The Vampire Diaries: Cast & Creators Live at the Paley Center

The cast talks about vampire makeup, exposed abs, and channeling Cary Grant.This William S. Paley Television Festival live event honors “The Vampire Diaries,” a drama series about the comely Elena Gilbert and her love/hate relationship with a pair of handsome, bloodsucking brothers. Craig Tomashoff (executive editor, TV Guide magazine) moderates the following panelists: executive producers Kevin Williamson, Bob Levy, and Julie Plec; and cast members Paul Wesley (Stefan Salvatore), Nina Dobrev (Elena Gilbert/Katherine Pierce), and Ian Somerhalder (Damon Salvatore).Panelists touch on such topics as: Williamson’s worries that “Diaries” might appear to be a knockoff of HBO’s “True Blood” or the “Twilight” series; the advantages of shooting the series in Georgia; Dobrev’s challenge in playing a dual role; and how Somerhalder infuses his character with the spirit of Cary Grant. Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics among others: if Wesley gets nervous filming bedroom scenes; Williamson’s reflections on his “Dawson’s Creek” finale; the secret for mastering “vampire makeup”; and if the amount of “exposed abs” on the series is gratuitous.