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« Prison Break Blog
Strike Talk, and Reader Questions Answered!
We just finished shooting the last script written before the writers strike began. Now we are on vacation/hold/hiatus/looking for a gig while the writers and producers hopefully bang out a deal sooner rather than later. My instinct is that this strike could go on for a while — the stakes are high and the players are dug in. I'm just gonna save my dough and hopefully get a gig in the mean time. We'll see what the future brings. It's not time to worry yet.
The production is completely shut down here . Most of the cast in PB have given up their apartments here in Dallas and moved back to L.A. The over- 200 member crew of Prison Break is out of work, as well. Nice timing for the holidays huh? It's hard for everyone. We all want to continue working on PB but we can't just wait around hoping for the strike to end and turn down other work. I think everybody is in "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" mode, taking work if it comes our way and saving the greenbacks. Since our daughter is in school here, we're gonna stay put in Dallas until we resume production again.
But don't despair. There are still 5 new episodes of PB to air this season. In the USA they will begin airing the new episodes on January 14, 2008, and continue them into February. I'm not sure what the foreign airdates will be. There's some classic PB yet to come so hold onto your hats. I think this has been my favorite season so far — despite my wardrobe and the brutal prison Sona — with all the new complicated characters, the unimaginable deaths. I think it's been Prison Break at it's ruthless best.
As I promised I'm gonna answer some questions you asked in your comments:
Bijoux asks: "Have you been hearing anything about the spin off on the set or is this breaking news to you? Any thoughts?
Well actually we have been hearing rumors about a spin off called Prison Break: Cherry Hill about a women's prison. The Rumors going as far as whispering that they were looking for the lead female actor for the show! I don't know how true any of them are, but it sounds like a cool idea to me. What do you think?
ZZZ99 asks: "Why can't they make fake tattoos (like the ones for kids that you just press on) for Michael's tattoo. It would only take about 10 minutes versus hours! It just makes no sense to me that somebody couldn't come up with something like that in TV land! So much easier."
They do make fake tattoo; in fact that's what they use on Wentworth: industrial strength wet-and-lift tattoos a lot like the ones little kids love. These are made with better inks and are alcohol based so you apply them using alcohol and then lift them off. They use separate tattoo pieces for his arms, chest and back. After they are applied, a make up artist uses alcohol soluble make up to tweak the tattoo art. The whole process to apply then paint and tweak Went's tats takes 4 hours…so if he has to be ready to work at 7 am that means he's in the make up chair at 3 am to begin getting his tattoos applied. He's been a good sport every time…thank goodness for him the tattoos haven't been used much recently.
The SonaExpress asks: "Do you see
shows such as Prison Break as evidence that the gap between feature film and television is narrowing? We as viewers are getting shows that are increasingly more serialized with high production values and great acting, since tv is no longer a matter of having to tune in at a particular time or have to worry about missing episodes.
Thanks! I think you're right; the gap between TV and film is narrowing. It used to be that TV and Film were two different animals. In the past, the visual language of television and film, as well as the acting, directing, writing, and editing styles were very different. More and more film actors, writers and directors are doing TV shows now. Many feature film directors are becoming executive producers on TV shows, take Brett Ratner for instance. Stylistically, shows like Prison Break have film like forms in the serial nature of the story line and in the way the camera is used to tell the story…its not just a bunch of talking heads like a lot of TV…although PB is edited into close ups often.
The DVR/computer has changed the way people can watch television…we can watch what we want when we want and fast forward through the commercials. I think the present/future holds downloadable TV where we will be able to program our TV/computer to download whatever TV show or movie we want to watch onto our hard drive whenever we want…that's already the case here in the US. That's what the writers strike is all about…revenues from digital media. Soon for a fee, all TV and Film will be available in best quality digital form for immediate download…itunes is just the beginning…writers, actors, directors…we don't receive a penny for any of that.
S1mulat10n0ne asks: "Is it really you writing this blog, or do you have someone doing this for
you?
Yep, its me that writes it! I enjoy doing it, thanks for reading.
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Dec 8, 2007 9:59 AM
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Thanks for the update!
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Dec 8, 2007 6:50 PM
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Thanks, Wade, for keeping us updated. It was good to see your character finally got to wear some clothes as the season wore on 
I really hope the strike settles soon so we can look forward to more PB! As long as there are no more decapitation moments - that was almost a deal breaker for this viewer!
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Dec 10, 2007 3:09 PM
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Hi Wade!
