knew her role was to provide the comic relief.
You can see what Preston did with the role of Arlene during the first season of "True Blood," which came out on DVD Tuesday. (And when the second season of the show starts June 14 on the cable channel.)
Pay particular attention to the first-season finale, in which Preston's role goes way beyond being a comic relief.
A huge chunk of the first season of "True Blood" — when it was not dealing with vampire lust, shape-shifting and bar fights — dealt with a murder mystery.
It is Preston's character who ends up being a key figure in that storyline, which resulted an uncharacteristic heavy emotional moment.

read on

True Blood Season 1 dvd commentaries

There are 5 episode that you can watch on the True Blood Season 1 DVD with special commentaries. I have really enjoyed these, I guess because I like the behind the scenes stuff. Episode 5 with Stephen Moyer ties as being my favorite with Alan Ball , who comments on Episode 1. ( pilot)

Episode with Commentaries include:

-Commentary on Episode 1 "Strange Love" by Alan Ball (Executive Producer/Series Creator)

-Commentary on Episode 2 "The First Taste" by Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) and Scott Winant (Director)

-Commentary on Episode 4 "Escape From Dragon House" by Brian Buckner (Writer) and Michael Lehmann (Director)

-Commentary on Episode 5 "Sparks Fly Out" by Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton) and Dan Minahan (Director)

-Commentary on Episode 7 "Burning House of Love" by Marcos Siega

-Commentary on Episode 11 "To Love Is to Bury" by Nancy Oliver

One reviewer put it this way- Executive producer/series creator Alan Ball naturally provides the most thorough and extensive commentary for Strange Love; lead actress Anna Paquin and episode director Scott Winant dissect The First Taste; writer Brian Buckner and director Michael Lehmann offer their thoughts on Escape from Dragon House; actor Stephen Moyer and director Dan Minahan deliver one of the most engaging tracks for Sparks Fly Out; director Marcos Siega explains his approach to Burning House of Love; and writer/director Nancy Oliver takes a nervous, rambling look at To Love is to Bury.

Buy your DVDs today

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True Blood Fan Art


Dead Until Dark by =XxWonkaxX on deviantART

HBO True Blood Escape the Everyday Contest

Very fun new HBO sweepstakes

Enter today to win
dvds, interenet service and $10, 000

Escape the ordinary

visit everyday to find hidden clues and codes to enter for prizes.

How to Enter: During the Promotion Period, go to www.escapetheeverydaysweeps.com and complete and submit the registration form including a valid home address. P.O. Boxes are not permitted. Once you submit the registration, follow the links and instructions to select one (1) of the three (3) scenes. Then, you can enter the Sweepstakes and Instant Win Game as outlined below:

I. Sweepstakes: Interact with the scene by clicking on objects to locate and collect items (each an "Item"). One (1) Item per scene will be made available for collection each week during the Promotion Period. You will automatically receive three (3) Sweepstakes entries for each Item you collect. You can also obtain up to six (6) additional Sweepstakes entries per day by entering codes (each a "Code"). To obtain Codes, click "Enter Code" and you will proceed to a website where you will find six (6) videos. After you watch each video, you will receive a Code. You will receive one (1) Sweepstakes entry per Code entered each day during the Promotion Period.

II. Instant Win Game: Within each scene, locate the Instant Win Game area of the scene: the table in the bar, the fireplace in the house, and the grave in the graveyard. Click on the objects within the Instant Win Game area of the selected scene to play the Instant Win Game. You will be able to play the Instant Win Game one (1) time per day from each scene for a total of three (3) times per day during the Promotion Period. The Instant Win Game results will be instantly displayed. Potential winners of the Instant Win Game will be provided directions for validation. All potential winners are subject to verification before any prize will be awarded. Administrator is responsible for the functionality of the Instant Win Game.

True Blood Blood Copy: Gawker and Not all out of the coffin


GAWKER BOUND
May 22nd, 2009


I think I’ve strung you along far enough, huh? OK, here’s the big news I’ve been hinting at all week.

After I started posting again last week, Gawker Media realized that they simply could not live (so to speak) without having BloodCopy.com on their roster of websites. As of next week, we will officially be under the Gawker umbrella, joining sites such as Gawker, Gizmodo, Kotaku, Jalopnik, Lifehacker, Deadspin, Jezebel, and io9. Hope they can handle us.

So for those of you who’ve been following us all along… You don’t need to change a thing. Just keep on typing bloodcopy.com into your browsers and let us take care of the rest.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there are more things about vampires than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But I know a lot of them. And I’m finding out about more. And I’m willing to share with the class. So stick with BloodCopy - and Gawker - and we’ll bring you all the news that’s fit to print (and some that’s not) about vampires.


