sábado, 29 de agosto de 2009

TVD: promo image HQ









Vampire Diaries: Night of the Comet

Though it’s listed as episode 1.1, Night of the Comet is the second episode of Vampire Diaries, airing a week after the pilot (1.0). And I haven’t forgotten about your questions for Katerina Graham. She answered them and I’ll have them for you soon.

Now, here’s the official synopsis and it’s pretty detailed, so don’t keep reading if you’re not into spoilers.

LENA MEETS DAMON AND LEARNS ABOUT STEFAN’S PAST LOVE — As Mystic Falls prepares for a festival to celebrate the passing of a comet, Vicki (Kayla Ewell) is in the hospital recovering from Damon’s (Ian Somerhalder) attack. Stefan (Paul Wesley) goes to the hospital and tries to use his abilities to make Vicki forget who attacked her, but his attempt is cut short when Matt (Zach Roerig) arrives. Jeremy Steve R. McQueen) continues to struggle with his drug use and his feelings for Vicki. At a parent/teacher conference, Mr. Tanner (guest star Benjamin Ayres) warns a worried Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning) that Jeremy is in trouble and needs intervention.

Elena (Nina Dobrev) goes to the Salvatore house to talk to Stefan, but finds Damon instead. Damon tells her about Stefan’s past relationship with a girl named Katherine, and when Stefan arrives home, Elena is surprised that he seems upset to see her there. Meanwhile, Vicki’s memory of the attack begins to come back to her and Damon used his power of persuasion to make her forget what happened. Meanwhile, Elena realizes she has to tell Stefan how she feels about him and the two share their first kiss as the comet lights up the sky over Mystic Falls. Finally, Damon set his sights on Caroline (Candice Accola) as his next victim. Katerina Graham and Michael Trevino also star. Marcos Siega directed the episode written by Kevin Williamson & Julie Plec (#101).

Nina Dobrev as Elena, Ian Somerhalder as Damon, Paul Wesley as Stefan in THE VAMPIRE DIARIES on The CW. Photo: Bob Mahoney/The CW ©2009 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Interview: Nina Dobrev is Writing Her THE VAMPIRE DIARIES

Although The Vampire Diaries, by L.J. Smith, was published prior to Twilight, it is likely that the overwhelming success of the latter has allowed for the story of the high-school girl torn between vampire brothers to be brought to the small screen.

On the CW series, premiering on September 10th, Degrassi: The Next Generation star Nina Dobrev plays Elena Gilbert, a teen orphan who lost her parents in a car accident that turned her life upside down. When she meets the mysterious Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), she doesn't really understand their connection and is puzzled by his increasingly bizarre behavior, which comes as a result of hiding the fact that he is a vampire. Meanwhile, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), the older brother that Stefan hasn't seen for 15 years, returns to Mystic Falls, Virginia to stir up some trouble.

While talking to the press about her new show, Nina Dobrev explained why she thinks vampires are so popular, and admitted to being a fan of both Twilight and True Blood.

Q: What made you want to take this role?

Nina: I think that she has a relatability and an innocence, and something that really gives her somewhere to go. She's a real person. She has problems, she's hurting and she falls in love, and the relationship is complicated, just like every relationship is. And then, you find out, on top of everything, it's not an average relationship that's complicated to begin with, but he's also a vampire, so there's another little bump in the road.

Q: What is it about Elena that you can really relate to?

Nina: I think that Elena has a lot of myself. I feel like I'm a lot like my character, in that sense. But, she has to be innocent. I know that's one thing that's different, in the books. In the book, Elena is a very different character, but we really wanted somebody that had a vulnerability and a relatability, and who looks for the good in everyone. And, although things aren't good right now because she is in a tough place, where she has lost her parents and her brother is going on a downward spiral, but she's still trying to find the good in everyone and fix things and be optimistic. She's trying to cope.

Q: Will the triangle between Stefan, Elena and Damon continue?

Nina: That's what's so intriguing. The thing about our show is that it's not something that we're going to drag out. They're really going and hitting all the stops, right from the beginning. The second episode is really intense. And, by the third one, we were shocked at how fast everything was moving along and how much action there was. We're also definitely pushing a lot of envelopes with the show.

Q: Will Elena find out about the woman that looks like Stefan's first love?
Nina: It will develop, and things will start to open up and happen. I can't say too much, but I wasn't kidding when I said that things happen fast on the show. In the second episode, you're already going to learn a lot, and Elena is going to start discovering a lot, too.

Q: Is Elena in love with Stefan?

Nina: At this point, she doesn't know what it is. They have this odd connection that she doesn't understand.

Q: The cast is so isolated in Atlanta. Do you hang out with each other because of that?

Nina: Ian and Paul are like my brothers. Ian helped me buy my first car last week. I got an Audi. He bullied me into it. He was like, "You have to get this one. You're going to love it." I would have gotten a Volvo, as long as it got me to the set. I don't really care.

Q: Do you all stay in the same area?

Nina: Yeah, we all live in the downtown/mid-town area. The guys take care of me, like I'm their little sister ‘cause I'm not really used to all this. Kayla Ewell, the girl who plays Vicki, and I live together. We have an apartment together.

Q: How has the show affected your life?

