Insight Editions has published a hardback book titled The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls which released on September 12th 2017 at numerous online retailers and high street book stores. Does Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls deliver what it sets out to in the form of producing an ultimate companion for the collective 8 seasons of The Vampire Diaries television series?
When The Vampire Diaries began airing on ITV2 in the UK in 2009; I had no idea who was starring in the series, how many episodes and seasons the series would last for, that it was based upon popular novels or if I would even like it. I just gave it a chance because I thought it must be worthy viewing from the perspective of ITV2 which had dropped Supernatural to replace it with The Vampire Diaries. Eight years after I started watching The Vampire Diaries; I can look back and appreciate Julie Plec’s and Kevin Williamson’s fine work on creating a show that actually gave me a lot. Within 9 episodes of the first season, I had a new favourite actress in the form of Nina Dobrev to root for in happiness and success. I can also honestly say that The Vampire Diaries helped me through one of my most difficult days when I believe a lifelong dream was unfairly crushed and while that is a story for another day; the entire point is that a well written TV series with world class acting performances from your favourite actress as part of a great ensemble cast lasting 42 minutes per episode can encapsulate the mind in a powerfully therapeutic way that can never truly be underestimated. I had never felt the same way about a TV series since Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but out of nowhere came something that bettered it by delving just as deep into each and every character from Katerina Petrova in 1492 Bulgaria to the origins of the Mikaelson family and everything in-between. It made me excited when I heard about The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls hardback was releasing as it feels like the beginning of a trip down memory lane.
The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls is in well prepared hands as it is written by Michael Mallory who is an internationally renowned expert on films, television series, animations and 20th century pop culture; having previously written 16 non-fiction books including Iwao Takamoto: My Life with a Thousand Characters, The Science Fiction Universe and Beyond: Syfy Channel Book of Sci-Fi, Marvel: The Characters and Their Universe and Universal Studios Monsters: A Legacy of Horror, while Andrea Robinson is a editor and author having written a young adult novel titled Vampire Crush which was featured in the Scholastic Book Club.
The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls has significant contributions from cast and crew including a foreword by Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson, a preface by Ian Somerhalder, and an introduction by Paul Wesley. Julie Plec’s and Kevin Williamson’s involvement goes beyond their foreword, branching into insights regarding how the books were adapted into a TV series, changes that were made to the TV series in comparison to the books and various features, while Greg Orson sheds light on finding the cast capable of bringing life to each and every character. Those who did not write directly for the book have been quoted from interviews such as Nina talking to the Hollywood Reporter in 2015 and talking to the media about her experience of filming at the end of season 6.
The approach taken by Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls is thankfully an appropriately balanced one; providing a nod to the origins of The Vampire Diaries as a series of books written by L.J. Smith as early as the first paragraph of the opening chapter. Thereafter, the entire book is not just dedicated to each season, but also what goes on behind the scenes from the very beginning of the show until the end.
It is not until the third chapter on the 85th page that coverage of each season begins. If anything, this is a positive mindset in diversity of content when constructing chapters. For instance, the second chapter titled Bringing the Drama to Life depicts in thorough detail what it felt like to be a story writer, multiple filming processes that gave The Vampire Diaries a distinct look and how fight scenes were captured such as Nina’s outstanding season 4 finale fight between Elena and Katherine. Elsewhere, an in-depth look into how locations are chosen in co-ordination with the aesthetic required for each scene in addition to coverage of the real world locations for the majority of recurring environments within the series such as the original Salvatore Boarding House and Wickery Bridge, constructing sets for the Salvatore Boarding House including a floor plan illustration, Mystic Falls High, Mystic Falls Grill including a food menu prop overlay and more besides. There is even a look into how the luxurious costumes were created or found that Elena, Caroline and Rebekah would wear to the period dances and special events around Mystic Falls as well as the period costumes worn by Damon, Katherine and Lexy in addition to the accompanying hair and makeup. The chapter is rounded out with finding the appropriate music to fit a dramatic, sad, action or surprising scene and the majority of the cast and crew discussing their personal favourite props, although there is no quote from Nina due to perhaps being unavailable during her busy filming and promotional schedule for recent movies. That is a lot to fit into a single chapter; yet Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls has a style that always produces the correct level of detail with interesting facts from experts within that particular area of production without ever overstaying its welcome.