NOT ALL OUT OF THE COFFIN
May 21st, 2009


Despite the fact that there seems to be growing acceptance of vampires in daily life (as seen in Monday’s airing of the L.E.S.) , there are those of us who are reluctant to take that step out of the coffin. I can fully appreciate their reasons for protecting their true identities. Although I don’t like to speak about my own personal issues here, it’s true that since coming over, I’ve witnessed some of the most bigoted human behavior that I thought possible. The emailed death threats are only part of it.

So I have a great deal of admiration for my fellow vampires who make their existence known, but I also have deep understanding for those who do not. And believe me, there are more vampires out there than anyone can fathom. Many of them are even known to you as various celebrities, sports stars, CEOs, or politicians. Along with the computer programmers, plumbers, managers, chefs, monks, and salesmen - those everyday sorts that you interact with all the time and never paid a second glance… until now.

Being a vampire, I know a lot of things that humans are not privy to. Not all of it is strictest secret - it’s just that vampires never thought about sharing that information before. Now that humans seem to be taking the baby steps in making our coexistence work, we’re doing our part as well.

And it’s only going to get bigger, because—ah shoot, I almost gave it away again, didn’t I? Don’t worry, just one more day until the big reveal.

Promise.

'Vampire' haunting Peruvian city is unmasked... as a tragic British holidaymaker

From Daily Mail UK

A woman who was reputedly executed as a Bride of Dracula and now haunts a Peruvian city has been revealed as a humble Lancashire weaver who met her death on holiday.

Sarah Ellen Roberts has become a cult figure in Peru, where the story goes that her husband brought her after she was executed in 1913 as a murderer, a witch and a vampire.

She had apparently been seen biting the neck of a child and sucking its blood, and her merchant husband John witnessed her pouring blood over ice cream before eating it.
The legend: Sarah Ellen Roberts is believed in Peru to have been a bride of Dracula, like the one portrayed here by Elena Anaya in the 2004 movie Van Helsing

Though she was reputedly tried and executed in Blackburn, John Roberts is said to have travelled the world seeking a place to lay her to rest after the Church of England refused her burial on consecrated ground.

Only the town of Pisco in Peru would take her body, according to local playwright Racso Miro Quesada, who is adapting Sarah's story for the stage.

He said: 'Her husband John Roberts traveled the world trying to find a place to bury his wife.

'Because of the things she was accused of, there was no place on earth where she could rest.'

He added: 'No one wanted to have the remains of the person he loved. She ended up being accepted in the small fishing town Pisco.'

Read on

True Blood Main Title" Digital Kitchen and the making of the True Blood Opening sequence

“This is not going to be Six Feet Under”
–Alan Ball

A truly hand-made sequence for one of the most watched dramatic series in HBO’s history. The final edit contains over 65 shots comprised of original documentary, studio, tabletop photography and found footage. 6 separate shoots took place in Louisiana, Seattle, Chicago on 7 different still, film, and video cameras. 3 new babies were born at DK between award and delivery. No divorces. 1 Bolex passed peacefully in the night.

Case Study

The Assignment
We have a unique relationship with Alan Ball. Our work with him on Six Feet Under altered not only the trajectory of our company but also that of the title design business. The opportunity to work together on a whole new series was an exciting proposition. Although Mr. Ball is addressing many of the same issues in True Blood as he did in Six Feet Under: death, morality, identity with a healthy dose of humor, True Blood is a much more wild, unrestrained ride. Our assignment was to distill the humor, sex, violence and sweaty, sultry vibe of Louisiana—and oh yeah, don’t show vampires.

Actually making the titles for True Blood had mostly to do with setting aside our own prejudices of the subject matter as well as so-called “professional” production practices. We knew from the start that the best way—the only way—to create a powerful introduction to True Blood was to insert ourselves into the middle of Louisiana and found out what happens–unmannered and unvarnished.

Most of the outdoor footage was shot in Louisiana. The bar scenes, titles, and writhing bodies were shot in Seattle. The church scenes were shot in Chicago. We even created our own font family based on roadside hand-painted signage.
Many of us shot scenes on a multitude of formats anywhere we went. While one of us might talk to a subject, another one or two of us would operate a camera while someone else then wandered off into the woods to shoot creepy things.

As many as a dozen DKer’s touched this project at one time or another. There are many influences and sources that colored our final product. We also give a big thanks to the wonderful film In Search of the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. It gave us the courage to dig deeper into the swamps and back alleys where the real color can be found.
Our approach embraced the madcap and deliberate, the lo-fi with state of the art, and a host of other dualities. But what made the project sing and connect with people is the transparency of our love for getting our hands dirty, hitting the ground running and making a little film.

** I collected lots on the opening see all here
There is a much longer, better "Making of video" on DK site here

True Blood Music Video of the Day: So This is Love, Eric Northman fanvid



So This Is Love from Cinderella LYRICS
Thanks, wickedspice83