The Prison of Oz series is a shocking TV saga, one of the best in its genre. Striking the nervous system with stunning realism and overt cruelty, the film tells about people who are somehow connected with the Oswald state security correctional facility, or - in short - the Oz prison. The actors of the saga deserve a deafening ovation, all the characters of the telecent are alive, colorful personalities. A single plot narrative goes through all 6 seasons, without losing those characteristics for which the film received the approval of critics and an impressive army of fans. The series “Prison of Oz” received extremely contradictory reviews, which is not surprising, the creators unvarnished demonstrate all aspects of human relationships through the prism of prison reality.
School of Human Relations
The series “Prison of Oz”, the actors and roles of which have gained unprecedented popularity over 6 seasons, has a multi-layered plot with many branches. The story unfolds within the state penitentiary of a strict regime, which contains the most dangerous and cruel criminals: killers, perverts, real psychopaths. Sterile cleanliness, strict discipline and absolute order reign in prison during the day. But at night, the order established by the official authorities replaces another terrible law, and not everyone will be able to survive until the morning. The cycle of events on the screen is extremely similar to the school of human relations, it not only draws into history, but also encourages the viewer to think and rethink their own life. So exciting events take place in every season of the Prison of Oz series. The actors, who embodied the central characters on the screen, were so imbued with the general atmosphere that they literally lived the lives of their heroes.
Acting Ensemble
The actors of the Prison of Oz series in the overwhelming majority of experience in prison did not have, with some exceptions. Mums Da Shemer and Chuck Zito are the only casters who have actually been in prison. According to world critics, the special dramatic talent was demonstrated to a creative acting duo - Dina Winters and Scott William Winters, who embodied Ryan and Cyril O'Reilly on the screen. Also, the colorful trio of Vern Schillinger, Tobias Beecher and Christopher Keller did not remain without the attention of specialists.
The twists and turns of casting
Screenwriter Tom Fontana, who co-authored the script in the Prison of Oz project, made special demands on central characters. Actors during the casting, answering his question about the ability to box, lied, of all the participants involved in the project, as it turned out, only Chuck Zito knew how to box. By the way, Chuck Zito himself initially underwent a test for the role of one of the members of the biker group, but thanks to his texture and New York accent, he was ideally suited for the role of the Italian. Most of the artists who embodied the convicts on the screen, at one time played the role of guardians of the rule of law in other television projects. From the series Law and Order: Special Corps, four performers migrated to Oz at once: Dean Winters, J. K. Simmons, B. D. Wong and Christopher Meloni.
The loyalty and dogma of the storytelling
More than once the scriptwriters of the series had to show the highest skill and loyalty, literally “on the go” redrawing the development of the storyline of the film “Prison of Oz”. Actors of the project took part in the filming of other paintings at the same time, so they “dropped out” of the story. For example, Kirk Acevedo, starring in the action movie "Brothers in Arms", was absent almost the first half of the fourth season. Scriptwriters had to "organize" the escape of his character Miguel Alvarez. In the fourth season finale, Kirk returns, but soon receives a tempting offer from the creators of Third Shift and leaves Oz again. The scriptwriters have no choice but to "put" his hero in a punishment cell.
In the same unfortunate fourth season, actress Eddie Falco leaves the project due to the filming of the movie “The Soprano Clan”, the authors had to transfer her heroine officer Whitsley to London. During the shooting of the climactic episodes of the same season, Christopher Meloni leaves Oz, unable to combine participation in this series in Law and Order. Fortunately, the actor found the strength in himself and continued to act in both television projects at the same time. In the first season, the creators had to urgently “execute” Jefferson Keane, as the performer of his role, Leon categorically refused to participate in the filming. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, who played Simon Adebisi, the head of the dark-skinned prisoners, left the series due to his participation in the film The Mummy Returns. The authors, reluctantly, had to say goodbye to his character.
Summary
Prison of Oz is the iconic crime television series from HBO, the brainchild of Tom Fontana. A real prison television drama that raises serious social problems. Everything is organic in it: the acting ensemble, unpredictable plot moves, colorful characters, an intriguing plot, enthralling, inspiring to watch from the first to the last seasons, everything is connected in a breathtaking mix.