Every major recurring character has an individual character bio including Elena and Katherine, Stefan, Damon, Bonnie, Caroline, Enzo, Matt, Jeremy, Alaric and Tyler. However, instead of just re-treading the character’s story arcs during their time on the series; Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls delves deep into the actors and actresses that play their respective characters such as where they were born or where their family originates from and casting director Lesli Gelles-Raymond provides amazing insight into their casting experience including if anyone had auditioned for different roles. Later into the book, there are a further 7 character bios during analysis of season 3 which introduced the broader Mikaelson family outside of Klaus and Elijah, while season 6 provides character bios for Lily and Kai Parker and as if that is not enough; season 7 includes bios for 5 characters from the Heretics in a similar fashion to the Mikaelson family.
All 8 seasons are covered individually through an overview of the story arcs within each season and emphasising particularly memorable episodes with photographs specific to that season. There are a variety of interesting side columns throughout each season such as Production Diaries with producer James Thompson recounting why Damon’s mysterious crow and fog suddenly disappeared early on in the first season, despite being initially built up as an important part of the series, neck-snapping and post-production sound effects, while Vampire Vocab outlines a glossary of vampire terminology as it was introduced within each season and Major Props showcases the significant items that appear during each season from rings, vervain and stakes to the Ascendant. Season 6’s Production Diaries column provides a factual look at the song titles that were utilised as episode titles within that season including the late, great legendary Chris Cornell’s Soundgarden songs Black Hole Sun as episode 4’s title and The Day I Tried to Live as episode 13’s title. There is also a rather thoughtful look into the shipping of character relationships and fandom during international conventions from Kat Graham, Ian Somerhalder and Julie Plec with an epilogue centred around Kevin Williamson’s and Julie Plec’s thoughts about the balancing of the final season and how they went about appropriately reaching a status of closure for everyone involved.
Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls contains many unique features including full colour photographs of important props from pretty much every character such as Elena’s diary, ring and vervain-laced necklace; Stefan’s diary and ring; the Gilbert Compass used to track vampires during season one; Jeremy’s sketchbook; and much more besides. In addition to the photographs; there are also larger page overlays in the form of fair sized posters including a page from Bonnie Bennett’s ancestors’ grimoire; incredible artwork for Tyler’s werewolf transformation; a Mystic Falls Legacies booklet covers the family trees for the Gilbert, Mikaelson, Bennett, Salvatore, Forbes, Lockwood, Gemini Coven and Donovan families and bloodlines for doppelgangers; while Vampires through the Ages provides an in-depth historic timeline of when vampires were born, their movements and motivations; and an olden style photograph of Damon and Stefan Salvatore from their younger years circa 1860s Mystic Falls inside a small booklet with the Salvatore family crest on the front. There are numerous fun stories from behind the scenes such as Marcos Siega who directed the pilot episode of The Vampire Diaries giving a speech that scared everyone into believing that if their performance was not good enough or if there was not a team bond on set, then anyone’s character could be permanently killed off; and how Nina utilised her fun sense of humour to remind him of that exact speech further down the line.
As you would expect from such talented and experienced writers; the writing quality throughout the book is of a consistently high level; which is accompanied by carefully handpicked photographs chosen in perfect harmony and co-ordination with each respective chapter.
The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls is worth every penny or cent; as all 160 pages cram in as many interesting behind the scenes facts as possible and the same can be stated for the magnificent overlays and booklets, alongside beautiful presentation from the expertly crafted hardback cover to the stunning photographs and everything else in-between.
Overall, The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls is highly recommended for fans of the TV series as it delivers upon its promise of an ultimate compendium for the entire TV series from seasons 1 through 8 in a single book, while the same could be said for fans of L.J. Smith’s novels due to the intrigue of discovering how her stories were brought to life on television. Make sure not to stare at the photographs for too long, although brief gazing can be forgiven in amongst reading a genuinely entertaining book with many facts and insights from those who created the TV series. The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls is fan service at its absolute finest and ultimate best.
Jason Bonnar
10 out of 10
Analysis
• Title: The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls
• Writer: Michael Mallory and Andrea Robinson
• Contributions: Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, Ian Somerhalder, Paul Wesley and many more through interviews
• Publisher: Insight Editions
• Length: 160 pages + overlays and booklets
• Cover: Hardback
The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secrets of Mystic Falls can be purchased from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
You can also find Insight Editions’ official website including a back catalogue of captivating books and product details regarding The Vampire Diaries: Unlocking the Secret of Mystic Falls book.
To celebrate the theatrical release of Flatliners starring Nina Dobrev, I have just had the delight of publishing a new, fresh creative feature that looks at Nina Dobrev’s potential future projects throughout movies, television, videogames, fashion and modelling, music videos and pretty much everything else besides.
