Nathan Barr Exclusive Interview on Composing True Blood

Mark Morton at Examiner.com Kansas City, had an exclusive interview with True Blood composer, Nathan Barr, which he was kind enough to share with us. Working on the score for True Blood was Nathan's first experience working for television, though he'd done several films in horror (Hostel, Cabin Fever, 2001 Maniacs) and comedy (Club Dread, Beerfest, Dukes of Hazzard).  It was that combination of experience which landed him the job, one that he'd never expected:

I wasn't seeking out television at all. I haven't deliberately stayed away from it, it's just that it never really came into my life. And that's partly okay with me, because I don't watch much TV at all. So really, what brought me to TV was just [show creator] Alan Ball. It was one of those really lucky twists of fate. He shot the pilot and was cutting it together, and somehow my score for Hostel wound up in the cutting room, so they used it as temp. Even though it wasn't exactly right, there was enough of something in it that they liked, so they called me in for an interview. So, they narrowed it down between me and another composer (who happens to be a dear friend), and Alan went away on vacation after shooting and took a stack of each of our CDs. And I guess he just felt that the match was better with me. So I got the Ball call saying he wanted me, and there was no way I was turning that down!

Luckily for True Blood fans, he accepted the job.  The score sets the tone for the action as the story unfolds, so Nathan's job is crucial in helping the audience feel the emotion that the actors are trying to get across and in giving hints about aspects of a character that have not yet been revealed.  Nowhere in the True Blood score is this more obvious than in Bill and Sookie's theme, which is tentative, romantic, tragic, and adds a depth to their scenes together, hinting at things they have not said out loud to one another and at some deep past sadness. [Can we insert the youtube video with the theme here?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27AcRTDoCtc&feature=player_embedded] That hint of sadness is something that Nathan admits he does very well:

I think again, it's the strength of the writing and the story. A lot of the time, I don't even consciously push for it. It's there in the story, so it naturally comes out in the music. I get tuned into the story and what's going on. Alan is very clear and concise about what he wants the music to say in each scene. But for whatever reason, I think I do "sadness" well. I really relate to that part of True Blood. I love the sadness, the angst of the romance – that's a place I am very comfortable enriching.

After watching Season 1 and bawling my eyes out every time I heard Gran's theme, I can agree. Nathan definitely does sadness well. Nathan says that his focus when he's composing is deeply personal with each of the characters on screen:

It's absolutely 100% about the characters. Alan doesn't speak in musical terms. He's always speaking to story and character, and as a composer for TV, the job is to enrich the lives and storylines of those characters. And so everything I do for the show is based around the characters – what a character is thinking, what his/her motivation is, where the character is headed in the story. And of course, there are essential themes, like Bill and Sookie's love theme, and things like that. But it is definitely all character-driven.

For whatever reason, when those characters are vampires, you can bet there are going to be some strings used in the composition. Though he admits that strings are a prerequisite when composing for the undead, Nathan's not quite sure why that is.

I don't really know why strings work so well for vampires. The basic storyline behind most vampire stories is beautiful, immortal people who are struggling with a world that is moving on without them and getting involved with people who will grow old and die. There are these big themes of romance, lost love and tragedy – those are big threads that lend themselves well to something a little more epic.

So how exactly does he do it? Nathan explains the nuts and bolts of the job by saying that he has to look at each episode scene by scene and then coordinate with Alan, the editors, the producers and music supervisor Gary Calamar.  Together they decide where the songs go and where Nathan's scores should be placed and then he returns back to his studio to create the scores for the various scenes. And where did he learn the tricks of the trade?  Nathan credits the Academy and Grammy Award winning German composer Hans Zimmer (Rain Man, The Lion King, The Preacher's Wife, As Good As It Gets, The Prince of Egypt, The Thin Red Line, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, The Da Vinci Code, and The Dark Knight) as one of his early teachers.

