WB Perks: Employee Screening of True Blood Premiere

One of the many, many perks of working at the WB: getting to see stuff early!

Today was one of those days.

On my lunch, I was fortunate enough to be one of few that got to walk over to the screening rooms on the WB lot and watch the TRUE BLOOD Season 3 premiere before it actually aired. It was a little weird to watch this type of show with co-workers but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

And after the screening, we had the opportunity to listen to Brian Buckner (writer/producer), Alexander Woo (writer/producer) and Audrey Fisher (Costume Designer) talk about the show.

And lucky me, I found one of the hidden cards and won the first and second season of True Blood on Blu-ray. Guess I'll have to get a blu-ray player now.

True Blood Ultimate Truebie Event, Burbank

I don't know if you can tell from previous posts, but I've become a bit of a True Blood fan.

And when I found out that there was going to be a special True Blood Event for fans before the beginning of Season 3, well, I had to see if I could go. I found out about the event via Facebook and I believe the HBO website.

Now that I am living in Southern CA, these things are easier to come by and easier to get to. So I got off of work in time and headed over to the Burbank AMC where the event took place on Tuesday, June 1.

WHAT HAPPENED??

Well, after arriving earlier than necessary (I WAITED IN LINE FOR 3 HOURS!!!). We were let into the theater; where we sat for another 30 minutes. Then we got a refresher of Season 2, followed by the Season 2 finale. It was fun to watch the finale with fellow fans and to see it on the big screen at the movie theater made the experience better as well. However, there were some technical difficulties during the video, which supposedly was being broadcast to us live.

Then after the video we got to watch a Sneak Peek at Season 3 and finally a live Q & A with the cast and Alan Ball (with Michael Ausiello of EW asking the questions). This video would later be available to everyone. The Q & A was fun and entertaining. Definitely loved it!

After the screening, as we were exiting the theater, we were all present with a SWAG bag and a Season 3 poster.

Included in the SWAG bag: a bottle of Tru Blood, Season 2 soundtrack, the first 3 Sookie Stackhouse books and nine mini posters, as well as the bag itself.

The Past 2 Weeks: 2/15/10 to 2/26/10

2/25/10: Justin Hartley comes into the Tour Store and specifically asks for me... where am I? On my freakin' lunch break in the breakroom. Missed meeting him by like 30 seconds.

2/24/10: My heart skips a beat when I realize that Justin Hartley aka The Green Arrow from the CW's SMALLVILLE walks into the tour store. I have seriously been crushing on this guy for a few years now. And he finally walks in the door, and I am completely and utterly speechless...

Also, visited the Warner Brothers Ranch for the first time, pretty cool, need to visit during the daytime.

2/23/10: Saw Taylor Lautner aka Team Jacob while on my lunch.

2/22/10: Watched Nathan Fillion, Dana Delaney and Stana Katic film some scenes from an upcoming episode of CASTLE while on my lunch.

2/20/10: Went and saw Shutter Island with friends.

2/19/10: Hung out on the lot after work and watched (well, heard some scenes being filmed of Episode 5 of season 3 of TRUE BLOOD. Scene involved black panthers. BEAUTIFUL cats... The part of the panther is played by brother & sister panthers. Saw Ryan Kwanten and Sam Trammell.

Also saw a scene involving "Jeffster" at the Buy More being filmed for an episode of CHUCK.
Saw Kathryn Morris, Johnny Messner from Cold Case. And Simon Baker and Tim Kang of THE MENTALIST.

2/18/10: Saw Sam Trammell aka Sam Merlotte in between takes of an upcoming episode of TRUE BLOOD

Sam Merlotte and the panthers

There be Panthers and Sam Merlotte in these here woods...

This past week, I got to experience my second go-round of True Blood filming in the jungle on the WB lot. Again, with the friendship I have with Stan, I was allowed access to filming and got to see the beautiful black panthers.

2 black panthers: a brother & sister. The male weighed in at approximately 125 lbs and the female at 95 lbs.

The first night (Thursday) of filming, my friend Oregano joined me and we hung out with Stan again. We met more crew members (all very nice). And while we were standing near the craft service table, very deep in conversation, Oregano and I lost our train of thought because Sam Trammell aka Sam Merlotte walked up to get some food. We just stood there looking appalled at each other, completely stunned silent. Just mouthing ums, and ahs.