Nina: The show hasn't aired yet, and we're in Georgia, in a very small town. At first, I was a little skeptical and scared to be moving again. I had just moved to L.A., so I was like, "Oh, I have to get up and move my life again." But, I got there, and there's something about going to work, getting your things done, going home and not really having that much to do, and just sitting at home in your sweats and watching a movie. I love that.

Q: Degrassi seems to be such a great training ground for actors to then populate American television. What brought you to this role?

Nina: You're right, a lot of my castmates and I have been doing a lot of great things, and it started out with Degrassi. I came to L.A., for the first time, in January of this past year, and The Vampire Diaries was actually my first audition for a pilot. I read the script, and I loved it. I thought it was really cool. And, I'd just gotten off a series, so obviously I was trained and ready to do it, and I knew the drill. It just worked out. The character was great, and I guess they liked what I was doing. I was sick for that first audition, and then I had to go back to Toronto to shoot a film, so I put myself on tape. The tape is what eventually got me the part.

Q: What is it about Degrassi that makes all of the cast able to easily make the transition to American television?

Nina: I don't know. I think we've all been lucky. We worked with great people and were supported, and they really took the time to teach us. It's a great training ground, and everyone is really supportive and like a family.

Q: Did you feel like you were ready for anything, coming out of that?

Nina: Yeah. I felt really prepared. And, I love and miss everyone.

Q: Why do you think there is such a vampire craze right now?

Nina: It's not really a fad. It's timeless, wouldn't you agree? Vampires don't die. They're always around. They're eternal. It just seems like, right now, people are really responding, and they really like it.

Q: How do you feel about vampires?

Nina: Maybe there's a reason why the mythology exists. It must have spawned from something. I don't necessarily believe that there are really people out there who feed on human blood, but maybe something happened that sparked the mythology.

Q: Which of these two vampires would you choose, if you had your choice?

Nina: I don't know. I don't think I can really make that decision. I love these boys, but they're like my brothers. But, in terms of characters, Stefan is the man who tries to reach out to her soul, and he cares about her and takes care of her, whereas Damon has that bad-boy quality, and every girl likes a bad boy, at the end of the day.

Q: Is that really true?

Nina: It is and it isn't. It depends on the person. It's a toss-up. They're both great guys.

Q: Why do you think women are so attracted to vampires?

Nina: There is something about a man who lurks in the dark.

Q: Have you actually read these books?

Nina: I have.

Q: Have you seen Twilight, and how do you feel that stacks up to what you're doing here?

Nina: Yeah, I've seen it. I read the Twilight books, way back. Well, it really wasn't that long ago, but it felt like a long time ago. Anyway, it was before the actual whole vampire, Twilight craze, Rob Pattinson obsession started with everyone in the world. So, I was unaffected, in that sense. But, I really liked them. There are some similarities. There are vampires in both. But, as the series goes on, you'll see that it's different.

Q: Are you ready for all the crazy vampire genre fans?

Nina: We'll see what happens. I just take it day by day.

Q: Why do you think vampires are so popular right now? What do you make of that?

Nina: Everyone is fascinated. I think it's great. I love that I'm part of it. I love the Twilight movies. I'm obsessed with True Blood. I like it, too. You grow up and you hear the stories, at home with your family, and you watch some of the movies, like An Interview With a Vampire. They're mystical, but yet still human. There's sci-fi, which is all about aliens and that kind of stuff, but these are people with special abilities, who are sexy and scary. You always want what you can't have.

Q: Would you want to be immortal?

Nina: I don't know if I would want that. I have a pretty cool life. I think there's something romantic about the relationship between Elena and Stefan. She is his. He only wants her. He wants to treat her well, and he is fully in love with her and wants to devote his life and his existence to her.

Q: What is your life like, away from work?

Nina: I'm in Canada, but I'm from Bulgaria originally, which is a Communist country. I moved when I was two years old. My parents literally started out with nothing. I just went to school, and started dancing and doing that kind of stuff just for fun. I'm very humble because I get to do all these things. Last night, I was in Atlanta, Georgia. Last week, I was in San Diego at Comic-Con. I have all these people coming up to me. It's a really big experience for me, and I don't take it for granted at all.

Q: Was it your dream, as a little girl, to be an actress?

Nina: I think everyone's dream is to be an actress, but I never really thought it was going to happen. Now that it's happening, it's incredible. I do a lot of other things, too. I'm not stuck in this little world. I'm aware that we're in the middle of an economic crisis in the U.S. There's a lot going on in the world, and I'm really happy and excited about what I have and I don't take it for granted. I'm pretty lucky.

Q: Will there be an American Mall 2?

Nina: That's what their plan was. They wanted to do a second one. I loved that movie. I thought it was so much fun. I would do another one, if we had the opportunity, but it depends on what they decide. We haven't gotten any word yet, at this point.

Q: Were you disappointed at all that it didn't hit the High School Musical level?

Nina: Yeah ‘cause we all thought it would. It was fun. I love musicals.

Q: What is Chloe?

Nina: Chloe is a very serious drama, and I have a very small part. Especially after what happened with Liam Neeson and his tragedy, some of my scenes were cut. My character got a lot smaller, but it's a great film.

THE VAMPIRE DIARIES premieres on The CW on September 10th

Ian Somerhalder: I Am Not Edward Cullen!

Ian Somerhalder understands the comparisons.

He's not offended by the comparisons.

But he has to set the record straight about the comparisons.