I was under his wing for only eight months, and then I flew the nest. It was such an amazing experience. It was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool and learning to swim. I didn't even understand what MIDI stood for when I began working for Hans. I had no knowledge of the technology behind film scoring; I had no knowledge about the creative process behind writing music-to-picture. So he was very gracious in the sense that he would let me sit behind him while he wrote and actually watch him write-to-picture, and that's really where I learned that. And more than anything, he taught me the importance of technology. So when I walked in there, I knew next to nothing about any of that stuff, and when I left eight months later, I had a very strong foundation to work from.

When composing, Nathan likes to use acoustic instruments first, seeking out unusual sounds to inspire him such as going out and buying several new instruments instead of just settling down on the piano.  Nathan explains that creating a piece on a piano is going to "sound" different from creating the same piece on a string instrument or on a wind instrument.  Therefore, he is able to think about the melody of the piece in different ways which in turn would affect the feelings that it will present in a scene. Nathan also tries to make sure that he doesn't write music that is immediately identifiable as his work but rather tries to give each score it's own unique sound. He does not want to become known as "that horror movie guy" or "that TV show guy" and to be flexible and true to himself:

...And I think that goes back to what we were discussing with musical identity and having a unique voice. I think it can become a little bit of a curse sometimes. I haven't experienced it too much, but a couple of really big composers come to mind who are so known for a unique sound they've created that they get asked over and over and over again to recreate that same score. I think that is a blessing and a curse, when your style is so distinct, to keep it fresh, and what they really want is the score you wrote for another movie. I think to some degree that I can't help but to repeat myself; I am who I am. But I think True Blood is a good departure for me from the sound I've established with other horror films.

So what can we expect musically in the next season? Nathan says that he only has a vague idea as to where Alan and the writers are going to take the storyline.  However, he is excited about creating new themes and new musical ideas as the characters in True Blood continue grow and expand.  One character in particular that Nathan mentions is Eric Northman who seems to have grown from season 1 to season 2 with the introduction of the theme of loss (in reference to Godric).  For season 3, Nathan states that Eric is becoming more a complicated character then when he was first introduced to us in season 1 and therefore, he will have to "figure out how to make his theme follow that journey or else come up with another theme for him." As fans, Nathan hints that we might have the opportunity to see his music performed live:

I actually just spoke recently at a TV signing with Bear McCreary, who does Battlestar Galactica, and he had done just that. He decided to start doing live shows with his music. And it got me thinking about doing something similar, because the score to True Blood is very small, very organic. I perform the entire thing myself – the guitars, pianos, cellos – and it would be very easy to find just three or four other musicians, teach them the parts and do some live performances. That is certainly something I'm thinking about.

As for the awards and accolades he's received since taking on True Blood, Nathan is truly grateful to the audience for the wonderful response he's gotten.  He got his first hand glimpse at how big True Blood has become when he recently attended the SCREAM Awards and while he was on the red carpet two girls were screaming his name and told him how much they loved his music and listen to it all the time.  That, as Nathan put it, was "my little rock star moment." In addition to preparing for True Blood's Season 3, Nathan has several new projects that he's working on including Peep World, Open House (which is actually directed by Anna Paquin's brother, Andrew which Anna and Stephen Moyer both have cameos in that movie), Mother's Day (which Deborah Ann Woll stars in) and Cotton.  It seems that even with the other projects he still has a bit of True Blood close to him. I've only hit the highlights of this in-depth conversation where he discusses his work on True Blood.  For more of this wonderful exclusive interview where he discusses other work throughout his career, check out more of his Q & A with Mark Morton. SOURCE: Examiner.com/Kansas City (Photo credit:  Nathan Barr and HBO Inc.)

