The Sookie Stackhouse Companion

sport-killing during his years with Lorena, his keeping things from Sookie, his interaction with the state patrolman he glamoured in Season 1, taking his gun and pointing it at him, and his murder of Uncle Bartlett. Likewise, we have shown many of the deeper, more tender aspects of Eric—his love for Godric, his grief at Godric’s true death. We continue with both of these directions inin Season 3. And it seems to me more dramatic to establish certain expectations about a character and then upend them than to just depict everyone as equal parts light and darkness. And when I use the term “bad boy,” I am referring to the kind of bad boy that women are consistently attracted to—a man who doesn’t play by the rules, a man who is a little dangerous, who is going to create more drama and fun than the good guy who does everything right.
     
     
    Sex, death, food, and violence play a large role in True Blood . Americans have a possibly unhealthy relationship with all four, and yet we are fascinated by them. Is this the secret to the success of the books and series?
    —SARA FOSTER
     
    Honestly, I have no idea. I think the success of the series is because these stories and characters are so much fun.
     
     
    It is not a common thing for the vampires in True Blood to be young and beautiful, as it normally is in other vampire television shows and movies. Why did you choose to go in this direction?
    —ANNE FELDBAK
     
    Well, I think while we have plenty of vampires who are young and beautiful, I like the idea that one can become a vampire at any point in his or her life. This is exactly as it is in Charlaine’s books—and I thought that was clever and unexpected. Also, I generally chafe at doing something the same way everyone else does it.
     
     
    What plot point (so far) has been the most difficult to write, act, and film?
    —MISTY PADGETT
     
    Hmm—the storming of Merlotte’s by the black-eyed zombies . . . the final Maryann sacrifice/marriage . . . the storming of Steve Newlin’s church by the Dallas vampires.
     
     
    What is your gauge to keep elements in the series that are in the books?
    —KERI MCCOY
     
    Instinct. And input by the other writers on staff.
     
     
    Since art imitates life, explain what True Blood has to say about the American viewing public. What does our “bloodlust” say about the current cultural climate? The archetype has been used throughout history in many cultures, but what do you see this archetype revealing about us?
    —JESSICA OHMAN
     
    I leave that to the academics. Anything I say about why vampires are such potent symbols is just going to be me trying to pretend like I know why when I don’t. I’m just glad people are intrigued by vampires and other supernatural creatures because working on this show is the most fun I have ever had.
     
     
    Did the real-life relationship of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer have an impact on the decision to diminish the role of Eric in favor of Bill in the True Blood series?
    —LINDA J. KERLEY
     
    I don’t really buy that the role of Eric has been diminished in favor of Bill. Eric has his own very strong story line in Seasons 2 and 3. Maybe you mean in terms of his relationship to Sookie . . . ? You have to remember we’re in the middle of True Blood . It is an ongoing story.
     
     
    I noticed the episodes have different writers. How do multiple writers come to write something continuative? Is there a sit-down session for each episode that you drive? Do you say, “I would like so-and-so to write this particular scene”?
    —CYNTHIA MEIER
     
    I work with six other writers. We break stories and outline episodes as a group, then a single writer writes the script. We give notes as a group, then that same writer writes a second draft of the script. Sometimes I do a polish if I believe it is necessary. Writers generally volunteer for the episodes they want to write.
     
     
    What is it about the show True Blood that represents you in some way?
    —AARON HARRIS
     
    I guess I would say the irreverence, the humor, the fascination with the bizarre, the romance, the fun.
     
     
    What do you find to be most challenging when depicting a fictional world from book to screen (besides the fans wanting certain story lines)?
    —EMILY MELONAS
     
    Hmm . . . keeping everyone’s actions motivated and based in their emotional needs and desires. In the case of Charlaine’s books, keeping the characters who are not Sookie active in their own