I'm Andrea from Argentina, land of the tango
Thanks to a great friend of mine I can enjoy the third season of PB and I love it!!!!!! I've watched all the eight episodes and I still think it's the best show ever!!! And as for your "Bellick" well, you are terrific playing that rol, Wade. I really enjoy every time Brad shows up! But there's something I miss more...his phone conversations with his mother!!!! . I'm happy that Bellick is still on the run!!! You are great, Wade!!
I'd love to get any answer from you!!!
The best of the best for you and Prison Break team!!!!!
Love
Andrea
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Dec 23, 2007 4:40 PM
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Sorry, a bit late, but I still want to wish you a happy birthday! And I hope you've survived Christmas, like I unexpectedly did?  I'm not really up-to-date yet, but I hope the strike will end soon, if it didn't already ended. I really want to see more of season 3, en maybe season 4 and 5? anyhow, thanks for the update again, and keep writing us!!! xxx
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Dec 28, 2007 1:48 PM
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Thanks for keeping us informed. Do you think if the WGA is sucessful in getting their terms met, it will help out the SAG and DAG when their contracts expire this spring? Also if these guilds do strike are you afraid actors will lose their jobs by getting written off the show or directors getting blacklisted by the producers? It's been done before in the past. BTW, I'm an Army Brat who currently lives in Dallas and lived in Panama for a few years back in the 80s. I always chuckle a bit when I see "Panama" on PB, not that's a bad thing. I had great memories of Panama.
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Dec 31, 2007 12:15 AM
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I truly admire your work. Your wardrobe, albeit unpleasant for you, really makes Bellick more realistic.
Me thinks you need to drink plenty of water! Watching the show I had always assumed that the heat and sweat were fake. Thanks for keeping up with this blog.
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Jan 8, 2008 7:21 PM
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Hi Wade,
I'm glad to see Bellick's getting his strength back.
"Cleanin` up chuncks ain't my job description anymore!"
In a way it's sad to see what happened to his character throughout this season so far, but I'm sure he hasn't learned much.
We want good old Bellick back, cunning but somewhat powerful, like we saw him in Season 1. And from what I've seen in episode 9 when he fought dirty, it might be a sign that he's returning.
Congratulation on what you're doing with Bellick's character, it's really putting life into him.
One question:
Do you think Bellick has more things to uncover than what we've seen so far about his character?Because I wish he would, so that he can go on in the next season(if there will be one) and hopefully so do the writers!
Bye,
rexxy
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Jan 15, 2008 1:31 PM
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Thanks for answering my question! Even though it seems like it should be easier than that to put on fake tattoos!
Congratulations on moving up a little in SONA! Great episode ~ I liked the way they keep your character right in the middle of things. There is a lot of great acting on this show. Looking forward to more.
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Jan 16, 2008 10:49 AM
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Has Michael's love interest been cast? I am thinking that Kelly Monaco (DWTS & GH (sam Mccall)), will be sooo right on for that role. She plays a gun-slinging bad-ass on GH and i think she and Wentworth would sizzle together.
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Jan 17, 2008 10:41 PM
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Hi Wade,
I was wondering if you ever make it back to Pennsylvania at all? Jackie and Dean were asking about you. Jackie still makes the best iced tea!
Bonnie
I will know that you are really writing this if you know what I mean!!!
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Jan 27, 2008 8:28 AM
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I live in Ft. Worth and got to see where you were filming. I just hope y'all don't think the ugly, abandoned warehouse area is what Ft. Worth really looks like! It's a great city! So why does everyone always say you're filming in "Dallas?" Give Ft. Worth some credit! We love having you here and can't wait until you all come back and start filming again. Hopefully that will be before it gets incredibly hot again! Thanks for the blog. I enjoy reading it.
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Jan 30, 2008 9:40 AM
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I was wondering about an envelope I gave you the last time I was on set. It had two pictures in it. One of the two of us. DO you still have them or are the m.i.a.? Thanks. Just wondering.
Really miss the show,
Riley
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Feb 12, 2008 12:28 PM
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hi wade
just wanted to say i think your a great actor in my view.
im a big fan of bellick and find myself routing for him constantly. i imagine im not in the minority there too.
is there a likeability and almost comedic element you feel you've added almost subconsciously or was it a more planned route for bellick to take especially in this season?
hope bellick is in it for the long run as he and scofield are my favourite characters. watching series 2 on dvd got me through a tough stay in hospital so for that i thank you :D
Andrew
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Feb 12, 2008 7:56 PM
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I hope he brings his enthusiasm back to his Sucre. Nobody else can do Sucre as well as him, I think...