Even though Somerhalder plays one of the key role in The Vampire Diaries, he wants it to be clear: his character of Damon Salvatore is nothing like Edward Cullen!

The actor was asked by French publication Séries Mag if Damon was the anti-Edward. The former Lost star replied:

"Yes, absolutely. From the little I know about the character of Edward. I'll let you in on a secret, I've never seen Twilight... I've heard a lot about it and know the general story lines. And I know that Vampire Diaries will be different from Twilight. What we've shot so far is very intense, very physical, sometimes even brutal."

omerhald doesn't completely dismiss Robert Pattinson and the Twilight Saga, however.

He freely admits that his new show would never have been made if not for the popularity of that franchise.

"Twilight is a phenomenon the like of which we rarely see, and I'm not complaining about this because thanks to it, I could make a return on the small screen. So, thank you, Twilight!" he said. "However, to those who think that Vampire Diaries is but a pale copy of Twilight, I want to remind that L.J. Smith's books, from which the show is adapted, were written before Stephenie Meyer's."

Will you give The Vampire Diaries a chance? It premieres on The CW on September 10.

5 Ways The Vampire Diaries May Take a Bite

As the twilight of summer draws near, September is almost upon us and with it comes a new season of Fall television. With the Twilight sequel, New Moon, leading the vampire charge in theatres, several similarly themed projects have piqued the interest of many over the summer, including upcoming CW show, The Vampire Diaries. Another vampire-themed adaptation, you ask? After months of steady Vampire Diaries publicity, the pilot airing at Comic-Con, and leaked information about the potential break-out hit of The CW Fall season, The Vampire Diaries is poised to take a bite out of the popularity of Twilight and New Moon at the right time.

Based on the best-selling novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries follows the story of Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) who lives in the small town of Mystic Falls. Elena begins an unlikely relationship with Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), a new student at Elena's school who remains guarded, which only serves to intrigue Elena even more.

The TV adaptation of The Vampire Diaries has undergone a few storyline changes for the sake of bringing the novel series to life, from the omission and addition of several characters as well as the background stories of Stefan and his vampire brother Damon (Ian Somerhalder).

With all eyes on the Twilight Saga as fans get set to sink their teeth into New Moon, here are five reasons how we think The Vampire Diaries could take a bite out of Twilight.

The Love Triangle

The concept of a love triangle in The Vampire Diaries is very similar to that of the Twilight Saga but the differences lie in the character development. Elena likes Stefan, Stefan is attracted to Elena, and Damon simply wants to have his kicks with the both of them.

In The Vampire Diaries novels, Damon does develop true feelings for Elena but it will be interesting to see what route the writers decide to take with the show. It's clear Twilight Saga fans have fallen head over heels for the love triangle between Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), and Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner).

With so much time in between Twilight films, The Vampire Diaries could fill the love triangle void that Twilight Saga fans will be missing once New Moon leaves theatres. After all, nothing says love like two vampires squaring off to the death over a human girl. Oh, the irony. But remember, there was also a love triangle in Buffy the Vampire Slayer between Angel, Buffy, and Spike, which proved to be more successful than anyone could have imagined.

The Buffy Factor

One of the biggest things to jump out at us after the first photos for The Vampire Diaries hit the web was how much the stills looked and felt similar to the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer at first and second glances. Of course we're not saying The Vampire Diaries will be Buffy reincarnate, but the more we saw of The Vampire Diaries, the more the imagery appeared to have a similar spirit or tone akin to Buffy. Since Buffy the Vampire Slayer left the airwaves in 2003, no other vampire themed show has been able to fill the void left behind by either Buffy or its spin-off, Angel.

Although Buffy had her day in the TV sun from 1997 to 2003, there was still huge demand for teen vampire drama when it left the airwaves and in the five years in between Buffy and the Twilight Saga. Obviously Twilight tapped into a similar teen vampire well in the absence of a show that still had legions of worldwide fans.

Although The Vampire Diaries won't be Buffy reincarnate, the upcoming CW series could very well fill a certain unseen Buffy void while also luring Twilight fans since The Vampire Diaries will most certainly be running during the gap between New Moon and Eclipse. It's also interesting to note that The Vampire Diaries airs on the very network where Buffy had its early roots from the days of running on The WB before heading to UPN.

The Vancouver Factor

Who knows just how much this will play into the pilot success of The Vampire Diaries, but it's hard not to mention that The Vampire Diaries (the pilot) and New Moon were shot in the same city. Coincidence? Perhaps. But like other vampire-themed films or television shows shot in Vancouver, The Vampire Diaries certainly took advantage of the dreary Vancouver atmosphere, the same environment and weather conditions that New Moon experienced since both projects were shooting in the city at the exact same time.

Although The Vampire Diaries pilot was shot in Vancouver, just like New Moon and currently Eclipse, the Diaries and producers capitalized on Vancouver's lush foliage and never-ending rain to create the perfect atmosphere full of late night wanderings through thick forests and seemingly endless, desolate trails just ripe for vampires to make a foggy killing. In the end, the bottom line of shooting in Vancouver comes down to just that, "the bottom line," since it offers cheaper production costs.

But when you look at the production locations of both The Vampire Diaries (the pilot) and New Moon, there may be more than meets the vampire eye, which can only benefit the debut of The Vampire Diaries in terms of a relatable reality for Twilight Saga fans.

