Seth Rogen says this is the key to the A-list cameos in 'The Studio: 'It's very enticing'
AUSTIN, Texas – When Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg debuted their new Apple TV+ comedy inspired by their own experiences in Hollywood during South by Southwest, they couldn't help but rib the studio executives involved.
The longtime friends, who met in bar mitzvah class and founded their production company Point Grey Pictures in 2011, are co-creators of 'The Studio' (first two episodes stream Wednesday, then weekly). Rogen stars as the recently appointed studio head Matt Remick, who replaces Patty Leigh (Catherine O'Hara) after several of her Continental Studios films bomb. Now in his dream job, cinephile Matt wrestles with wanting to make good, artful movies that are financially successful to please his boss (Bryan Cranston) and the desperate-to-be-relevant marketing executive (Kathryn Hahn).
Before showing an enthusiastic audience at the Paramount Theatre two of the season's 10 episodes, Rogen and Goldberg expressed their gratitude to executives in a way only comedians can.
'We are so appreciative that we got to make this show,' Goldberg said, 'and without you, our beloved studio executives, it never would have happened, or it totally would have happened with other execs at another company, but we wouldn't like them as much.'
'No! Not at all,' Rogen added.
Recognizing the powers that be is essential, Rogen told USA TODAY at the March 7 premiere.
'There's an episode (at) the Golden Globes where I just want to be thanked,' Rogen teases. 'That's something every studio head we talked to told us their greatest fear was, (that) they wouldn't be thanked in the speech.'
Rogen and Goldberg, who began writing an early version of 2007 hit 'Super Bad' when they were just 13, integrated several of their own head-scratching or wince-inducing experiences into the show.
'We were in a meeting once with an executive who said the thing I say (in the premiere), which is, 'I got into this because I love movies, and now it's my job to ruin them,'' Rogen said. 'Which became one of the cornerstones of the whole character, in a lot of ways.'
'Fighting for my life': Sean Lowe's boxer dog Moose attacked him twice, ex-'Bachelor' says
Ike Barinholtz, who plays party boy executive Sal Saperstein, says there's a lot that 'The Studio' gets right about the entertainment industry.
'Most people who survive in the industry on those levels, they understand that you sometimes are going to have to compromise a couple things that you might want to do to survive,' he said on the red carpet. 'And that's kind of what's been going on for a long time. There's a lot of pressure, and when studio executives come to set it can be disruptive sometimes.'
The series adds another layer of realism with cameos: Olivia Wilde 'really surprised' Rogen, he said in an interview. Her portrayal of a director of a Continental movie is the first time they'd worked together. 'She's so funny in the episode she's in and she's someone I was a fan of for a long time. But I'd only met her a couple of times, and she just destroys in the show.'
Rogen was also stunned when a Hollywood heavyweight director agreed to appear.
'The set of this show was the first time I met Martin Scorsese, and we couldn't believe he did it!' Rogen candidly shared with the audience gathered for the premiere. 'But we worked hard to write roles we hoped were funny and that we hoped people would respond to, and all anyone wants is a good joke. That's what we really learned. It's very enticing to people to feel like they get to be funny. Even Charlize (Theron): We're like, 'You have one line, but it'll kill. We promise.''
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Seth Rogen on 'The Studio': Show's honesty, key to the A-list cameos
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Just how did 'Wizard of Oz' at Sphere Las Vegas take Dorothy from 2D to 4D?
LAS VEGAS – In a month, the Las Vegas Sphere will be turned into the verdant splendor of Emerald City. And the vibrant mosaic of Munchkinland. And the dusty amber plains of Kansas. It's 'The Wizard of Oz' not just as a film, but an experience. A place where the 160,000 square feet of Sphere screen transports you into Dorothy Gale's world and, through the use of 4D and haptics, immerses you in the feeling of being inside a tornado and makes you cower at the sight of those dastardly flying monkeys heading from the Wicked Witch's lair to your seat. The film, which opens Aug. 28 at the technologically sophisticated venue just off the Las Vegas Strip, was chosen for Sphere-i-fication because of its generation-spanning appeal. 'It's a movie that your mother watched, that you watched with your grandmother or your kids,' says Jane Rosenthal, the Oscar-nominated producer helping helm the production. 'The movie became so beloved because you felt you could go into Munchkinland or the Emerald City even in a traditional TV format. It's a natural for the Sphere because of the elements that can be made immersive.' The Sphere's film has been in development for two years with a team of more than 2,000 filmmakers, technicians, audio experts and AI creatives working to transform Oz from a 2D world into an extraordinary envelopment of sight and sound. Las Vegas Sphere concerts: All the bands that are playing and how to get tickets Why the Sphere's 'Wizard of Oz' is an unparalleled experience Those involved with 'Oz' wouldn't confirm the $80 million price tag alluded to when the project was announced in August 2024. But, from the near-final pieces of the film USA TODAY observed in July, it's evident this has been an exhaustive, finely detailed endeavor. From the clarity of Judy Garland's doe eyes with eyelashes