It is just another day in life for Matt Remick, living his dream of working as a studio chief at Continental Studios. He loves the art of movie-making and has dedicated 20 years of his life to the studio. His day gets flipped upside down for the better once the CEO, Griffin Mill, calls him in for a meeting to possibly promote him to head of the studio after firing Matt’s former mentor, Patty. Griffin discusses promoting Matt, but wants to be sure that he doesn’t want to only make artsy “films,” and is in the business of making “movies” as he closes a deal to obtain the rights to make a Kool-Aid movie. Matt assures Griffin of the mission to make “movies” and is officially promoted to the head of Continental Studios.

Matt begins his new role as head of the studio by informing his team they will be fast-tracking production on the Kool-Aid movie to a mixed reception. Matt believes he can make both big-budget blockbuster films, while still maintaining artistic integrity with his films also being Oscar worthy. Matt wants to make an auteur-driven Kool-Aid movie, while members of his team pitch making the film along the lines of Super Mario Bros. Movie, so they can achieve more box office success than critical success. Matt is looking for prestige directors to direct his Kool-Aid movie, but the only person with a pitch for the film is Nick Stoller and Matt has to lock in a director immediately.

Matt struggles with the weight of being a studio head, but after meeting with Martin Scorsese, his luck turns around. Martin pitches Matt a movie about the Jonestown massacre, which Matt buys and greenlights, hoping this will secure Scorsese to direct his Kool-Aid movie. However, when Matt informs his team that Scorsese wants to make a film about Jonestown with lead  Steve Buscemi, they struggle to find a way to market it. They tell  Matt that he will bankrupt the studio if he decides to move forward with Scorsese’s Jonestown movie minutes before meeting with  Griffin about their Kool-Aid movie pitch. Matt is reluctant to stick to the Scorsese movie. As he enters the meeting with Griffin about the film, he shows Griffin an animated Kool-Aid movie teaser, abandoning the Scorsese movie idea. Griffin loves it. However, Griffin asks Matt why he purchased film rights to Scorsese’s Jonestown movie, and Matt lies and says he bought the film just to never make it.  This appeases Griffin.

Matt struggles with how to deal with informing Scorsese about his movie not being made, and has to immediately face Scorsese regarding the film at Charlize Theron’s party. Scorsese sees Matt and immediately knows something is wrong based on Matt’s mannerisms. Matt and his associate, Sal, inform Scorsese that his movie is not moving forward and that they can’t give the film back to him. This upsets Scorsese, and he consoles with Charlize Theron, who then approaches Matt and kicks him and Sal out of her party for killing Martin Scorsese’s last movie ever.

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg craft together an excellent first episode to this satirical series about life behind the scenes at a Hollywood studio. The episode does a great job of feeling the stress and anxiety of working as the head of a movie studio. The use of long takes and handheld camera shots creates the feeling of being immersed in the world of Hollywood behind the scenes, as we see the daily struggles of Matt being promoted to studio head and the difficulties he faces with the choices he has to make. The humor is top-notch and keeps you laughing out loud throughout the scenarios of what it is like seeing Hollywood choose films based on pre-existing IP. This was an excellent first episode of this series, with an excellent performance from Seth Rogen. Martin Scorsese steals the show in his guest role playing himself. Not only is a this a hilarious satirical take on the current generation of Hollywood, but also a love letter to the industry as a whole.

Rating: 10/10