Introduction

Seth Rogen is pulling back the curtain on the real-life stories that inspired his new Apple TV+ show, *The Studio*. During a recent cameo on *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert*, Rogen discussed his character, Matt Remick, and the authentic Hollywood experiences that shaped the series.

The Character of Matt Remick

In *The Studio*, I’m at the helm of a contemporary Hollywood movie studio,” Rogen explained. “The main conflict revolves around the classic dilemma of art versus commerce. My character is a passionate film lover, but as a studio head, he often faces the heartbreaking task of compromising the integrity of films to make them successful.” He continued, “He adores directors and actors, yet his role forces him to deliver feedback they might not want to hear, ultimately hindering their creative visions.

The Irony of Hollywood

Stephen Colbert pointed out the irony in Rogen's character affectionately loving movies while simultaneously tasked with ruining them. Curiously, Colbert asked if Rogen had ever encountered a Hollywood executive who expressed a similar sentiment to him.

“Oh, absolutely!” Rogen replied. He recounted an early career meeting with his partner, Evan Goldberg, where an executive offered some tough love while giving notes. “We had ambitions to craft a daring, R-rated film, but he wasn’t on board. While he found it amusing, he confessed, ‘I got into this because I love movies, and it’s now my job to ruin them.’” Rogen confirmed that this executive was none other than Steve Asbell, the current head of 20th Century Studios. “He’s a wonderful guy, but it’s clear that he struggles with the commercial decisions he has to make,” Rogen added with a chuckle.

Feedback from Executives

Colbert queried whether any producers or studio executives reached out to Rogen since the series premiered, wondering if they recognized themselves in the characters. Rogen said, “Yes, I’ve actually been yelled at three times just this week! Some folks are happy about it, while others, not so much.”

Golden Globes Inspiration

The conversation took a nostalgic turn as Rogen recounted a memorable experience at the Golden Globes that sparked the inspiration for a specific episode in *The Studio*. “There’s a particular episode where my character is desperate for a shout-out in a Golden Globe acceptance speech, which reflects how important that recognition is for Hollywood execs,” he shared. Rogen recalled a time when he and his team celebrated winning a Golden Globe, only to find an executive in tears at the afterparty. “We rushed over, thinking they were elated for us, only to find out they were crying because they weren’t acknowledged in the acceptance speech.”

“To this day, that executive knows we crafted an episode around that incident,” Rogen noted, adding with a laugh, “and let’s just say, they didn’t take it lightly!”

Misunderstandings About Characters

Interestingly, Rogen pointed out that while some people are convinced they resemble the characters in *The Studio*, that’s not always the case. “There’s been a tendency for folks to project their experiences onto our characters inaccurately,