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Paley Center Celebrates Vampire Weekend

In an event entitled "Dark Shadows at Twilight," the Paley Center for Media seeks to explore the reasons behind the current popularity of vampires. Held in New York City from November 13-15, the schedule features a panel moderated by EW's Ken Tucker and screenings of past PaleyFest vampire events. The event will include the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reunion from 2008 in which the cast and creator Joss Whedon looked back on their cult wonder; the classic silent film Nosferatu; the Angel discussion panel from 2001 with David Boreanaz, Joss Whedon, and the other actors and writers; the Dark Shadows reunion in 2001; and Guy Maddin's Dracula ballet. There will also be a screening of the True Blood panel from April of this year. Creator Alan Ball and series stars Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, Ryan Kwanten, Sam Trammell, Rutina Wesley, Nelsan Ellis, Carrie Preston, and Alexander Skarsgard, were all in attendance, sharing stories about their first year working on the show. True Blood fans in the New York area would surely enjoy seeing this, and tickets are only $10, or free to Paley Center members. On Saturday, Ken Tucker will guide four other entertainment journalists through a conversation with the audience about the merits of different vampires. Fans will be able to argue in favor of their favorite bloodsuckers from television, film, or any other medium. This will be another fun opportunity for True Blood lovers to take part and defend their fanged champion, whether it be Viking sheriff Eric Northman or Southern gentleman Bill Compton. This event is also $10 for general admission, or free to members. Visit the Paley website for full details on the schedule for the weekend. SOURCE: paleycenter.org (Photo credit: HBO Inc., UPN)

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Anna Paquin: Life, Love And True Blood

True Blood star Anna Paquin has worked hard to get where she is today, but she has balanced that with a personal philosophy of living in the moment. She is only 27-years old and already has a decade of successful work in film, television, and theatre, including an Academy Award at age 11 for The Piano, and a Golden Globe earlier this year for True Blood. Outside of her career, she has found love and happiness with her co-star and fiance Stephen Moyer. In a cover feature in the Australian magazine, MiNDFOOD, Anna talks about enjoying life, one day at a time. A fan of Alan Ball's previous television series, Six Feet Under, Anna pursued the role of Sookie Stackhouse when she heard that he was doing True Blood:

"He's extraordinary, smart, funny and unpredictable in his humor, and he's kind and approachable. The best boss you could possibly have."

And then there was meeting Stephen and having their relationship grow as they worked alongside each other:

"Steve and I had a certain instant connection. We read Bill and Sookie opposite each other for the very reason that there needed to be a strong connection between the two actors playing those characters. Then that's the person you're working with all the time. It doesn't hurt when the relationship on screen, which you're trying to create, is one of attraction and fascination. Somewhere the line gets a little blurred."

True Blood fans can definitely see that chemistry between them! And, as a viewer, knowing that those feelings between Bill and Sookie are based on real love between Stephen and Anna makes the story come to life even more. Prior to life on True Blood, Anna had already been working as an actor for 15 years. Even though she was catapulted into the spotlight at an early age because of her Oscar win, she has always been a grounded young woman, with a good upbringing and realistic outlook on life that she attributes to her family:

"I came up through the ranks before the tabloid media became what it is currently. It wasn't as much of a feeding frenzy. I guess that's more good luck than good management. There was very little time to be affected, and my family didn't value [fame] and weren't interested in it. It was more about doing well in school, getting an education and doing something with your life."

Anna has also had the opportunity to work with great professional role models, with her favorite being the first, Holly Hunter:

"I'm still in awe of her. The Piano was my apprenticeship. I had no idea what I was doing and I absolutely adored her. So I just followed her lead. She can just walk on water talent-wise."

Anna loved being part of the theatre community in New York City, where she lived since she was 18. She has since relocated to Venice Beach where she and Stephen have a house:

"It's incredibly nice down here. It's really relaxing; I can ride my bike everywhere and I like being by the ocean."

In her spare time, one of her favorite hobbies is playing Scrabble. She also keeps her body fit through all different kinds of activities, from kickboxing to yoga. She loves playing a strong character like Sookie:

"She's her own little action star. I get bloodied and vomited on and beaten up -- everything that the girl doesn't often get to do in a show or a film because they're usually the girlfriend. Sookie's the center of all the action or trauma."

