‘The Studio’ Co-Creator Seth Rogen Says Martin Scorsese Told Him ‘You Guys Say “F–––” Too Much’

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As a movie critic, I found it apt that the dynamic duo, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, debuted their Apple TV+ series “The Studio” – a bitingly accurate satire of today’s film industry – at South by Southwest. This festival, with its love for cinema culture on one hand and a witty disregard for Tinseltown on the other, served as the perfect venue to unveil this captivating critique.

Rogen remarked during the Q&A session after the two-episode debut, ‘Many people might question why so many poor films emerge from Hollywood.’ However, one should instead ponder how any decent movies get produced in Hollywood at all. That’s what we’re aiming to demonstrate here.

In this series, Seth Rogen takes on the role of Matt Remick, who unexpectedly ascends to the position of managing the fictional Continental Studios, a blend of Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and Paramount. Catherine O’Hara, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, and other SXSW colleagues portray Matt’s team members. The show additionally showcases an array of A-list celebrities playing their own characters. The very first episode includes Paul Dano, Peter Berg, Nicholas Stoller, Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, and Steve Buscemi, many of whom are entangled in Matt’s frenzied pursuit to secure a director for his inaugural big project: a movie adaptation of Kool-Aid.

At some point, Rogen mentioned that he, Goldberg (the show’s directors and first-episode writers alongside executive producers Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez) suggested to Scorsese that he should express his dissatisfaction by proposing a project for “Apple” instead.

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Rogen once shared that he, Goldberg (the show’s directors and first-episode writers along with executive producers Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez) advised Scorsese to voice his displeasure by suggesting a project for “Apple” instead.

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Rogen once revealed that he, Goldberg (the show’s directors and first-episode writers along with executive producers Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, and Frida Perez) advised Scorsese to complain about the situation by proposing a project for “Apple” instead.

He said to them, ‘You all use the word “fuck” excessively,'” Rogen reminisced. And they responded, “Use the word ‘fuck’ too much? Us?” (Scorsese’s 2013 movie, “The Wolf of Wall Street,” previously held the record for the most uses of the f-word.)

Rogen explained that he and Goldberg aimed to fill their movie with well-known stars since “we wanted to create a realistic portrayal of a Hollywood studio, and thus we wanted to include actors that you’d expect a studio to be enthusiastic about.

Subsequently, he referenced the 2015 movie adaptation of the HBO series “Entourage,” set in the bustling world of Hollywood. “There’s a grand gathering, and Bob Saget is the most prominent figure,” Rogen stated. “I adore the man, but it always felt uncertain if that’s how things would play out.” (This sentence aims to maintain the original meaning while using simpler language and a more conversational tone.)

One intriguing element that stands out in this series is its exceptional use of camera work, with each scene meticulously crafted as a continuous shot. In fact, episode 2, titled “The Oner,” focuses on director Sarah Polley’s endeavor to film a crucial scene in one uninterrupted take.

Rogen commented that it was an effective method to handle studio feedback since any modifications were impossible once filming was done. The team aimed for a highly engaging and intensely anxiety-provoking atmosphere, mirroring their real-life industry experiences.

Goldberg humorously remarked, ‘If you’re anxious because there’s no actual cutting, you’ll be just as anxious while watching it.’

“The Studio” premiers on Apple TV+ on March 26.

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2025-03-08 09:17