Dramatic Irony

One of the biggest assets in developing strong teenage angst in The Vampire Diaries is creator Kevin Williamson's ability to blend dramatic irony with quick wit. Sarcasm is often the lowest form of it if not done right, but it is an integral part of teen life from 2000 and beyond and The Vampire Diaries characters, Stefan and Damon have had centuries of experience honing it from the pages and mind of author L.J. Smith.

The inevitable comparison to Buffy the Vampire Slayer is most evident with the creative flow of dialogue, but the relationship between Elena and Stefan is rooted in two equal characters as compared to a damsel-in-distress storyline.

By all accounts, Vampire Diaries actress, Nina Dobrev, does a good job of making sure that Elena remains strong and keeps Damon interested without being too, for lack of a better word, girly. Since vampire lovers who cross over from Twilight will get a weekly fix on The CW, The Vampire Diaries may be more relatable in using sarcasm in a much more believable manner than Twilight as the series evolves.

The Characters, Cast, and Room to Grow

The final, if not most important part of The Vampire Diaries could hinge on the characters and development of Elena, Damon, and Stefan. Unlike the stand-alone Twilight Saga movies, The Vampire Diaries has more room to work with since we'll get to know the characters throughout weeks rather than years before another two-hour Twilight shot.

Think about this for a second: The entire Twilight Saga on film - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - will clock in at approximately eight hours in total, two hours per movie (give or take), over a three year period. With thirteen one-hour episodes ordered for The Vampire Diaries in its first season, viewers will see thirteen hours of character development in one year (season, give or take) of The Vampire Diaries. If all goes well with The Vampire Diaries, The CW series will be steadily building upon its fan base while the Twilight Saga sits idle between theatrical releases.

Nina Dobrev is no stranger to playing strong characters after her success on Degrassi as Mia, a teen mother. Faced with adversity in The Vampire Diaries due to the loss of her parents in a car accident while dealing with a drug addicted younger brother, Elena also battles her own demons, which helps to lure viewers into the character with a sense of curiosity. It may be through those very demons that viewers come to care about Elena most.

Paul Wesley takes on the role of brooding and withdrawn, non blood drinking vampire Stefan, the character foil to his older brother Damon, who's looking to start anew. Wesley has appeared in other high profile shows, including 24 and American Dreams, so the new CW vampire is no stranger to a dramatic role. All of that experience will be necessary to balance the conundrum that is Stefan Salvatore who battles inner demons of guilt and shame of being a vampire. But can handsome and hot Wesley become the TV equivalent of former Buffy beau, Angel, or more importantly the small-screen version of Edward Cullen in terms of popularity?

What appears to be the strongest acting asset of The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder steps into the shoes of Damon, the more evil inclined vampire brother of Stefan who takes full advantage of his supernatural abilities for his own gain. Interestingly, The Vampire Diaries has the wolf aspect of Twilight covered since Damon can transform into a crow or a Lycan. The novels tell the tale of Damon's deep love for Elena, which gives rise to passionate devotion and a strong sense of loyalty. It could very well be a cliché gone wrong unless the writers of The Vampire Diaries falter and Somerhalder doesn't have the proper script and story ingredients to balance the right amounts of evil and wiles.

The Final Bite

Much like the Twilight Saga, even The CW hit Gossip Girl, The Vampire Diaries already has a built-in fan base from its legacy as a literary property. Although Twilight Saga fans will always be fans of the Stephenie Meyer penned series of novels and subsequent Twilight films, starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner, The Vampire Diaries could very well lure Twilighters into its weekly coffin. Although there's more global money to be had with the stand alone Twilight films, The Vampire Diaries on TV will see the characters and audience reaction change, which will impact the direction and development of future storylines. Small changes to certain characters will already facilitate that change. From our standpoint, there's no doubt in our minds that if The Vampire Diaries is as good as it looks, the new CW series will definitely take a bite out of the popularity of Twilight.

First Part of 'The Vampire Diaries' Webisode: A Darker Truth

"" is releasing a series of web-only episodes in front of the show's debut on September 10. Called "A Darker Truth", the webisodes has released its first part on Tuesday, August 25. It presents a fictional character named Jason who is investigating the death of his sister, Joanne.

Jason said that Stefan Salvatore, the main character in the actual series, was a neighbor to his sister before she died. He believes Stefan has killed her and he has some proofs to show, including the photo of Stefan staying young even though he has moved around for 45 years.

"The Vampire Diaries" is the new series picked by The CW for its Fall season. It tells the story of a mortal girl Elena who falls for a new mysterious boy at school, Stefan. Elena, who has a tragic past with the death of her parents, succumbs to the comfort that Stefan generates when she is with him.

The series is attached to "" to make a night of mysteries on Thursdays.




Vampire Diaries seeking blood of high school students

Sometime before its Sept. 10 series premiere, the CW's Virginia-set show "The Vampire Diaries" will launch a five-week promo tour hosting swag-filled blood drives at various high schools and colleges around the country.

The CW and Alloy Media + Marketing have actually teamed with the American Red Cross for the campaign "Starve a Vampire. Donate Blood." So far, the initiative is scheduled to visit 230 high schools with the goal of collecting at least 3,400 blood donations.

"This is a great opportunity to engage the younger members of our communities in blood donation activities at participating high school and college campuses across the country - something they can 'sink their teeth into,'" quips Stephanie Millian, director of biomedical communications for the American Red Cross.