The second night (Friday), my friend Mute joined me. And that was the night it rained. Luckily I bought a nice Golf Umbrella for us to stand under. We talked to Stan and he informed us that the panthers were there. Another crew member invited us down towards Merlotte's for a look at the panthers. They were set up in cages under a light post near the bar.

We stood under production equipment while we tried to watch them film a scene with the male panther. We could not see very much, as they were in the bushes. We could hear the animal trainer clapping and talking to the panther to try and encourage him to move to his mark.

The panthers were such beautiful creatures. I wish I had an opportunity to take a photo of them.

We were fortunate enough to watch some scenes of episode 5 of Season 3 being filmed this time around.

And so the True Blood Season begins... filming :)

TRUE BLOOD has been filming the 3rd Season for awhile now. I think they started filming their 3rd season at the end of November, though if I heard correctly, they went ON LOCATION to Louisiana to get some real Southern shots for Bon Temps.

On Tuesday, January 12, 2010 I was very fortunate in that I got to watch some of these exterior shots being filmed.

On my lunch, I did a quick lap around the lot, (I didn't want to seem too eager to go over to where they were filming). It's kind of hard to just walk by and look into the jungle when there are all these big production trucks around. As I was passing by I thought I heard a familiar voice, so I went around some of the portable buildings and found my new friend, Stan. And I am so thankful, that I had the courage to do that.

I knew someone working on the production. YAY!!! I was standing there enjoying this fact when I heard TRUE BLOOD filming. I could hear Sookie Stackhouse screaming. And moments later, I watched Anna Paquin walk right past me in her full Sookie Stackhouse costume, complete with the white Merlotte's tee shirt and apron. OH MY GOD!!! That moment was exhilarating to be that close to yet another Academy-Award winner. She seemed nice and she's kind of short.

I headed back to work not too long after that to let my TRUE BLOOD friends know, that we had an "in" for later on that night, after work. We were all very excited. I contacted a friend from upstairs and she had told me that she had gotten to watch Anna Paquin and Sam Trammell (Sam Merlotte) do a scene while she was on a break.

When my friend, Nirv got off work and was ready to go, we had 2 more TRUE BLOOD fans who joined us on this adventure: Rock* and Oregano* (both female fans). I wasn't sure that 4 of us would be allowed to watch filming. I was a little worried that too many of us would cause the crew to be apprehensive with letting us hang out.

When I found Stan, I introduced him to my friends, and then asked us if we wanted to see some production. He lead the way down the beaten path to the 'parking lot of Merlotte's.' It was very cool to see the set all dressed up, complete with neon lights and signs in the window. Stan introduced us to a PA named Sunny. Sunny was a very nice guy and he showed us where we could stand without being in the way or in the shot. Oh, the four of us were giddy with excitement.

We got to watch a scene involving Tara and some drunks that came stumbling out of the bar. We watched them do this scene a dozen or so times. We watched the actors as they went to and from the set. We watched the crew as they set up the shots, as they set up the lights, as they made sure everything was in order for filming. I believe these were scenes for Episode 2 of Season 3. So not only did I get to hear TRUE BLOOD filming but I got to watch it film.

Nirv and Rock eventually left due to other engagements, so that left me and Oregano to endure the cold and soak up the production.

Oregano and I got to say hi to Ryan Kwanten aka Jason Stackhouse, all bundled up in a big black jacket (no he wasn't shirtless, or naked. At least, not that we could tell).

Eventually I had to head home, but I love every minute of being there (even if I was cold).

I was very fortunate to see quite a bit of the cast including:

Anna Paquin-- Sookie Stackhouse
Rutina Wesley-- Tara Thorton
Ryan Kwanten-- Jason Stackhouse
Chris Bauer-- Andy Bellefleur
James Frain-- Franklin Mott
Brad Carter-- Drunk bar patron
Andy Mackenzie-- Drunk bar patron


Sadly, Stephen Moyer nor Alexander Skarsgard were not in any of the scenes.

*Again names have been changed to protect the fangbangers :)