Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Studio’ Cameo: How Seth Rogen Directed His Hero and Why He Hired a Secret Camera Crew

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Stepping into the world of my latest venture on Apple TV+, “The Studio,” I found myself thrust into the role of a major movie studio’s head in just the opening scenes. With this newfound power, I swiftly decided that my first priority would be expediting the production of our next potential blockbuster – a film based on the legendary drink, Kool-Aid. As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I was determined to bring on board an acclaimed director to breathe life into this project, which we hoped would become our next billion-dollar gem.

Matt is planning a meeting with Martin Scorsese himself, who happens to propose a unique film concept based on Jonestown, the tragic incident led by cult leader Jim Jones where over 900 people perished after consuming poisoned… Kool-Aid. Therefore, Matt intends to subtly manipulate Scorsese into believing that the idea for this “Kool-Aid” movie originated from him.

It quickly becomes apparent that this controversial project disintegrates swiftly. The production company struggles to generate a billion dollars from a Steve Buscemi-led cult film, and Kool-Aid would likely object to a movie where their product is linked to a massacre. As a result, Matt has to break the disappointing news to Scorsese: He can’t produce the film. Not just that – since Matt bought the screenplay, no one else can make it either. Initially, Scorsese lashes out at Matt, calling him a “talentless, spineless executive,” but upon acknowledging the demise of his project, the director of “Goodfellas” sheds tears.

Rogen and his collaborator Evan Goldberg composed this crucial scene that establishes the importance of the series’ plotline, particularly tailored for Scorsese’s role.

According to Rogen, each cameo in the film was required to play a character that held a very distinct role within the narrative. For Scorsese, this role was someone whose collaboration my character would go to extreme lengths for, who could twist a square peg into a round hole just to work together – and yet still be convincing as someone who would make a movie about Jonestown. Scorsese was the first person we considered for such a role because if you’re around my age and grew up cherishing films, he’s the icon.

As a movie enthusiast, I myself hadn’t had the pleasure of working with Scorsese before. So, my collaborator and I took a leap of faith and sent our script to his management team. To our astonishment, we received a response just a few days later. “The moment I met him on set was nothing short of extraordinary,” I recall. “It was surreal, bizarre, and an incredible gift he bestowed upon us.

Subsequently, it was their turn to guide Scorsese, one of the world’s top directors. Rogen, however, didn’t inform Scorsese earlier about the entire series being filmed using a single-shot technique, which is known as “oners” – uninterrupted takes without any edits.

Rogen admitted it was quite terrifying, as not only were they tasked with directing Scorsese, but also executing the shooting in a particularly challenging manner. This method is one of the most difficult to pull off because if something goes wrong with a line, you can’t simply go back and fix it; instead, you have to start all over from the beginning.

Rogen explains that since we were anxious about his disapproval, we secretly had an extra film crew. This was the sole day on set where we utilized two cameras, and they were concealed in another hotel room as backup, just in case he questioned our equipment. I wanted to boast, “I do indeed have a second camera!” when he might have asked.

Rogen expresses, “I’m unsure about how I might have approached filming those specific scenes uniquely compared to the rest. However, at that time, what mattered most was avoiding upsetting Martin Scorsese.

Fortunately, Scorsese proved adaptable and thrived in this new style. “He was incredibly amusing,” Rogen comments, “and I believe he bestowed upon me an unexpected favor, though undeserved. Still, I’m thankful for it all the same.

Additionally featuring Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, and Chase Sui Wonders, “The Studio” boasts an extensive list of guest stars that is beyond the scope of this text. This captivating series made its debut on Apple TV+ on March 26.

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2025-03-27 01:16