Of course, the blood drives will come stocked with CW materials that advertise the show's 8 p.m. Sept. 10 premiere. Each location will feature themed "The Vampire Diaries" refreshment areas where students can chow down on special snacks. Exclusive clips from the show will be featured on TV monitors around the area, and everyone who participates in the blood drives will walk away with special promotional swag, including customized t-shirts.

In addition, The CW and the American Red Cross will produce a public service announcement, promoting the need for blood donations that will feature the show's cast.

The series from executive producers Kevin Williamson ("Dawson's Creek") and Julie Plec centers on 150-year-old vampire Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and his quest to live peacefully among humans while courting his high school classmate Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev), who is also the object of desire for Stefan's evil vampire brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder).

True/Slant Exclusive! Actual ‘Vampire Diaries’ entries leaked

There’s, like, a totally new clique of blood suckers in town, thanks to the same CBS-slash-UPN-slash-Time Warner-owned network behind Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill and a bunch of other shows that people younger than you watch totally every week like their lives depended on it. Called The Vampire Diaries, the show follows new-in-town schoolgirl Elena Gilbert (tragic accident + change in location + learning the ropes + hot vampire dudes = ka-ching!), her kid brother (pathos machine), and a couple tall, dead, and handsome bros with funny names (think foreign exchange students). One bro’s good, the other’s totally evil, both want to show Elena their secret handshake, but only one actually will. It’s like The Breakfast Club, if the cafeteria were serving blood pudding every single day of the week.

The show premieres in September, but thanks to a secret Hollywood insider (so hush-hush) I got a sneak peek at a few of the blood suckers’ actual diary entries. I think you’ll be surprised.

Monday. Dear Diary, stayed up all night again. Met this nice girl. She had really long blond hair and this great smile. Killed her. Got to bed just as the sun was coming up. But a stupid cricket or something outside my window totally kept me awake for hours. Not happy.

Wednesday. Dear Diary, went out last night and snacked on all these skater punks over by the reservoir. I am seriously rocking a contact high right now. I just ate a whole bag of Doritos and, like, can’t stop giggling. Plus? I now have, like, fifteen skateboards. Test tomorrow.

Saturday. Dear Diary, you know that scene in that movie “The Lost Boys,” when they hang from the train tracks and stuff? We totally did that tonight! I thought it would be awesome, but it was actually kinda lame. Then we went for ramen and Stefan was like, “Worms, Damon, you’re eating worms.” I was like, “Not funny!” Plus, my favorite t-shirt now? Totally grease-stained! All the dry-cleaners close at 5. Lame.

Sunday. Dear Diary, last night was pretty weird. First of all I totally drained the life from this super nice guy. Elena was like, “Dude, he’s so handsome.” I don’t know, I guess he was. I mean, I don’t really tend to notice that stuff cause I’m a guy too and all. But he seemed really nice, and he had this awesome messenger bag and this really nice, like, sorta deconstructed jacket that I thought he totally rocked. I guess things got kinda homoerotic because Stefan was like, “Bro, you’re so gay.” I’m so confused I want to die. Or live. Or something.

Where Have All the Bad Boys Gone?

Ian Somerhalder as Damon on "The Vampire Diaries: " I know what you're thinking how many more vampires do we need in pop culture. And sure the show is capitalizing on our current love affair with all things vampire but the pilot came to life once Somerhalder's Damon hit the screen. I had a delayed reaction to realizing this was the same actor who played nice guy Boone on "Lost." He's the bad vampire to his brother, good vampire Stefan (Paul Wesley). Let the sibling rivalry begin. If my television viewing history is consistent, I'll totally be rooting for Damon over the soulful Stefan.

The Vampire Diaries: Brooding bad boys and the girls who love them

What makes vampires so attractive? Maybe because they're such deliciously bad boys.

What's the seemingly endless appeal about vampires? Julie Ples, executive producer of The Vampire Diaries, has an idea -- and it has a lot to do with TV bad boys like Jordan Catalano from My So-Called Life and Dylan McKay from the original 90210.

"There's something about the naughty bad boy -- you want to believe that there's so much going on behind those eyes, you want to believe there's epic amounts of soul and wisdom there," Julie said. "With real boys, you're usually out of luck, but with a vampire, you're getting that."

And we're certainly going to see that with Stefan, the love-struck bloodsucker at the center of The Vampire Diaries. His backstory is what drew actor Paul Wesley to the part:

"He's a vampire born in the 1800s, and then has to mask himself as a high schooler," Paul said. "Me and Nina [Dobrov] and Kat [Katerina Graham], we're all about the same age, we're all friends, but when I'm on set I have to get into this place where I think I'm like their grandfather."

But that just makes him the world's oldest adolescent: "He may be 50 years old, but he's a teenager, and he still can't get it right," joked executive producer Kevin Williamson.

Paul agreed. "It's a rebirth for him -- he can have that teenage, young adult experience, the first love he's been lacking 150 years. It's not like he's a conman, it's not some pervy thing -- he's genuinely experiencing this with the naiveté of a 18-year-old kid."

But it's not all hormones and first loves. Let's not forget that Stefan just happens to be a bloodsucking fiend -- and in this universe, that means Stefan decided to do some very bad things. See, in order to become a vampire, you can't just passively get bit and maybe sip a little blood. You also have to make a conscious choice to feed on a human in order to complete the transformation. And no matter how sweet and romantic Stefan seems now, that means he once chose to snack on people.