Another big interest of Anna's is fashion, which you could guess by just looking at all of the fabulous dresses she has worn on red carpets:

"I love anyone who cuts for women's bodies, not boys' bodies -- designers who actually take curves into account. I absolutely love beautiful clothes and dressing up for red carpet stuff. The whole Cinderella thing: the dress, the shoes, the hair, the makeup and the jewelry."

Her true passions though, are about the bigger things in life. She's looking forward to starting a family someday. She's enjoyed her experiences maintaining the production company, Paquin Films, with her brother Andrew, and hopes to one day direct a film. She also wants to travel and see the world. But Anna doesn't have a set plan in mind for all of that:

"I go one step at a time. I've never really thought too far ahead because then you're never disappointed if it doesn't happen the way you thought it would. There isn't a lifestyle or job where there are any guarantees. I'm happy living in the right now."

That's certainly an admirable point of view to have and it has served her very well in life. Anna talks about having everything she could possibly want and about enjoying what she has. She is one of the few young actresses in Hollywood who seems worthy of all the success she has been blessed with. SOURCE: MiNDFOOD.com (Photo credit: Pamela Hanson / MiNDFOOD)

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Sam Trammell Talks True Blood at West Virginia Hometown Fundraising Event

This weekend, Sam Trammel returns to his hometown of Charleston, W.Va., to help support the town's East End Main Street historic preservation program by participating in the city's HallowEast fundraising festival. Born in Louisiana, True Blood's Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte) spent a large part of his childhood in Charleston, W.Va., and many of his friends and family, including his parents, still live there.

"I consider Charleston home. My mom and dad still live there. I really miss it, and I'm excited to see all my friends and family. It's great to be coming home. …Downtown Charleston and the East End are just amazing. Today, when you look at the ballpark, the Clay Center and Capitol Street, you understand the revitalization has been great. I want to see it continue. It's [the fundraiser event] a good fit for Halloween. If you've read the Charlaine Harris books (on which the show is based), you know she introduces a whole host of fantastical creatures. For sure, it's a Halloween sort of show."

On Oct. 30, Charleston's Cultural Center hosted two receptions with Sam. He then moved to Kanawha Players at 309 Beauregard Street, to sit down for an Inside the Actor's Studio style interview, answering questions posed by David Wohl, dean of arts and sciences at West Virginia State University. According to event organizers, money raised during the festival will be used to help neighborhood businesses in downtown Charleston to promote and preserve the historic district. While in town, Sam spoke with Bill Lynch of The Charleston Gazette about his experience working on True Blood. According to Sam, the most difficult aspect of working on a show like HBO's True Blood isn't the bloody effects.  It also isn't the late nights, though he says that they start shooting around 5 p.m. for all night shoots that last until dawn and he is sometimes sleep deprived from the schedule.  Sam expected all of that since, after all, it is a show about vampires.  Sam says that the thing he has the hardest time adjusting to is:

"...the cold, believe it or not. I don't like the cold."

Trammell, a George Washington High School graduate, remembers one particular night this past season when they were shooting a scene involving an orgy and a bonfire. Some of the townspeople of Bon Temps (the fictional town where the show is set) were under the sway of an evil temptress. There was a lot of bare skin and everyone had to pretend it was a sweltering, summer night in Louisiana. Of course, they're not filming in Louisiana but in a canyon in Malibu, where it gets down into the 30s.

"I didn't have to be naked or anything," he said, "but I was in short sleeves. It was pretty cold."

Sam, 38, is mindful of just how chilly it gets because of the nature of his character, Sam Merlotte. Merlotte is a shapeshifter who can turn from a man into a dog, a bull and who knows what else. The side effect is that he tends to lose his clothes in the transformation and gets to do scenes in the buff. In addition to talking about last season, Sam also spoke a little bit about working on season three and what it is like to work with Alan Ball.  According to Sam, Alan tends to work in advance, so the scripts for next season are probably already finished.  This kind of advance preparation isn't always the case, however, says Sam:

"Most TV shows, you get scripts a week before you shoot them.  You might get pages the day before you shoot."

