DK Filming in Louisiana
DitigalKitchen, the company who brought the memorable title sequence for Six Feet Under, was who Alan Ball trusted for True Blood. The two shows are actually quite similar in terms of content, but the execution couldn’t be more different: “True Blood is a much more wild, unrestrained ride. Our assignment was to distill the humor, sex, violence and sweaty, sultry vibe of Louisiana – and oh yeah, don’t show vampires.”
DK talks about the various locations and styles used in their amazing sequence, which plays like its own documentary of the weird and dirty South. They also give due credit to the film Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus, which was something of an inspiration. While not for everyone, if you love True Blood‘s opening credits, you might want to check it out.
Finally… at long last… there is a formal, professional acknowlegement of the seminal influence of ‘SftW-EJ’. Without this most unique and darkly odd documentary about the Paradox of Southern culture on the skids, there would be no TB opening credits at all (as we know them). The feel – indeed, whole scenes; such as the river baptism, the roadhouse, the Pentacostals, the lake where the Handsome Family performed on the porch of the floating house, etc. – were lifted straight from ‘SftW-EJ’. This film’s wacky, crystal meth, chigger-infested, lushly decaying, chicken-fried soul permeated much of Season 1. It’s been a huge influence on the series itself… not merely on the Opening Credits. It deserves to be recognized.
I just added that movie to the top of my Netflix list. As a daughter of the weird South, I feel obligated to watch it, plus I love TB’s opening credits to death!
…also added to Netflix. Thanks for recommendation.
SftW-EJ is incredible. At one point, there’s this beautiful rendition of Amazing Grace played on the saw. So help me – a saw. I’ve never seen anything like this film. It’s odd and gritty and loamy and delightful.
Hey, we used to have old men play the saw occasionally in church down in Florida. I haven’t seen it done in decades, though.
Rather than linking to Amazon.com, you may wish instead to link directly to the film itself. The URL is below:
http://www.searchingforthewrongeyedjesus.com/#
“They have what Flannery O’Connor called ‘Wise Blood’. The blood rules them. They don’t rule the blood. If you really wanna understand the South; you gotta get it in your blood.” — Jim White, ‘Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus’
Coincidence? I think not.
As always, my dear Hajni, you are a fount of wisdom. Thanks for sharing!