Julie promised us an early episode will "explore the moment when Stefan and Damon woke and discovered they had become vamps -- what was Stefan like in that moment he fed for the first time."

Because, yes, Stefan is one of those bad boys that the good girls love -- and this bad boy has done some bad, bad things. Tell us in the comments what your favorite bad boys do.

Stephenie Meyer Sued for Copyright Infringement

An author who accused Stephenie Meyer, the writer of the best-selling “Twilight” novels, of plagiarism has filed suit against her, Reuters reported.

Earlier this month, a lawyer for Jordan Scott, the author of the 2006 vampire novel “The Nocturne,” sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ms. Meyer’s publisher, Hachette Book Group, that said her work contains many situations that are similar to those in Ms. Meyer’s 2008 book “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth entry in her series about a romance between a mortal woman and an undead vampire. A lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in California reiterated those similarities, noting, for example, that both books contained passages about a wedding and an after-wedding sex scene on a beach. Hachette Book Group said that Ms. Meyer had based “Breaking Dawn” on an earlier, unpublished sequel to “Twilight” that she wrote. The publisher called the suit a “publicity stunt to further Ms. Scott’s career,” and said it expected the court would dismiss it, according to Reuters.

viernes, 21 de agosto de 2009

Ian Somerhalder on Vampire Diaries

If Paul Wesley plays the sweet and broody vampire Stefan on The Vampire Diaries, Ian Somerhalder is the counterpoint. As Stefan’s vampire brother Damon, Somerhalder is more like the vampire we read about in Bram Stoker.

Ian Somerhalder Writes in His Vampire Diaries

“He’s angry,” Somerhalder said. “He feels like he’s been wronged, very badly, and he wants vengeance and redemption. However, he is lonely. He’s the most lonely person I’ve ever known. Imagine being 170 years old. However old you are, at this point in time, imagine thinking about how much you know about life and quadrupling that, and seeing all the people you’ve ever known die around you. That probably makes you very cynical and lonely.”


That’s deep, but Somerhalder is having fun. “It’s so much fun. That’s why he’s so fun. Violence and brutality, for me, is never okay. I’m not a violent or brutal person, in the least bit. I’m actually really passive. But, his violence and brutality stems from someplace. Even people who are bad, do it for reasons. The reason why people like the bad boy in a film, a show, a book or a play is because they have so much fun doing what they’re doing, while they’re doing it. And, there’s something that’s interesting and enticing about watching someone like that. Even if he’s being mean, he’s having fun doing it. So, as humans, we’re sickly drawn to that, and we’re all guilty of it.”

Looking into Damon’s background gave Somerhalder even more fuel for the rage. “It’s intense. Even people who are bad, it all stems from a place. It’s coming from a place. When we’re good to people, it’s coming from a good place. When we’re bad to people, it’s coming from a bad place. But, we all have a reason for what we’re doing, and Damon’s is pretty justified. He feels as though he was hurt very badly in the past, and wronged very deeply, so he’s ticked off and he’s ready for some vengeance. It’s going to be interesting. He has reasons for everything he does, so there will be shifts. The whole idea is that Damon has lost all humanity, but we will see different sides of him, as the season starts to play out. "

Just like an actor, the villain is never really a bad guy. “He’s a very dynamic, very complicated character. The relationship between Stefan, Damon and Elena is getting away from just this teen soap show. They’re very complicated relationships.”

Of course, that’s for several weeks of television to reveal. “There are so many elements that are going to dictate that because of the mythology of it all. These two brothers have very different views on life. Damon has decided to not dismiss his heritage, which is, unfortunately, feeding on people. That’s what vampires do. It’s like if a human being decided to stop eating, essentially. And, Stefan, because of his love for people or just his desire to not have to brutally kill them, has decided not to, which makes it invariably difficult to hang out. And so, there are going to be a lot of twists and turns that are going to illustrate how different they are, and the bouncing back and forth of good to bad and bad to good. There are so many places that they can go.”

The Vampire Diaries premieres September 10 on The CW. .

'Vampire Diaries' Creator Is Excited And Energized For The New CW Series

With vampires all the rage with the kids these days, it makes sense for The CW to get into the vampire romance business. Luckily there was another series of vampire books they could turn into their series, The Vampire Diaries. Produced by Dawson's Creek creator Kevin Williamson, this is not just another teen drama. While it is about a teenage girl who falls in love with a vampire, Williamson said the show is more about small town secrets than high school romance.

"The town wakes up to [the vampires] relatively quick and tries to do something about it," Williamson said. "We don't know exactly who is it in the town, who are these people that figure it out. We have a character coming in, in a couple of episodes that is another series regular that steps in and he comes with an agenda."

Even the concept of the diary is a bit quaint to modern day kids. "A lot of people write journal on a computer now, but Elena's mother is the one who gave her that journal and explained to her the importance of journaling. So she writes in her journal. It is a connection to her mother. It is really a nice way to sort of open up a story, begin a story and close a story. It is a really great bookend.