Often, a show begins its season with only some of the episodes completed. This especially happens with shows like Lost and Heroes, which have broad storylines but are open to making changes later in the season based on earlier rating successes or failures.Ball doesn't work that way.

"Alan likes to have everything done," Sam said. "He wants to finish shooting the season before it airs -- just in case he needs a re-shoot."

So what's coming up next for Sam Merlotte?  Sam didn't give much away, but he did tell the Gazette:

"I think Sam is going to go toward the vein of trying to find his biological parents. That will definitely end in some bad stuff."

I hate to think that we'll have to see Sam crying once again.  The season finale, "Beyond Here Lies Nothin'," was heart rending for his character from beginning to end.  Perhaps we will learn a little good news for Sam in season three from this Q & A event but more than likely, we will simply have to wait until June 2010 for the answers we want. SOURCE: The Charleston Gazette (Photo credit: HBO Inc.)

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True Blood Cast Have Howling Halloween at True Blood Hounds Fundraiser

Several members of the True Blood cast attended the True Blood Hounds event in Los Angeles. The event was the first of the three day "Bow Wow Beverly Hills" dog adoption event from October 30 to November 1, and all proceeds go to support The Amanda Foundation animal rescue. Duffy who plays Dean/Sam on True Blood was in attendance alongside his human counterparts pictured at right, including Mariana Klaveno (Lorena), Michelle Forbes (Maryann Forrester), Rutina Wesley (Tara Thornton), Tara Buck (Ginger), Kristin Bauer (Pam) and Patrick Gallagher (Chow). The Amanda Foundation is a nonprofit rescue organization for dogs and cats, founded in 1976.  Their mission is to give a second chance to the over 200,o00 animals who are brought into Los Angeles County's 28 shelters either as strays or after being given up by their owners. The Michelle Forbes Community Blog has some wonderful photos of the cast and some costumed pets at the event, as well as video from the local ABC News Affiliate coverage of the fundraiser.

944.com had some more photos of the cast at the event as well.

SOURCE: Michelle Forbes Community Blog, The Amanda Foundation animal rescue, and KABC-TV Los Angeles (Photo credit: Michelle Forbes Community Blog, The Amanda Foundation animal rescue, and 944dotcom)

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Kristin Bauer To Appear At The Boston Mega Superfest 2009

Kristin Bauer, who portrays vampire Pam in Alan Ball's hit HBO TV series True Blood, will be attending the Boston Mega Superfest 2009. The Boston Mega Superfest is New England's largest multimedia fanfest. The megafest features one the largest selections of DVDs, posters, autographs, comics, toys, videos and memorabilia from TV, movies, and rock and roll. Moreover, fans have the opportunity to mingle with their favorite creators of comics, TV and movies stars, and get the chance to pose questions to their favorite stars at a number of Q&A sessions. The event will be held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel on November 21 - 22, 2009. In addition to Kristin Bauer, other stars who will be appearing include James Marsters (Spike from Buffy); Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner; Ray Park (Edgar from Heroes; and Darth Maul from Star Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace); and Brent Spiner (Data of Star Trek: The Next Generation). When: November 21 - 22, 2009 Where: Sheraton Framington Hotel, Farmington, Mass. For further details: Boston Mega Superfest SOURCE: Swords.com Photo credit: HBO Inc.

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VIDEO: Anna Paquin Winning At The 2009 SCREAM Awards

Here it is finally.  Everybody has seen the videos of Stephen Moyer (Bill Compton), Alexander Skarsgard (Eric Northman) and Alan Ball and the entire cast of True Blood onstage  accepting their award except Anna Paquin.  Well, finally there is a video that has been posted of Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) accepting her award for Best Horror Actress at Spike TV's 2009 SCREAM Awards for those who missed the telecast.  Enjoy!

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