These are two articles about Anna’s sister, Katya and her fight with a brain tumour. As fans of Anna’s, let’s keep her sister in our thoughts.

From NBR:

Green Party co-leader Russel Norman’s partner Katya Paquin is to have further surgery to try and remove a brain tumour.

Dr Norman told NZPA that Ms Paquin visited Wellington Hospital on Thursday for pre-surgery preparation and would go back on October 17 for the operation.

“This is their third attempt to get the tumour, they’ve got parts of it before and they’re hoping this time they will finish it off,” Dr Norman said.

Asked how he coped with the stress, he answered: “I don’t know. I don’t know what the answer is.”

The tumour was diagnosed just a few months before the last election.

“It happened in April-May 2005, it was much more stressful because it was the first time and it was a haemorrhaging tumour back then and I was the campaign manager at that time.”

Ms Paquin is a Green Party researcher.

Dr Norman said the couple had good family support. Ms Paquin’s sister is the Oscar winning actress Anna Paquin.

From NZ Herald:

Katya Paquin, petite and wearing a Deborah Sweeney designer dress, and her partner Green Party co-leader Russel Norman are snuggled together in what could pass as a ramshackle student flat in an old Hataitai villa.

There’s a cheese board and Milton’s organic wine on offer amid the bohemian chic decor, a collection of mismatched and borrowed furniture dominated by a large home-made bookcase crammed with many books and CDs.

Here they have entertained Paquin’s famous sister Anna when she visits from Hollywood, where she has found fame after nabbing the part of Flora in the Jane Campion film The Piano in 1993.

Katya Paquin, now 29, went as 12-year-old to an open audition with a friend after the friend’s mother read an ad in the paper. Paquin and her friend were among a bunch of youngsters who turned up.

“We were not a theatre family at all. I’d never done any acting or anything like that.” Neither had younger sister Anna, but she tagged along for the experience.

“My sister came with us but we were too old for the part. I am three years older so that’s quite a big difference for that role, but it’s funny how things work out.”

Katya doesn’t remember Anna’s gasping Oscar acceptance speech: “I think I may have been at school. I think I got the news over the phone - it was really great.”

Now Paquin talks about the tumour growing in her brain with the same clarity and determination with which her partner talks about politics. “I am hoping to get through this,” she says.

Paquin’s had surgery on the tumour and faces more in the future. She’s had gruelling treatment and takes medication daily, but sidesteps questions about its severity.

“I don’t want to go into too much detail but, you know, I am hoping to get through this.”

There’s laughter and kisses and cuddles with Norman, 41. The room is filled with their love.

Diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago, Paquin has been “kind of dealing with it ever since”.

She downplays the gravity of her medical condition, using words such as “tricky health stuff” to describe all that she is going through.

“I mean a lot of people have difficulties that they have to deal with and we are trying to deal with it as best as we can.
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I will add scans from both magazines as soon as they get here but there’s two articles in this month’s h and next month’s BlackBook. Also, I should have screencaps from both “The First Taste” and “Mine” tomorrow, it’s been a little hectic around here.

From The Hollywood Reporter:

HBO is ordering a second season of new series “True Blood” after just two episodes.

The series, which follows the adventures of vampires in New Orleans, will go back into production early next year in anticipation of a new batch of episodes for the summer of 2009.

While the premiere episode of the series received a modest audience, HBO cited an “unprecedented” 24% increase in viewers for the second installment. In addition, the “Blood” premiere drew 4 million when additional runs of the that episode were tallied.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the critics and our viewers have embraced ‘True Blood,’” said Michael Lombardo, president of programming group and West Coast operations at HBO. “Alan Ball has done it again–made an addictive series that is unlike any other.”

“I am thrilled to be able to continue to work with such a talented group of writers, cast and crew to explore the characters and world created by Charlaine Harris in her novels,” said Alan Ball, executive producer of “Blood.”

From ShockTilYouDrop:

Michael Dougherty’s directorial feature debut Trick ‘r Treat is coming to Los Angeles. The horror anthology screens on Friday, October 10th at Screamfest (exact time forthcoming).

Starring Anna Paquin (now starring in True Blood), Brian Cox, Leslie Bibb, Dylan Baker, Moneca Delain and Lauren Lee Smith, Dougherty’s film focuses on the consequences that can come to those who dismiss Halloween’s archaic traditions.

Warner Bros. has held the film in distribution limbo since 2007 when it was scheduled to release the picture around Halloween. Other than a smattering of early test screenings and festival appearances, this will be the first time Trick ‘r Treat plays to a Los Angeles audience.

Dance of the Dead, Martyrs, The Burrowers, Parasomnia and Splinter are other entries in Screamfest’s 2008 schedule.

The fest runs from October 10th - 19th at Mann’s Chinese 6 Theaters.

Also, if you’re in town on October 9th at 7pm, Dougherty will be signing copies of Trick ‘r Treat: Tales of Mayhem, Mystery & Mischief at Dark Delicacies (4213 W. Burbank) in Burbank. The book, which is a playful look at the making of the film, sells for $45 and features loads of images, conceptual art and other hidden treats.

I’ve added 45 more images from the premiere of True Blood. I will be adding screencaps from the first episode soon, but for now I have added screencaps from Alan Ball POV, Making Of True Blood, Invitation To The Set, the extended Trailer, the Teaser that aired before the episode’s premiere, True Bloodlines: A New Type, True Bloodlines: Vampire Legends and The Buzz - Opening Night. All of these (with the exception of the teaser, maybe) are available on HBO On Demand.

Also, the official True Blood site received a makeover the other day, it’s definitely worth checking out. HBO also has a Wiki for the show. Speaking of the Wiki, thank you to whoever added a link to the site on there!

And, as suggested by a couple people a few posts down, I am considering opening up a forum for the site. I will personally not have much time to moderate it, but if any of you have experience in moderating forums and would like to help out, please e-mail me.

I just wanted to remind everyone that True Blood premieres tonight at 9pm on HBO (United States), the Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Movie Channel (Western Canada)!

I added 142 more images from last night’s premiere, and also images from the after party and the press conference.

I will be adding scans from this week’s TV Guide and this month’s Vogue as soon as my scanner wants to work properly for me.

There’s three new trailers for True Blood on YouTube as well. One, two, three.