Ebony

The Best Advice Behind This Sundance Comedy Came From Their Mom

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by

Delaina Dixon

02.02.26

Filmmaking brothers Julien and Justen Turner reflect on FreeLANCE’s Sundance debut, gig-economy chaos, and the mother who pushed them to bet on themselves.

“Trust a Black woman.”

If that lesson isn’t already hardwired into the culture, it’s certainly been cemented for brothers Julien and Justen Turner. The filmmaking siblings credit their mother, Dr. Cynthia Turner, a college administrator, with pushing them to stop waiting for permission and bet on themselves.

They followed that advice. And the result? FreeLANCE, their new episodic comedy series, premiered as part of the 2026 Sundance Episodic Pilot Showcase.

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