Acclaimed actor and director Seth Rogen faces perhaps his greatest directorial challenge with the new Apple TV+ comedy series, “The Studio.” This innovative show premiered recently with two intriguing episodes, including “The Oner,” a standout effort designed as a continuous one-shot episode. For Rogen, also the co-creator, director, writer, and star of the series, this endeavor brought an exciting yet demanding test to television production.
“The Studio” launched with “The Promotion,” introducing Rogen’s character, Matt Remick, promoted to a leadership role within the fictional Continental Studios. However, it is “The Oner” that captures widespread attention for its unique cinematography. Primarily set on the set of Sarah Polley’s new film, this episode showcases Remick’s unplanned involvement as Polley, portraying herself in an engaging cameo, attempts her oner, aiming to capture everything in a seamless take.
Shot within a single house in Los Angeles’s Silver Lake neighborhood, the episode unfolds during magic hour, a fleeting photographer’s dream just before sunset. As Rogen explained at the recent For Your Consideration event at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, the production team decided on the location without ample prior access, adding another layer of complexity. Despite last-minute adjustments, the setting was chosen for its aesthetic promise, although it presented significant challenges, especially with its extensive glass surfaces complicating the ambitious one-shot goal.
Faced with technical limitations, Rogen, alongside longtime collaborator Evan Goldberg and cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra, devised a plan to break the episode into four segments, each filmed over four days. Due to filming constraints at magic hour, the team only had approximately 90 minutes each day for actual filming, utilizing daylight effectively after rehearsing throughout the day.
Rogen recounted, “We scouted the house and thought it was beautiful, but its glass nature meant more stitches than anticipated. Breaking it into four chunks seemed best.” This meticulous process raised tension on set but eventually resulted in seamless integration that even Rogen found impressive, recalling, “Watching it myself, it’s hard to remember where the stitches are.”
The narrative chaos within “The Oner” replicates this off-screen urgency, with Remick inadvertently hindering Polley’s cinematic vision due to his eager but misplaced attempts to help. As Matt Remick’s blunders multiply under the fading light, the fictitious studio mirrors real-world production challenges, leading to a frenetic yet successful culmination as night falls.
Though unconventional, Rogen and Goldberg’s choice to lean into the chaos helped elevate the storytelling. Rogen shared his reflections on the process: “There were moments I almost lost it, remembering I chose this path. Yet, it was a concerted team effort.” The responses from the audience and industry professionals highlighted the episode’s pending impact as an Emmys contender.
The cast, featuring talents like Ike Barinholtz as Remick’s right-hand man Sal Saperstein, Kathryn Hahn, and others, contributed to this ambitious project. Collectively, their readiness for Rogen’s unpredictable rhythms ensured the episode’s success. “The energy was constant,” Rogen described, adding, “The method kept everyone engaged, preventing any dullness or routine.”
New episodes of “The Studio” can be streamed weekly on Apple TV+, with “The Oner” proving not only an artistic but also a technical triumph for the platform. As Seth Rogen continues to navigate similar innovative challenges, this one-shot endeavor marks a significant achievement, poised to influence the television landscape and offer viewers a refreshing take on conventional comedic storytelling.