The feature will be continually updated whenever casting for a role that perfectly suits Nina comes to light. You can find the new Potential Future Projects feature on the Nina page.
I would personally really appreciate your support in reading the feature and sharing it amongst fellow fans of Nina Dobrev’s unique talents; as I have written this feature over the course of six months or so, putting a lot of thought and research into it in the process. I hope you are as entertained by reading it as I was inspired in writing it.
In celebration of the final ever episode of The Vampire Diaries on March 10th 2017; I decided to write my own opinion of Nina’s top 5 best performances in The Vampire Diaries, although it is important to appreciate that all of Nina’s performances in each of her appearances of The Vampire Diaries are all amazing for one reason or another such as dialogue delivery, expression or multiple characters.
Note: This article contains mild spoilers for five episodes of The Vampire Diaries.
5. Season 1: Episode 6 – Lost Girls
Elena puts all of the clues together from recent events that have taken place since she met Stefan; deciding the best approach is to angrily confront him at the Salvatore Boarding House by demanding to know what is happening and who exactly he is. This is a really emotionally charged scene as Elena has serious suspicions that Stefan is not all that she thought he was, especially after having a conversation in the previous episode with a man who claimed to have known him a long time ago when he looked exactly the same. This was the definitive first moment that convinced me that The Vampire Diaries was absolutely not just going to be any other teen horror show, but something much more ambitious and story driven.
4. Season 2: Episode 1 – The Return
The Return was on an equal par of pacing and plot twists with how the first season ended with all of the chaos being focused on the actions and reactions of Katherine Pierce and Elena Gilbert respectively. Katherine’s first meeting with Bonnie, followed by Katherine’s and Elena’s scenes with both Stefan and Damon were certainly important to shaping everything from that episode onwards and provided not just season 2, but every episode since with a consistent momentum and genuine progression in such contexts as allies, enemies and relationships within the story driven narrative.
3. Season 2: Episode 7 – Masquerade
Nina’s performance as Katherine is superb as she showcases Katherine’s ruthlessness in such actions as complimenting an innocent girl’s necklace who believes Katherine is Elena; only to use untwisting her necklace as an excuse to stand behind her so she could progressively kill her in stages and in the process sending a disturbing message to a shocked onlooking Stefan that she wants the moonstone sooner rather than later. Katherine fights Stefan and Damon in a 2 vs. 1 battle with real physicality, while any wounds they inflict on her hurt Elena with Nina’s performance as both characters showing her range once more between action film style scenes in Katherine’s fight scene and Elena’s pain etched across her face as wounds are inflicted.
2. Season 2: Episode 9 – Katerina
Katherine has flashbacks to her origins as far back as 1490 as it is revealed that Katerina was banished from her native Bulgaria to England after having a baby at a time when she was not married with her father not even allowing her to hold her baby daughter as Katerina’s mother attempts to comfort a clearly distressed and emotional Katerina; as her father takes her baby away for adoption. When in England, Katerina meets Klaus and Elijah without knowing anything to do with vampires, doppelgangers or how her family line of doppelgangers connects with Klaus’ curse. Upon her discovery, Katerina makes a run for it, but shows her true survival instinct and cat-like reactions by turning herself into a vampire to escape the group who are looking for her and returns to her family home in Bulgaria in 1492 only to find that Klaus has murdered her entire family with extreme brutality. This was such an eye opening scene as it proves that Katerina who was once playful yet harmless had no-one else left in the world to bring her back from the edge after her family had been slaughtered and needed to turn off her humanity switch to overcome what her life had become. Nina successfully portrays Elena Gilbert in the modern day, a decaying Katherine who has been starved of blood since the masquerade, Katerina as a Bulgarian in 1490 and the development of her English accent after being banished with many important scenes taking place in which Nina is effectively talking to herself as Elena Gilbert in conversation with the modern day Katherine Pierce. Managing that many characters, accents and mannerisms is all supremely impressive!
1. Season 4: Episode 15 – Stand By Me
If ever a casting director or any major personnel involved with casting for a film or any dramatic role needed a highlight reel to showcase Nina’s range as an actress; this would be the scene to steal the show. Nina provides a world class performance in which Elena Gilbert suddenly realises that Jeremy is dead and that he is not coming back after holding onto the hope that he would be resurrected from wearing the ring which usually protects from death at the hands of the supernatural. After realising that her brother is not coming back, she paces back and forth thinking about funeral plans and the cover story for Jeremy’s death; resulting in a major breakdown in which a huge amount of grieving and emotion spills to the surface. Elena starts pouring gasoline on everything as she tells her friends that she has no family left and how everything in her family home reminds her of all the family she has sadly lost as the lit match burns her finger and almost ignites. Elena falls to her knees, tears streaming down her face, begging her friends to make her pain stop. The scene has even reached over 1.7 million views on YouTube. Now that is saying something for its true emotion and quality of acting.