that can be counted to the 16-foot-long helium-filled monkeys steered by drone operators, it's sheer wonderment. And the tornado? You'll find yourself ducking in your seat at what feels like farm equipment and animals flying toward you as 750-horsepower fans built specifically for "Oz" hurl wind and (paper) leaves around the venue. To assume the film is merely glorified IMAX is akin to saying earbuds provide the same sound quality as $16,000 studio headphones. The $104 admission likely seems steep, but not as much after you factor in the cutting-edge experience and the Vegas location. How 'ethical AI' transformed 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Sphere The Sphere team worked closely with Warner Bros. and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to mine the 'Oz' archives from its original 1939 form. Transforming what was filmed for a 4:3 aspect ratio on a standard-sized movie screen to the 16K x 16K LED screen resolution of the Sphere required the use of what Rosenthal calls 'ethical AI.' The time required to convert the film also necessitated editing from its original run time of 102 minutes to 75. The artificial intelligence in 'Oz' was primarily used to extend frames to fill the Sphere screen. Rosenthal gives the example of an early scene when irritable neighbor Miss Gulch wants to take Toto – himself given a furry glow-up – from the Gale home. 'That was originally a three-shot, but as you widen the frame, you now see Uncle Henry standing by the door. You train the AI on Uncle Henry to create him making a move like putting his hand on the door,' she says. 'That stuff was difficult to do.' The Sphere team, with the aid of Warner Bros., found props and set designs from the original movie so objects such as photos on the wall in Professor Marvel's caravan could be generated onto the screen. Every frame of the film takes 300 hours (12.5 days) to render. An edit of a few seconds might take days to fix. And then there is the equilibrium between respecting a classic and elevating it to immersive heights. Award-winning technician Glenn Derry, the executive vice president of MSG Ventures, spent thousands of hours refining minutiae such as the breathtaking moment when Dorothy awakens in her sepia-toned heartland and steps into Technicolor Munchkinland, the yellow brick road seemingly stretching into space. 'We're trying to be tasteful with these things,' Derry says. 'I don't want to distract from the film because it's one of the great masterpieces. You want people to be part of it, but balance that with not being distracting.' Emotion and revelations and nostalgia, oh my So while the cranky apple tree will hurl featherweight red orbs at Sphere "Oz" viewers, and seats will vibrate with ominous warnings of the Wicked Witch or hopeful spasms when Glinda the Good Witch soars inside her pink bubble, the heart of 'Oz' – as the Tin Man would appreciate – is intact. Derry says his favorite effect is the hulking Wizard head, which almost sneaks in from the side of the screen while pyro is dispatched in front of it. 'It's a nostalgic thing for me,' Derry, whose father worked in the industry as a machinist and physical effects expert, says. 'I love the elements that you don't notice and then you turn and are surprised.' The revelations will begin as soon as moviegoers step into the atrium of the venue, which will be converted to an Oz-like atmosphere with interactive elements (that Wizard head might have another role along with booming on screen). It's an experience that simply cannot be duplicated. 'With the emotion of 'there's no place like home' and 'Over the Rainbow,' I feel fortunate to bring this movie to life,' Rosenthal says. 'A venue like Sphere makes you want to keep going to the movies.'
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
'We're not in Richmond anymore': What we know about 'Ted Lasso' Season 4
Believe it — Season 4 of Ted Lasso has officially begun production, Apple TV+ announced this week. That's right, Coach Lasso, the show's beloved mustachioed and mild-mannered namesake, who helped guide audiences through a global pandemic with optimism and humanity, is back on the football pitch. Well, this calls for biscuits. Filming has officially kicked off in star Jason Sudeikis's (Ted Lasso) hometown of Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Quinton Lucas called it 'another major victory for the city's rapidly expanding film industry,' in a post on X, in which he appears to be sporting a blue Ted Lasso hat. Additional filming is also set to take place across the pond in London. Apple TV posted a video on Instagram of Jeremy Swift (Leslie Higgins), Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca Welton), Juno Temple (Keeley Jones) and Sudeikis are sitting in what appears to be a booth at a traditional American restaurant as some of the key members of AFC Richmond get ready to film a scene. The caption reads: 'We're not in Richmond anymore. Ted Lasso Season 4 is now in production.' The streaming service confirmed back in March that there would be a fourth season. The show has won 13 Emmy Awards and has received a total of 61 Emmy nominations. Barbecue sauce. What can fans expect in Season 4? At the end of Season 3, Ted ends up returning to the U.S. after coaching the fictional AFC Richmond soccer team in London in order to be closer to his son, Henry. The streaming service indicates on its website what fans can expect in the highly anticipated new season: 'Ted returns to Richmond, taking on his biggest challenge yet: coaching a second division women's football team. Throughout the course of the season, Ted and the team learn to leap before they look, taking chances they never thought they would.' Do we know when Season 