Writing a series based on a popular book series is challenging. True Blood which is based upon the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris is no exception. But according to the show’s creator Alan Ball, the challenge he faces is trying to find enough time to tell all of the stories that need to be told. Last week at the TCA Summer Tour event for HBO Ball told the press:
“Before I came over here today, we locked picture in episode 12, and I realized we’ve done 48 episodes of this show. And I sort of went, ‘That’s 24 movies.’ Because the show is so full, and there are so many characters … the show has just sort of organically evolved into this bigger thing every season.”
The series, which is currently in the middle of airing its fourth season has not yet been renewed for its fifth season. But Ball has already signed on to continue as show runner for it and it is thought that pick up news will be coming very soon. The show will continue to use Harris’ books as a template come next season. But unlike the book series, which is told from Sookie Stackhouse’s (Anna Paquin) point of view, True Blood is an ensemble show:
”My rule of thumb for working with source material is the books are Sookie’s story, told by Sookie. Everybody else in the books exists when they’re in the same room with Sookie. So since the show is more of an ensemble show, I think we generally have more freedom…”Lafayette’s a great example, because he gets killed in the books. And after the first season of working with Nelsan (Ellis), I just went, ‘There’s no way we can kill this character.’ But ultimately there’s no formula. It’s just kind of an organic process.”.
Whatever Alan Ball, his writers, the cast, and crew are doing, it’s definitely working. Not only is the show enjoying very good ratings at the moment. But it was also one of the most popular shows at Comic Con 2011 this year with thousands of fans waiting hours just for a few moments with their favorite stars at the autograph signing or for the panel that followed.
Source: NOLA.com- ‘True Blood’s’ Executive Producer Plays it By the Book-except when he doesn’t.”
Image Credit: Geek Tyrant.com
