S1E3: "Cell Test" | Director Brad Turner on Prison Break's Pacing | Balancing Thrills & Character

Sarah & Paul welcome their first guest, episode director and Peabody Award winner, Brad Turner. Sarah Wayne Callies and Paul Adelstein discuss the brutal early Prison Break episode “Cell Test” and welcome their first guest, director Brad Turner, who explains how he helped establish the show’s pace and visual style immediately after the pilot under tighter TV schedules and budgets. Turner describes shooting largely on practical prison locations because sets weren’t ready, the challenges of filming in cramped cells without movable walls, and a memorable incident where the crew was locked inside Joliet during a statewide prison lockdown. He talks about bringing a 24-inspired sensibility to tension and pacing, the importance of treating the prison as a major character, and his approach to collaborating respectfully with actors as custodians of their characters while managing story turns. They highlight the value of quieter, character-driven moments like Lincoln and LJ’s visitation scene and discuss Turner returning years later to direct season-four finales, noting the cast’s professionalism and continuity. Subscribe to the "Watch Party" on Patreon and re-watch every episode of Prison Break with Sarah & Paul's unfiltered commentary - Follow us on Instagram - Email us at [email protected] And leave us a message with all your burning questions at (401) 3-PBREAK Logo design by John Nunziatto @ Little Big Brands.  If you want one yourself, reach out at and tell him we sent you. PRISON BREAKING WITH SARAH & PAUL is a Caliber Studio production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices