"Prison Break" Pilot (2005)

Director:

Brett Ratner

Writers:

Paul Scheuring (creator)
Paul Scheuring (written by)

TV Series:

"Prison Break" (2005)

Original Air Date:

29 August 2005 (Season 1, Episode 1)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Michael Scofield is imprisoned in Fox River State Penitentiary. He finds his brother, Lincoln Burrows, who is a death row prisoner, and tells him that he is going to break them both out of the prison.

Plot Keywords:

Brother | Origami | Tattooed Map | Reference To Gandhi | Prison

Cast

Dominic Purcell	...	Lincoln Burrows
Wentworth Miller	...	Michael Scofield
Robin Tunney	...	Veronica Donovan
Amaury Nolasco	...	Fernando Sucre
Marshall Allman	...	LJ Burrows
Peter Stormare	...	John Abruzzi
Wade Williams	...	Brad Bellick
Sarah Wayne Callies	...	Dr. Sara Tancredi
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Benjamin Miles 'C-Note' Franklin
Jessalyn Gilsig	...	Lisa Rix
Muse Watson	...	Charles Westmoreland
Paul Adelstein	...	Paul Kellerman
Camille Guaty	...	Maricruz Delgado
Chelcie Ross	...	Bishop McMorrow
Laura Wade	...	Syd, Tattoo Artist (as Laura Scott Wade)
Stacy Keach	...	Warden Henry Pope
Danny McCarthy	...	Daniel Hale
Rolando Boyce	...	Cop
Cheryl Lynn Bruce	...	Judge
Nicolas Iovino	...	Brian
Ora Jones	...	Wendy
Danielle Mulligan	...	Nurse Ana
Rich Komenich	...	Maggio
Christian Stolte	...	Corrections Officer Keith Stolte
Phillip Edward Van Lear	...	Louis Patterson
Jay Whittaker	...	Sweatsuit (as Jay Whitaker)
Peggy Roeder	...	Teller
Gianni Russo	...	Gavin Smallhouse
Philip Rayburn Smith	...	Adrian Rix (as Phil Rayburn Smith)
Anthony Starke	...	Sebastian Balfour
Jeff Parker	...	Tsili
Alan Wilder	...	Prison Chaplain
Danny Maxwell	...	Cronie #1 (as Dan Maxwell)
David Pacheco	...	Speaking Prisoner #1
Darnell Jackson	...	Speaking Prisoner #2
Billy Chase	...	Speaking Prisoner #3
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Azrael	...	Inmate #1 (uncredited)
Brandon DeShazer	...	Young Inmate (uncredited)
Matt Dworzanczyk	...	Priest (uncredited)
Matthew S. Harrison	...	Corrections Officer #1 (uncredited)
Larry Nazimek	...	Inmate #3 (uncredited)
Robert Patrick Stern	...	Inmate (uncredited)
David Dino Wells Jr.	...	Inmate (uncredited)
James Zahn	...	Inmate #4 (uncredited)

Directed by
Brett Ratner

Writing credits
Paul Scheuring		(creator) (as Paul T. Scheuring)
Paul Scheuring		(written by) (as Paul T. Scheuring)

Produced by
Marty Adelstein	....	executive producer
Steve Beers	....	co-executive producer
Garry A. Brown	....	producer
Neal H. Moritz	....	executive producer
Dawn Parouse	....	executive producer
Brett Ratner	....	executive producer
Paul Scheuring	....	executive producer (as Paul T. Scheuring)
Agatha Warren	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Ramin Djawadi

Cinematography by
Dante Spinotti

Film Editing by
Mark Helfrich

Casting by
Wendy O'Brien
John Papsidera

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Set Decoration by
Daniel B. Clancy

Costume Design by
Betsy Heimann

Makeup Department
Tom Berg	....	tattoo designer
Suzi Ostos	....	key makeup artist
Linda Rizzuto	....	key hair stylist
Chelo	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Mike Mekash	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Mike Mekash	....	tattoo makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Garry A. Brown	....	unit production manager
Jim Sodini	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James M. Freitag	....	first assistant director
Richard S. Lederer	....	second assistant director (as Rich Lederer)
Michael T. McNerney	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
William Dambra	....	property master (as Billy Dambra)
Tom Glyn	....	lead dresser
Harry N. Haase	....	head painter (as Harry Haas)
Matthew J. Norskog	....	stand-by carpenter
Tom Osman	....	labor foreman
Tyler Osman	....	construction coordinator
Jason Breitzman	....	graphic designer (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
David J. Chamerski	....	assistant property master (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Matt McKinney	....	art department coordinator (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Marquee Reno	....	construction estimator (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Larry Szymanowski	....	art stand-by (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Sound Department
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Crabtree	....	foley artist
Gregory King	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregory King	....	supervising sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Obermeyer	....	sound mixer
Deron Street	....	first assistant sound editor
Derrick Espino	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Al Gomez	....	foley mixer & editor (uncredited)
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Jason Johnston	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Meg Taylor	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Marilee Yorston	....	foley assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John D. Milinac	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jerry Pooler	....	visual effects supervisor
Marco Recuay	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Mark Harper	....	stunt performer
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)
Tom Lowell	....	stunts
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Ronald Dragosh	....	electrician
Gary Jay	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Chris Mulsoff	....	rigging electric best boy
Dick Oakes	....	gaffer
Robert C. Carlson	....	key assistant camera (uncredited)
Joe Carpita	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Thomas S. Ciciura	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dawn Copeland	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Timothy Jipping	....	grip (uncredited)
Andrew Lostumo	....	grip (uncredited)
William R. Nielsen Jr.	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Dan Schroer	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dan Urbain	....	film loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
Shelby Cherniet	....	casting associate
Joan Philo	....	extras casting
Claire Simon	....	casting: Chicago
Teresa Thoma	....	casting associate
Loriel Samaras	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gretchen Gain	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Gretchen Gain	....	wardrobe supervisor (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Jeannie H. Kelly	....	assistant costume designer (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Joyce Kogut	....	costume supervisor (uncredited) (unconfirmed)

Editorial Department
Mark Reaser	....	dailies assistant
Stefan Sonnenfeld	....	colorist
Julia Wong	....	additional editor

Music Department
Andrew Dorfman	....	music editor (as Andy Dorfman)
Charles Martin Inouye	....	music editor (as Chuck Martin)

Transportation Department
William T. Hogan III	....	transportation coordinator (as Billy Hogan)
Brian C. Pawlowski	....	transportation manager (uncredited)
Joe Vanis	....	transportation co-captain (uncredited)

Other crew
Brady Breen	....	location manager (as Patrick Brady Breen)
Anita S. Chang	....	assistant: Mr. Ratner: Los Angeles (as Anita Chang)
Les Ford	....	computer playback designer
Heather Fox	....	assistant: Mr. Adelstein
Michael Franck	....	aerial coordinator
Robin Ginsberg	....	accountant
Karon Hamlet	....	assistant: Mr. Beers and Mr. Scheuring
Shari Lynn Himes	....	production coordinator
Martin Kitrosser	....	script supervisor
Adam Leiphart	....	stand-in: Wentworth Miller
Timothy Morgan	....	production assistant
John Rickard	....	assistant: Mr. Ratner
Kelli Stember	....	assistant: Ms. Parouse
Margaret A. Thomas	....	production coordinator
John David Wolfe	....	assistant location manager
Jeremy Beiermann	....	assistant production office coordinator (uncredited)
Sylvia Franklin	....	script coordinator (uncredited)
Brett Gursky	....	assistant: Brett Ratner (uncredited)
Jeffrey Hurt	....	craft service foreman (uncredited)
Renee Kitterman	....	first assistant accountant (uncredited)
Alex Lee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Moheen Ramsey	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Ericka N. Shane	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Michelle R. Thomas	....	assistant: Mr. Ratner (uncredited)
Kho Wong	....	assistant: Mr. Brown (uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Paul Scheuring		creator (as Paul T. Scheuring)

Makeup Department
Gil Romero	....	special effects appliances

Sound Department
Karl Dondlinger	....	boom operator: second unit
Stefan Fraticelli	....	foley artist
Marc Meyer	....	sound effects editor

Visual Effects by
Kristen Branan	....	head of production: Zoic Studios
Justin Jones	....	digital compositor
Nathan Overstrom	....	digital compositor
Corinne Pooler	....	producer: Digital Dream

Stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunts
Chris Nolte	....	stunt double
Linda Perlin	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Tolbert	....	aerial camera operator
Gary Tolbert	....	aerial director of photography
Timothy Troy	....	electrician
Steven J. Winslow	....	aerial camera technician: Wescam camera
Kevin Wisor	....	electrician

Casting Department
Clint Alexander	....	casting coordinator: New York
Enero	....	extras casting assistant
Meghan McLaughlin	....	casting assistant
Bizhan Shahpar	....	extras casting assistant
Jonathan Skogmo	....	extras casting assistant

Editorial Department
Matt McClain	....	dailies colorist
Jason Zakarian	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Todd Haberman	....	additional music arranger

Other crew
Siobhan Barnett	....	office production assistant
Adam Boor	....	production assistant
Kevin Boyd	....	video coordinator
Chris-Teena Constas	....	location assistant
Diane Frances Fisher	....	stand-in
Joseph R. Fitzgerald	....	production assistant
P.J. Haines	....	chef
Anna Ingenthron	....	production assistant
Rosa Yang Kato	....	assistant location manager (as Rosa Yang Kato)
Martha Lafage	....	assistant location manager
Lynn C. Marchionno	....	first assistant accountant
Marcus 'Q' Quandt	....	production assistant
Stefan Rand	....	production assistant
Paul Ruffolo	....	additional set production assistant
Shenika Smart	....	assistant accountant/payroll
Katie Wech	....	assistant to writer

Production Companies

• Adelstein-Parouse Productions
• Rat Entertainment (as Rat Television) (in association with)
• Original Television (in association with)
• 20th Century Fox Television (in association with)
• Prison Break Productions

Distributors

• Fox Network (2005) (USA) (TV)
• CanWest Global Television Network (2005) (Canada) (TV)
• Bungeishunju (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
• Five (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Fox (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Italia 1 (2006) (Italy) (TV)
• M6 Métropole Télévision (2006) (France) (TV)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5)
• RTL Klub Televízió (2006) (Hungary) (TV)
• RTL (2007) (Germany) (TV)
• Schweizer Fernsehen (SF) (2007) (Switzerland) (TV) (SF2) (German speaking region)
• Seven Network (2006) (Australia) (TV)
• TV3 (2006) (Estonia) (TV)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  processing (as Deluxe)
• IVC  post-production facilities (digital mastering)
• R!ot  telecine and post production

Runtime:

42 min

Country:

USA | Brazil

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Adelstein-Parouse Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sucre is waiting for Maricruz, he checks the clock which is at 10:15. But when Maricruz enters the room, the time is now a few minutes before 10:15.

Quotes:

Veronica Donovan:I know what you're doing. It's not the luck of the draw that you're in here with Lincoln. You forget I know you, both of you. You two have the most dysfuntional idea of love I've ever seen. What, he beats you up to keep you off the streets, so you get yourself thrown into Fox River with him? To what... save him?
[Michael doesn't say anything]
Veronica Donovan:I deserve to know. I loved him as much as you did.
Michael Scofield:Past tense for you, maybe. Not me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Prison Break: VS. (#4.18)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Main Titles

Captivating story, mazy relationships, good acting and well-designed sets

Intrigued and puzzled. Two words I consider well describe how you should feel after watching Prison Break's pilot. As a teenager films like The Great Escape and Escape from Alcatraz fascinated me. However when it first aired I didn't have any expectations as I had never heard of the show before. The first effect was intense, the second, this one, was even better.

The very first minutes we're introduced to the protagonists : Michael Scolfield, his lawyer Veronica Donovan and his brother Lincoln Burrows. The last is in prison but he claims his innocence. The first believes him and has apparently a twisted plan to help his brother. The second knows them since childhood but she doesn't really know how to help them nor if she should trust them. This first episode arises so many questions that it's impossible to list them all. Is Michael a genius or out of his freaking mind ? Is Lincoln innocent or guilty ? What about the other characters ? Indeed some were introduced and it's obvious they'll be involved in some way with Michael and the puzzle he has apparently designed and is about to solve. But of course things quickly don't go as planned and it seems he'll have to deal with numerous problems and dangerous characters. So the story is really interesting and viewers enjoying mind games should really dig it.

The acting is also quite good, but not flawless, and the performers manage to make most characters grow on us. In fact some of their connections reminded me of Lost because you don't really know their relationships or stories. The directing and production quality are also great and it really feels like Michael has found a new comfy home to make long time friends. But the best thing about it, knowing what happened next, is that the best is yet to come. So the surprising events that occurred in the pilot are just the tip of the iceberg. And once you have seen it the only thing you'll want to do is dive into an enigmatic realm of chaos and manipulation.