True Blood
Alan Ball signed a two-year agreement with HBO in October 2005 to develop original programming for the network. True Blood became the first project under that deal after Ball encountered Charlaine Harris's Southern Vampire Mystery books at a Barnes & Noble bookshop. He read Dead Until Dark, the first installment published in 2001, and decided to bring her vision to television. Harris chose him over other adaptation options because she felt he truly understood what she was doing with the books. The hour-long pilot was ordered concurrently with the completion of the development deal. Ball wrote, directed, and produced the pilot himself. Cast members Anna Paquin, Ryan Kwanten, and Sam Trammell were announced in February 2007. Stephen Moyer joined the cast later in April. Production on the series began in the fall of 2007. Brook Kerr originally portrayed Tara Thornton in the pilot but was replaced by Rutina Wesley before filming continued. Two episodes had been filmed when the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike shut down production until February 2008. Only the first two episodes aired before HBO placed an order for a second season of twelve episodes. That production was scheduled to commence in January 2009 for a summer premiere.
In the fictional universe of True Blood, vampires have always existed but remained unknown to most humans until two years before the series premiered. Japanese scientists created synthetic blood branded as Tru Blood which eliminated their need for human blood to survive. This invention allowed vampires to come out of the coffin and reveal their existence to the world. The event became known as the Great Revelation and split vampires into two camps. Some wished to integrate into human society by campaigning for citizenship and equal rights while others believed co-existence was impossible due to their inherently predatory nature. Similar divisions emerged among non-vampires with some accepting them and others viewing them as monsters to be destroyed. Throughout the series other supernatural creatures appeared including shapeshifters, skinwalkers, werewolves, werepanthers, demons, zombies, faeries, witches, and a maenad. Sookie Stackhouse is a telepathic human-faerie hybrid known as a halfling who works as a waitress at Merlotte's Bar and Grill in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Bill Compton is a 173-year-old vampire who returns to his former home after the death of his last remaining relative. Eric Northman serves as the Sheriff of Area 5 and is one thousand years old. Sam Merlotte owns Merlotte's and hides his identity as a shapeshifter from most townspeople.
True Blood employed a broad ensemble cast composed of regular central characters and a rotating group of impermanent supporting actors. Alan Ball explained that he did not intentionally seek out non-American actors but was willing to go anywhere needed to find the actor who made the character breathe. There was more focus on who would portray the character compellingly rather than physical resemblance to book versions. Harris remained understanding about how her work was being reinterpreted for television. Anna Paquin played Sookie Stackhouse across all seven seasons while Stephen Moyer portrayed Bill Compton throughout the run. Alexander Skarsgård appeared as Eric Northman for the entire series duration. Nelsan Ellis played Lafayette Reynolds until his departure following season five. Joe Manganiello joined the principal cast as Alcide Herveaux starting in season three. Christopher Meloni previously starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit before joining True Blood for season five. Robert Patrick guest-starred in season five as Jackson Herveaux before becoming a series regular for season six. Rutger Hauer announced as a series regular playing Macklyn with strong ties to Sookie and Jason. Adina Porter returned for the seventh season after being credited as a Special Guest Star since season two. Amelia Rose Blaire, Bailey Noble, Luke Grimes, and Karolina Wydra were upgraded to regulars during later seasons.
True Blood's Emmy-nominated title sequence portrays the Deep South setting and runs to Bad Things by Jace Everett. The original featurette was created around Jennifer Herrema's song RadTimesXpress. Digital Kitchen constructed the sequence conceptually around the idea of the whore in the house of prayer by intermingling contradictory images of sex violence and religion from the viewpoint of a supernatural predatory creature observing humans from shadows. Ideas of redemption and forgiveness progress from morning to night and culminate in a baptism. Gary Calamar supervised the music with goals to create something swampy bluesy and spooky featuring local Louisiana musicians. Composer Nathan Barr wrote the original score using cello guitar prepared piano and glass harmonica among other instruments which he performed himself. Both Nathan Barr and Jace Everett won 2009 awards from Broadcast Music Incorporated in the BMI Cable Awards category. Individual episode titles are named after songs featured in episodes usually heard during closing credits. For example episode ten of season four is titled Burning Down the House with end credits featuring a cover version of the classic Talking Heads song performed by The Used. Some footage used in the sequence was filmed on location including a four-day trip to Louisiana by Digital Kitchen. They also shot scenes at a Chicago church and on a stage and bar in Seattle. Creative director Matt Mulder explained they wanted the edit to rumble through swamps wilderness and cultures of the South to eventually reach into hearts and minds of its inhabitants.
Premiere of True Blood prefaced with viral marketing alternate reality game campaign based at BloodCopy.com throughout summer. Multiple websites encoded web addresses into unmarked envelopes mailed to high-profile blog writers plus performances by vampire attempting reach out others of their kind discussing recent creation of TruBlood fictional beverage. MySpace account username Blood uploaded two videos including Vampire Taste Test True Blood vs Human and BloodCopy Exclusive Interview With Samson The Vampire. Prequel comic handed out attendees of 2008 Comic-Con centers around old vampire named Lamar explaining how TruBlood surfaced discussed between many vampires before going public. HBO produced documentaries entitled True Bloodlines exploring earliest portrayals vampires in legend literature cinema plus vampire culture from Nosferatu today sensual sexual creatures. Thousands DVDs first episode handed out attendees Midnight Madness special film festival while Blockbuster Video provided free rental several days before broadcast on HBO. the 16th of April 2009 saw release first teaser poster season two using perspective technique showing observers one of two images. September 2009 marked launch True Blood jewelry line collaboration New York-based designer Udi Behr featuring Gothic look sterling silver polished steel rubies. Same month HBO.com began selling Tru:Blood carbonated blood orange-flavored drink developed manufactured Omni Consumer Products company specializing defictionalizing brands television movies plus FMCG Manufacturing Company specialist manufacturer licensed entertainment products.
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Common questions
When did Alan Ball sign his agreement with HBO to develop True Blood?
Alan Ball signed a two-year agreement with HBO in October 2005. This deal led directly to the development of True Blood as the first project under that contract.
Who created the fictional synthetic blood product Tru Blood in the True Blood universe?
Japanese scientists created the synthetic blood branded as Tru Blood. This invention eliminated vampires need for human blood and triggered the Great Revelation event.
Which actor played Sookie Stackhouse throughout all seven seasons of True Blood?
Anna Paquin played Sookie Stackhouse across all seven seasons of True Blood. She was one of the few cast members to appear in every episode of the series run.
What year did production on True Blood begin after the Writers Guild strike ended?
Production on the series began in the fall of 2007 before being shut down by the 2008-09 Writers Guild of America strike. Filming resumed in February 2008 when the strike concluded.
Where is the fictional town of Bon Temps located within the True Blood setting?
Bon Temps is located in Louisiana where Sookie Stackhouse works as a waitress at Merlotte's Bar and Grill. The show frequently features locations including Chicago churches and Seattle stages during its production.