The show is sort of in Williamson's old stomping grounds. Dawson's was a flagship WB show, and Diaries airs on the combo-network The CW. "When I was working with The WB when it was just beginning, and it was just sort of starting out and there was like this enthusiasm and excitement, that kind of exists with The CW so it energizes me. So am I having a great time. They have been great. So they have been very supportive of the show and so it is nice. They kind of create a whole family environment. It is nice, they are still a small network. I do really well with a roomful of people as opposed to a lot of cooks in the kitchen, so it has been very intimate."

Vampire Diaries premieres September 10 on The CW.

'The Vampire Diaries'

Four months after the tragic car accident that killed their parents, 17-year-old Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev, “DeGrassi: The Next Generation”) and her 15-year-old brother, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen, “Everwood”), are still adjusting to their new reality. Elena has always been the star student; beautiful, popular and involved with school and friends, but now she finds herself struggling to hide her grief from the world. Elena and Jeremy are now living with their cool-but-overwhelmed Aunt Jenna (Sara Canning, “Smallville”), who is doing her best to be a surrogate parent.

Fall TV Preview

The Vampire Diaries 9 p.m. Sept. 10, CW. While it might seem as if this series is just a poser for CW to cash in on the Twilight/True Blood vampire wave, the books for this series came before either one. Lost's Ian Somerhalder plays the bad vamp brother, vying with good vamp brother for the love of a high school girl. Three Notes.

'The Good Wife,' 'The Vampire Diaries': Fall's likeliest new hits

"The Good Wife" is the best bet.

The Julianna Margulies drama, about the wife of a disgraced politician, should be the big new hit this fall. Timely and engrossing, "The Good Wife" makes you care about its title character.

But each broadcast network has reason to hope, and this fall's crop is a lot more exciting than last fall's. Here's a look at what's coming by network:

ABC

Likely hit: The Disney-owned network has the most ambitious plans. Its best hope could be the sassy sex comedy "Cougar Town," which brings back appealing Courteney Cox as a divorcee. It's not the second coming of "Friends," yet the slapstick goofiness produces guffaws.

Best show: "Modern Family," a comedy with Ed O'Neill, has earned critics' raves for its touching take on families. But it's "mockumentary" style could limit the audience. More enjoyable is ABC's lavish updating of "V," about extraterrestrials' frightening plans for mankind. Elizabeth Mitchell of "Lost" stars.

Familiar fare: "Eastwick," based on John Updike's "Witches of Eastwick," might be called "Desperate Witches." "The Middle," a pleasant sitcom with Patricia Heaton, is a milder "Malcolm in the Middle." "FlashForward," epic sci-fi about what happens after the world blacks out, tries to recapture the early allure of "Lost." That won't be easy.

Least likely to succeed: I love Kelsey Grammer, but I didn't love "Hank," a blah comedy about a corporate titan trying to reconnect with his family. "The Forgotten," a crime drama with Christian Slater, won't have an easy time opposite "The Good Wife."

CBS

Likely hit: "The Good Wife," because it's the perfect CBS show in the same way that "The Mentalist" was the perfect CBS show. And "The Mentalist" with Simon Baker was the big new hit last fall.

Best show: "The Good Wife" again. I most want to see its second episode. It's a terrific showcase for Margulies, who has many fans from "ER." The wife has to re-enter the work force after her husband goes to prison, and you pull for her. The choice supporting cast includes Chris Noth and Christine Baranski.

Familiar fare: "NCIS: Los Angeles" is a spinoff stationed right after the Mark HarmonJenna ElfmanAccidentally on Purpose." She plays a movie critic who becomes pregnant by a younger man, and he becomes her roommate. Would her critic like the show? I doubt it. original. The "NCIS" fans saw the characters introduced last spring. In comedy, is back in "

Least likely to succeed: "Three Rivers" is a well-meaning drama about organ transplants. It also brings back Alex O'Loughlin, the heartthrob from "Moonlight." But the soggy show has a lot of problems and needs transplants itself. The good news: Alfre Woodard has come aboard.

Fox

Likely hit: "The Cleveland Show" is a "Family Guy" spinoff that sends Cleveland Brown off on his own adventures. "Family Guy" fans should be overjoyed.

Best show: "Glee" is an outrageous musical-comedy set in a high school. Fox aired the pilot in the spring, and the next episodes are stronger. The series showcases fine singing, an affectionate approach to oddball characters and some wacky comedy. Jane Lynch stands out as a cheerleading coach.

Familiar fare: "Brothers" is an uneven sitcom about estranged brothers who bicker a lot. What fun! The brothers are played by Michael Strahan and Daryl "Chill" Mitchell. The best moments go to CCH Pounder of "The Shield" as their determined mother.

Least likely to succeed: "Brothers," because it's going to face a rough time at 8 p.m. Fridays.

NBC

Likely hit: The progress of "The Jay Leno Show" will be the most closely followed story this fall. Can the former host of "The Tonight Show" succeed at 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It's an unconventional move by desperate NBC. My bet is that Leno will do well enough.

Best show: "Community" is an acerbic comedy about the misfits at a community college. Joel McHale of "The Soup" plays a wisecracking student, and Chevy Chase displays a subtle style as another student. It should fit right in with "The Office" and "30 Rock."

Familiar fare: "Trauma" is a flashy, frenetic drama about first-responder paramedics. It looks like "ER" transposed to the streets. "Mercy" is a sudsy medical drama about three female nurses and their romantic fortunes. In the season after "ER" left the schedule, NBC drama is on life support.

