How was the Martin Scorsese cameo in The Studio filmed? Explained

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s comedy series The Studio has won over fans and critics, not just for its sharp storytelling and humor but also for its impressive lineup of A-list cameos. The way the creators managed to bring in such big names has become a major talking point, adding to the show's charm and appeal.

As Rogen said:

"The cameos had to all be people that served a very specific role in the stories."

As seen in the premiere, Rogen appears as the main character, Matt Remick, and the newly assigned head of Continental Studios. Since it's a deep and humorous take on Hollywood, The Studio highlights the absurdities of studio politics, marketing pressures, and the egos that drive show business.

The show starts with Matt deciding to make an Oscar-winning Kool-Aid movie and later buying a script from legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese. This is where the Killers of the Flower Moon directors step into the TV series.

Interestingly, Rogen and Goldberg crafted this role specifically for Scorsese. They wanted to have a filmmaker that Matt would go to extreme lengths to work with—even if it meant forcing an obviously flawed idea to fit.

At the same time, the cameo had to be believable. Rogen further explained that movie enthusiasts of this generation love to watch Scorsese's work, and there could be no better option than to cast the filmmaker himself.

Keep reading to learn how his cameo was shot for the first episode.

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The Studio creators talk about directing legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese

As previously explained, Seth Rogen and his co-creator crafted a cameo for Martin Scorsese in The Studio and were quite "nervous" about his thoughts on the project. For Rogen, the challenge wasn't just acting alongside the filmmaker but directing him.

The creator said:

"We were nervous he wouldn’t like it, so we actually had a second camera crew."

Since they decided to shoot The Studio using long, continuous takes (owners), a single mistake could result in starting over from the top. So, to avoid such a disaster, Rogen secretly hired a second camera crew who stayed in a nearby hotel room. Rogen said:

"Just in case he [Martin Scorsese] was like, ‘You don’t have a second camera?’ I wanted to be like, ‘I do have a second camera actually!'"

Rogen hid the second crew to ensure having a backup plan if Scorsese didn't like the filming style. Fortunately, he embraced the project and gave it his best shot. Seth Rogen also admitted that collaborating with Martin Scorsese was surreal and that the legendary director gave him an "unwarranted gift" by agreeing to the cameo.

Also Read: The Studio released Episodes 1 and 2 on Apple TV+, here's what we know about the episodes

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What happened between Matt Remick and Martin Scorsese in The Studio

Martin Scorsese appears at the end of The Studio Episode 1 "The Promotion", when he's left in tears after learning what Matt had done to his ambitious project. The chaos begins with Matt's decision to make an Oscar-winning Kool-Aid movie, followed by purchasing Scorsese's script for a film on the Jonestown massacre.

Reality soon hits hard when Kathryn Hahn's Catherine, Continental Studios’ marketing head, reminds him that the film is completely unworkable. She lashes out at the head, as he has already spent around $10 million to secure the script.

This situation reaches peak awkwardness at a party where Matt breaks the news to Scorsese. The filmmaker asks Matt, "You bought my movie just to kill it?” The studio head replies, "I did," leaving Scorsese to sob in the background.

After listening to Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, who organized the party, tells Matt and Sal to leave immediately. Steve Buscemi, who was supposed to be the star in the film, makes things worse by greeting Matt and expressing his excitement.

The episode ends with Matt and Sal watching Scorsese's Goodfellas while acknowledging his art. Despite the chaos, the two enjoy martinis and admit they can no longer call Scorsese Matty.

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Also Read: The Studio star Seth Rogan reveals secret to good A-list cameos

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