ELENA GILBERT’S CRYING. Standing in the Mystic Falls cemetery where she’s said many goodbyes — and even a few hellos — Elena’s surrounded by everyone she loves. Well, almost everyone. One person is missing. Did we forget to mention that this is a funeral?
It’s a sunny January day in Atlanta as the Vampire Diaries cast films its last group scene in the woods. In between takes, there’s laughter and excited whispers about who’s in town for the upcoming wrap party, but when showrunner Julie Plec, the director of the show’s final hour, calls “Action,” an emotional fog sets in. This is a goodbye — and it’s a big one. “We wanted to go big, emotionally, with the action, and with the spectacular of it,” says Plec, who co-wrote the episode with co-creator Kevin Williamson. “We were absolutely feeling epic.”
When The Vampire Diaries premiered on The CW in 2009, it found itself smack in the middle of the vampire craze. With the success of both Twilight and True Blood, this was network television’s chance to see if fans still thirsted for blood, and when the Vampire Diaries pilot attracted the largest audience of any series premiere in CW history at that time, all signs pointed to yes. “I remember being in Vancouver with Ian [Somerhalder],” Zach Roerig, who plays Matt, says of filming the pilot. “In the hair and makeup trailer, Ian’s like, ‘Hey, kid, get ready for the ride of your life.’” Somerhalder adds: “Twilight was very much the zeitgeist of pop culture. There was just that sense that the market desired this genre. This material was going to work.” Continue Reading at EW
Nina Dobrev is featured on the cover of the February 2017 issue of Prestige Hong Kong Magazine. The issue’s cover story, Nina talks about filming xXx: The Return of Xander and promoting the film around the world. She shares how she felt returning to her hometown od Toronto to film both xXx and the upcoming film, Flatliners, which debuts in September. Nina also dishes on leaving The Vampire Diaries, living in L.A. and much more. Here’s a sneak peek,
What was it like going back? Did it feel like you were no longer a hometown girl?
I was more of a hometown girl compared to the rest of the cast. But I definitely feel that in the 10 years that I’ve lived abroad the city has changed immensely, and going to the city as an adult and being able to drink and go out and stuff is a different experience. When I was younger and just getting into college I really wasn’t in that world. Now there are so many restaurants that are amazing and so many lounges and rooftops and places you can explore. The city has gentrified and grown in such a beautiful way. I can safely say that I got to discover the city in a new way almost as though it was the first time. But I did know a few places that the others didn’t that I got to take them to. So I did play tour guide a little bit.Do you miss hanging out with vampires?
[Laughs.] I miss my family 100 percent. You spend six years with a group of people – the crew, the cast, everybody involved. They really, really did become my family and I miss a lot of those people.It must have been really hard to walk away from Vampire Diaries.
I don’t know if I would have the opportunities that I have now if I hadn’t done the show. I’m eternally grateful. It was such a great stepping stone and hopefully it will lead to even more amazing
things. I’ve been very lucky so far. I’ve been very fortunate with the show and the movies and I can’t wait to see what will happen next.
You can read the full interview at Prestigeonline and check out the amazing shots of Nina for the magazine below.
We’ll start with the bad news: Nina Dobrev is no longer your long-haired source of beach wave inspiration. The good news? You’re about to be running to your hairstylist for an entirely new look. Because after years of sporting her enviable long, brown, perfectly-curled locks, the star has just made one of her most major hair moves yet, revealing (drumroll) a bob at the xXx: Return of Xander Cage premiere in London.
The star’s longtime hairstylist Riawna Capri tells PeopleStyle of the short, choppy cut, “Nina has been itching to cut her hair off for years, even before the big trend started. It’s 2017, new year, her birthday is Jan 9, so we did a birthday chop!” Read More at People!
How do you feel about Nina’s new do? Do you love it? I personally think it looks amazing on her.
So our hope for a reunion isn’t that naive??
Despite any awkwardness at the upfronts, Nina Dobrev and Ian Somerhalder are still very much friends, according to a close source.
The Vampire Diaries co-stars recently split after three years of romance, but this insider swears:
“There’s no bad blood between them. There was no other person involved or any big fight. They still talk daily. This wasn’t something out of the blue.”
Hmm… it ‘wasn’t something out of the blue.’ Source