Least likely to succeed: It's a tossup between "Trauma" and "Mercy." "Trauma" has the tougher time slot and the less appealing cast. Maybe NBC can expand "Today" to night.

The CW

Likely hit: "The Vampire Diaries" is a big, engrossing drama based on the L.J. Smith books. It should appeal to fans of "Twilight" and "True Blood."

Best show: Again, "The Vampire Diaries," because it's so compelling and has an attractive cast. Vampire Stefan (Paul Wesley) goes to high school, and grief-stricken Elena (Nina Dobrev) falls hard. You can see why because Stefan has a powerful impact.

Familiar fare: You can't get more familiar than "Melrose Place," a glossy updating of the old Fox favorite. Laura Leighton and Thomas Calabro repeat their roles. The new show has lined up Josie Bissett and Daphne Zuniga for guest roles. Then there's "The Beautiful Life: TBL," a glossy look at the lives of young models. Mischa Barton plays an older model with lots of problems.

Least likely to succeed: Will America fall for "Melrose Place" all over again? Television has moved on, and there are so many appealing alternatives in 2009.

Vampires, Vampires, Everywhere!

Well, it’s official: we’ve become vampire-obsessed. And I’m not just talking tuning in to Buffy the Vampire Slayer reruns every so often, either. Everywhere you turn, whether in words, actions, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and other paraphernalia, echoes the imploring phrase: “bite me.” However, what remains the most intriguing (other than the sudden desire to be punctured) is the fact that the bloodsucking institution is not a new one – Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the masterpiece that started it all, was written in 1897, for crying out loud. So why the sudden fixation on the cold, pale undead?

Naturally, the most scientific way to assess the magnitude of this phenomenon was a simple search on Google. Type in ‘vampire’, and you’re returned with 55,500,000 results in a cool 0.23 seconds. If you fancy refining your search, the same query on Bing brings back a still impressive 51,600,000 hits. The truth is, vampires have managed to stage a sort of benign invasion into the consumer consciousness, now ubiquitous to every form of life. Don’t believe me? Check out the latest in vampire media:


Meet the newest TV vampires

True Blood
A show I believed to be cheaply riding the success of Stephenie Meyer’s hugely popular Twilight Saga has grown into a phenomenon in its own right. Already invested in season 3 for the summer of 2010, HBO’s television drama was a hit from the beginning, racking up several nominations and a Golden Globe for its very first season. The story itself comes from The Southern Vampire Mysteries, also known as The Sookie Sackhouse Series (say that five times fast) by Charlaine Harris.



Careful -- they bite.

Vampire Diaries
Watch out Gossip Girl – your new replacement boasts fewer handbags and more handsome bloodsuckers. The CW is reported to have reunited with Dawson’s Creek writer Kevin Williamson and picked up the show, based on the book series of the same name by L.J. Smith. Relax, there’s no longer much of a wait: the show is set to premiere on September 10th of this year.

Vampire-Con
Yes, you read correctly. And it seems only natural – the incredible popularity of the Comic Con Convention for nerdy fandom of all kinds has finally been followed with the first ever vampire convention, which hit Hollywood, CA August 14-16. Complete with True Blood discussions, and Vampire Film Festival, and a ball in honor of comic book heroine Vampirella, the vampire-lovers even teamed up with Bram Stoker’s estate with a discussion panel featuring his great grand-nephew.


One of many bloody reads

Vampire Lit
And if that’s not enough to convince you, it’s nothing compared to the veritable deluge of books following in Stoker’s footsteps. There are the individual novels: Sucks to be Me: The All-true Confessions of Mina Hamilton, Teen Vampire (Maybe) by Kimberly Pauley, Suck It Up by Brian Meehl, Tantalize by Cynthia Smith and Thicker Than Water by Carla Jablonski. And of course, we can’t forget the series: Night World and Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, and House of the Night by Kristen and P.C. Cast.

Though I’ve thrown a plethora of media at you, we’re still no closer to discovering why, after keeping a low-profile nocturnal existence for years, the vamps have suddenly captured our attention. Magazines, tabloids and internet publications left and right have experts on the case, but no one is really sure of an answer – much like no reader over the age of 18 can’t readily explain why they’re in love with Twilight. However, Newsweek’s Joan Raymond makes a crucial observation: today’s undead are nowhere near as creepy as their predecessors. The sex metaphor of sucking blood has taken a very drastic turn for the teenage world, and has even demurred itself for older audiences. These days, the defanged, chaste and sparkly (well, in certain cases) are walking among us, rather than rising from their coffins. The cruel sexual predators are instead becoming a symbol of the hardships of fitting in, of a race working against their nature to be good in the face of temptation. Almost biblical, no?

Whatever the direction, it has only served to heighten the female desire for fanged love. Between the unspeakable dangers and exotic appeal, vampires are, to speak plainly, powerful. They’re essentially invincible; some have even spiced up their repertoires with extra supernatural abilities. And immortality isn’t overlooked either, even in a culture that’s staying younger longer than ever before. Most importantly, the vampire myth is perpetually tied to adolescence, of all things. The forbidden love, the need for something you can’t have – or simply the desire of something you shouldn’t – is something that recalls the teenage years more than anything else. Apparently, it’s become widely acceptable for the middle-aged to relive their teens. And as long as we have Robert Pattinson, we’re ok with that.