Matt Remick is truly a cinephile at heart. His passion for film is evident in his decision to let Olivia Wilde shoot her new movie, The Continental, on actual film stock. Most studio heads avoid film due to its complications and costs, but Matt’s love for the medium compels him to invest in it—even at the expense of cutting the wrap party budget.

The shoot goes smoothly until the final day, when it’s discovered that a film reel  has gone missing. Rather than report it, Matt and Sal secretly begin a mission to recover the reel, hoping to avoid bad press and costly delays.

Their investigation starts with a PA, trying to determine when the reel disappeared and who might’ve held a grudge against Olivia Wilde. They learn that Olivia and Zac Efron clashed on set, particularly after Olivia made Zac do 40 takes of removing a hat. This leads Matt and Sal to visit Zac’s trailer.

Zac doesn’t admit to stealing the reel, but his behavior raises Matt’s suspicions. After a quick, fruitless search of Zac’s trailer, Matt theorizes that Zac may have bribed Evelyn, the film’s costume designer, to take the reel. They follow Evelyn to Zac’s hotel, where they find the two together.

Sal dismisses it as a coincidence and claims he’s heading home—but Matt, unconvinced, tails him. Disguising himself as a hotel waiter, Matt sneaks into Zac’s room, only to find Sal already there. He assumes the worst: that Sal is involved in the theft. But the truth is more innocent—Zac was throwing a secret wrap party and didn’t invite Matt because the crew was upset he canceled the original one.

After apologizing to Sal and making amends, a memory clicks for Sal—Olivia smelled like rubbing alcohol and had recently rubbed off a tattoo everyone on set shared. The detail points back to her. She’d also expressed discontent with a shootout scene, and they realize Olivia must have stolen the reel.

Back at the set, Olivia confesses. She wanted reshoots but knew Matt would reject them due to budget concerns. The reel contained a cameo performance she considered her best work, and rather than let it go unseen, she damaged the reel to force Matt’s hand into approving reshoots.

This was another fun installment in a series that continues to serve as both a commentary and love letter to filmmakers. The episode honors old-school filmmaking, spotlighting the beauty—and the burden—of shooting on film. It reinforces that Matt isn’t just a studio head, but a cinephile deeply invested in the art of cinema. 

While it may not appeal to casual viewers due to its “inside baseball” references and industry in-jokes, cinephiles will find plenty to love. The episode also feels like a heavy homage to Chinatown, both visually and thematically, with even Olivia’s film being described as a knockoff of it. 

Although Olivia Wilde’s cameo was the weakest of the series so far, she still delivers a fun performance, capturing the blend of ego and artistry that drives many directors. This may be the weakest episode to date, but it remains an enjoyable and thoughtful entry in a series made for film lovers, by film lovers.

Rating: 7.5/10