On the Set of Seth Rogen’s ‘The Studio’ as a “Oner” Comes to Life: “It Creates a Feeling of Stress”

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In case things don’t go perfectly, remember to press on!” On the set of his Apple TV+ series, ‘The Studio,’ in June 2024, Seth Rogen, dressed elegantly in a rust-hued tuxedo, is motivating a group of actors who are about to stride into the Wilshire Ebell Theatre’s ballroom in Los Angeles. They are portraying doctors, entering a charity event alongside Matt Remick, played by Rogen, in an extended, single-shot scene known as a ‘oner.’ Seth advises his co-stars, “It’s beneficial to complete the initial few [takes] for team spirit.

In the art of filmmaking, a long, uninterrupted shot known as an “oner” is prominently used in films such as Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil, Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman. This technique is extensively employed within the series The Studio, with episode 2, titled “The Oner,” standing out particularly. This episode, lasting 25 minutes, was filmed in a single take. The plot of this episode revolves around a problematic studio visit by Matt, the head of Continental Studios, to a set where director Sarah Polley is attempting to execute a oner herself, portraying a fictionalized version of herself in the process.

In the “Oner” episode, it’s clear that film enthusiasts highly value complex, intricately designed shots. These shots require precision and flawless execution from everyone on set, such as the camera operator, actors, and sound team. The frequent use of these long, uninterrupted takes throughout this season of The Studio intensifies the tension that drives the show’s central conflict – Matt’s genuine passion for cinema, contrasted with his role that involves compromising those very films for commercial purposes.

A oneer generates a sense of pressure and apprehension which is an integral aspect of the performance,” Rogen remarks, pausing by a monitor for a quick chat prior to filming. “It’s refreshing compared to my previous job where I had to solve problems during the post-production phase.

There’s a genuine enthusiasm for filmmaking that both Rogen and the main character of his show seem to possess. When someone questioned the long takes in The Studio on social media, Rogen responded by using his Threads account to post behind-the-scenes videos.

Seth Rogen, responsible for directing all ten episodes of the series alongside his longtime collaborator Evan Goldberg, conceived the concept for The Studio while working on Steven Spielberg’s 2022 film, The Fabelmans. However, many of the fundamental ideas in the show stemmed from a conversation Rogen and Goldberg had with a studio executive during project consultations. As Rogen recounts, “He said, ‘I got into this business to make movies.’ ‘Now I ruin them.'” (It’s worth noting that Rogen didn’t disclose the executive’s name while filming this scene, but he has since revealed him as Steve Asbell, president of 20th Century Studios).

In preparation for the show, Rogen, Goldberg, along with other writers like Alex Gregory from “Veep,” spoke with studio executives and filmmakers about their most outrageous and unusual Hollywood experiences. According to Rogen, “Everybody’s got stories.” These anecdotes have inspired scripts for the characters portrayed by Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, Ike Barinholtz, Chase Sui Wonders, Bryan Cranston, as well as other actors like Martin Scorsese, Charlize Theron, Zoë Kravitz, and Ron Howard. Viewers who are familiar with the industry have been enjoying guessing which fictional characters correspond to real-life figures.

In the June-filmed episode 6, titled “The Pediatric Oncologist,” which was released by Apple on April 25th, Matt attends a charity event for cancer research with his latest romantic interest, Sarah, portrayed by Rebecca Hall. As a movie executive, Matt’s everyday choices regarding film greenlights, script revisions, and even the amount of graphic diarrhea in the new Johnny Knoxville trailer can seem critically important within the entertainment industry bubble. However, around Sarah and her medical colleagues who dedicate their lives to saving patients, Matt’s self-doubt and arrogance become more apparent.

Matt’s delicate self-esteem falters when the discussion steers towards whether his renowned series, Continental’s “MK Ultra” or the “exploding head films,” as a doctor labels them, qualify as “art.” “They are art!” Rogen, playing Matt, passionately declares as the scene follows him and the cast traversing the ballroom. “All movies are art. It’s impossible to single out which ones are art.

On average, it takes around 16 attempts to capture a perfect single shot this season, according to Rogen. Once that take is completed, he shouts “Cut!” and the entire cast returns to their original positions.

The first 10 episodes of the half-hour comedy series were released on Apple TV+ on March 26th, with a new episode being added every week until May 21st.

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2025-04-24 03:54