This week’s big Apple TV+ debut, The Studio, has impressed critics and already climbed to the #2 spot on Apple’s top charts, trailing only Severance. In a new interview, co-creator and star Seth Rogen reveals how the show’s unique format was the perfect shield against unwanted notes from Apple execs.
The Studio was shot entirely in ‘oners,’ which helped fend off unwanted exec notes
The Studio centers around Rogen’s lead character, who was just appointed head of a film studio.
One way the show heightens the stress and absurdity of its comedy is by being shot entirely in “oners. Meaning, scenes are shot in continuous takes without cuts.
It’s a powerful artistic tool, but apparently it also helped Rogen and his creative team fend off unwanted notes from Apple TV+ studio execs.
Ethan Shanfeld writes at Variety:
In a sweet twist of irony, the series’ third episode harps on the loathsome concept of the studio note — and the oners allowed Rogen to dodge Apple’s feedback almost entirely. “Because of the way we shot it, essentially nothing could be done after the episode,” Rogen says. “Apple would give us notes, but the answer was always ‘We can’t do that.’ ‘Can you take out this line?’ ‘Nope.’ ‘Could you go from this line to this line?’ ‘Nope, we can’t do any of that.’”
No doubt shooting The Studio in oners was a monumental task for the creative team. Episode 2 gives us a fascinating peek into what that may have been like.
But it’s kind of hilarious how the technique was also a clever way to fend off suggested changes from execs.
Apple doubted The Studio’s ability to land celebrity cameos
Variety’s extensive interview with Rogen also includes this fun tidbit:
With scripts including roles for Charlize Theron, Paul Dano and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos — and dozens more — Apple’s main concern was that Rogen and Goldberg wouldn’t be able to secure all the cameos written into their first drafts.
“Apple was very skeptical and worried,” Rogen says. “They said early on, ‘You will never be able to get all the cameos you need to make this show.’ They could not have said it more definitively than that.
Clearly, Rogen succeeded where Apple thought he would fail. And I imagine that when a potential season 2 rolls around, even more Hollywood talent may be eager to jump in and join the fun.
Have you watched The Studio yet on Apple TV+? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking. You can also watch free in several ways.
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