The Studio follows the journey of Matt Remick, the newly promoted head of the Continental Studios, a Hollywood studio struggling to stay relevant and functioning. Known for being a critic of empty films aimed primarily at profit, Matt takes on the job with one ideal in mind: to produce deep and meaningful cinematic works, even if this doesn’t bring much financial return.
With pressure from his former boss and the marketing team, Matt is forced to balance his passion for art with the harsh demands of the market.
Cast and special appearances
In all, four of the ten episodes of The Studio are already available on Apple TV+. The series has been attracting attention not only for its sharp, topical script, but also for the special guest appearances it has made since the very first episode – not to mention, of course, the main cast, who ooze charisma and chemistry on stage.
The protagonist, Matt Remick, is played by Seth Rogen, who is also one of the creators of the series. The Canadian comedian became known to the general public after his role in Neighbors (2014).
Like any good boss, Matt needs a right-hand man, and he finds that in Sal Seperstein, played by Ike Barinholtz. Sal is the kind of friend who is loyal and sincere, always there for him in difficult times and with comical quips that bring lightness to the most tense moments in the plot.
Completing Matt’s team are Quinn Hackett, his enthusiastic apprentice, played by Chase Sui Wonders, and Maya Mason, the studio’s marketing manager, an obstinate professional who is always focused on selling the films. Maya comes to life in the hands of Kathryn Hahn, remembered especially for her role as the witch Agatha Harkness in the Marvel universe.
In addition to the permanent cast, The Studio has already surprised with special appearances by big names in the industry, such as Charlize Theron, Zac Efron, Steve Buscemi, Anthony Mackie and Olivia Wilde, a true celebration of Hollywood. These appearances add value and make each episode even more unpredictable and entertaining.
The season so far
As mentioned earlier, The Studio adopts a common sitcom structure in which each episode follows a single day in the life of Matt Remick as the new head of Continental Studios. This format allows for a more direct immersion in the protagonist’s dilemmas and contradictions, while the plot gradually progresses behind the scenes of the film industry.
In the premiere episode, we see Matt receiving his long-awaited promotion. However, his first task as the new head of the studio brings him face to face with an uncomfortable decision: to start production on a movie that goes completely against his personal tastes. The tension between his artistic principles and the company’s commercial demands is already established right away.
The second episode takes Matt to the set of one of Continental’s productions, marking his first visit since taking up his new job. Unlike other times when he went unnoticed, now everyone wants a minute of his attention: directors with megalomaniac plans, demanding actors, and a crew that sees Matt as a chance to secure a budget increase. The pressure is mounting and he has to navigate between pleasing everyone and keeping costs under control.
In the third episode, the studio team gathers to watch the final cut of a movie in post-production. Despite the potential of the material, there is one particular sequence that everyone believes needs to be cut in order for the movie to work better. The problem? That sequence has a deep personal meaning for the project’s director. The episode revolves around the impasse: who will be responsible for breaking the news to the director?
In the fourth and most recent episode, the series plunges into an atmosphere of mystery and urgency. One of the film reels mysteriously disappears shortly before the completion of an important project. Matt and his faithful squire Sal Saperstein must investigate the case discreetly, avoiding panic among the team and trying to solve the problem before the damage becomes irreversible. With an almost investigative comedy tone, the episode shows how Matt’s job requires much more than creative decisions, but also involves diplomacy and improvisation.
Is it worth watching?
Although The Studio is essentially a comedy series – which may not appeal to all audiences -, its short episodes, with independent and dynamic plots, help to keep the pace agile and engaging. Each chapter works almost like a separate short story, which facilitates immersion and avoids the dragging feeling common in denser series. What’s more, the constant special appearances by big names in the film industry act as a real attraction, surprising the viewer and creating a fun expectation of what (or who) will come next.
The criticisms leveled at the entertainment industry, although sharp, are presented in a light and humorous way, which makes it easier to digest more complex themes. At the end of the day, the series is gripping not only because of its curiosity about behind-the-scenes Hollywood, but also because of the fun and intelligent way it chooses to tell these stories.
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The article above was edited by Juliana Sanches.
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