4 will be released or if there's an official trailer? So far, Apple TV+ says a release date for Season 4 is coming soon. No official trailer has been released yet, aside from this week's teaser. Which characters will return? Even though they're not pictured in the promo image, the wise Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) and Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) will be back. Grant Feely will replace Gus Turner as Ted's son, Henry. Other newcomers to join the cast in roles that have yet to be revealed include: Tanya Reynolds, Jude Mack, Faye Marsay, Rex Hayes, Aisling Sharkey and Abbie Hern. Who is not returning? Fan favorites like Nick Mohammed (Nate Shelley) and Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt) along with Sarah Niles (Dr. Sharon Fieldstone), Anthony Head (Rupert Mannion), Toheeb Jimoh (Sam Obisanya), James Lance (Trent Crimm), Cristo Fernández (Dani Rojas), Kola Bokinni (Isaac McAdoo) and Billy Harris (Colin Hughes) weren't named as regular returning characters in Season 4. Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Julia Garner spills on Silver Surfer secrets: 'I never looked so cool'
Julia Garner is enjoying her chrome era. There was instant fan love when Garner's Silver Surfer first appeared in a trailer for Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' (in theaters now). Since then, the character has inspired Instagram cosplayers as well as TikTokers meme-ing her in-movie message, heralding the coming of planet-devouring Galactus. 'I don't have a TikTok,' Garner says. 'People have been talking about TikTok. They're like, 'Did you know that this was going to be a thing on TikTok?' I'm like, no. I'm in disbelief that people even know me.' Playing the silver alien Shalla-Bal, though, 'I never looked so cool in my life,' Garner adds with a laugh. 'This looks almost like a Met Gala look or some high fashion thing.' Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Being in a Marvel movie is a departure for Garner, who won three Emmys for her role in the Netflix drama 'Ozark.' But she gets one heck of an entrance: In the retrofuturistic 1960s setting of 'Fantastic Four,' Shalla-Bal arrives in Times Square on a spiffy surfboard to warn that Earth is 'marked for death' and Galactus (Ralph Ineson) is on the way. Since she's the one who identifies the planets that will be her boss' next meal, Shalla-Bal has a 'toxic relationship' with Galactus. 'There's no HR,' Garner quips. However, her connection with Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), the Human Torch and youngest Fantastic Four member, is one that's actually meaningful to her. 'She finds him amusing, but she doesn't really want to show him. Secretly, I think she likes the attention.' Garner, 31, who says she puts 'love, rage and secrets' in every role she plays, did a deep dive into Shalla-Bal's comic-book history. In Marvel lore, she was the lover of Norrin Radd, and when he agreed to be Galactus' herald (and the original Silver Surfer) to spare their planet Zenn-La, they were separated. The actress was most surprised by 'actually how tragic her story is. If this was a human, you would be like, it's devastating. So that really resonated with me and helped ground it.' One thing she didn't find going down that geeky rabbit hole: Her character inspiring the 1989 Joe Satriani guitar track 'Back to Shalla-Bal.' In 2007's 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,' Doug Jones played the Radd version of the Surfer. But director Matt Shakman wanted to use Shalla-Bal instead because 'First Steps' was a different universe than fans have seen – it takes place on Earth-828, as opposed to the MCU's Earth-616 – and that choice made for a 'really interesting story line' with Johnny. A lot of attention was paid to how the computer-generated Shalla-Bal would appear. Garner portrayed the Surfer via a motion-capture suit and a helmet with a GoPro-type camera attached, and it was important to Shakman that Shalla-Bal was shiny and 'completely reflective' but still 'emotionally powerful,' he says. Another fun fact: Copper veining was added to the Surfer's facade. 'There's a sense of old weathered metal in places, just this idea that she's been doing this a long time and she's gone through some pretty inhospitable environments. So there's a touch of history to her.' Shakman also hooked Garner up with surfing adviser Tehillah McGuinness to guide her with Shalla-Bal's movement. 'She surfs a neutron star. She surfs a wormhole, she surfs real water, she surfs lava. There's a lot of great ways to make use of her Surfer-ness in the movie,' the director says. With McGuinness' help, Garner learned how to feel comfortable and balanced on the board, 'and not look clumsy, like you're in control,' she adds. Garner, who next stars in the horror film "Weapons" (in theaters Aug 8), found ways to add her own secret sauce to the Silver Surfer. For the opening message to humanity, she studied how T.S. Eliot would read his own poetry. 'It was very eerie in a way but also comforting at the same time,' she says. To get in Shalla-Bal's mindset before takes, she'd listen to spacey '70s krautrock music ('I just imagined that that's what she would be surfing to') and also learned to speak her character's fictional native tongue, Zenn-Lavian. 'It's not as hard as you would think. It's not like learning Japanese or something,' Garner laughs. 'Would I want a monologue in Zenn-Lavian? No. But I can say a few lines.' And while Garner became the Silver Surfer, she hasn't tried out her newfound board skills in real life. Nor will she. 'The water that I enjoy is that kiddie water that doesn't have any sort of wave,' she says with a smile. 'I'm quite scared of waves.'
