Critics at Large | The New Yorker

“The Studio” Pokes Fun at Hollywood’s Existential Struggle

Apr 10, 2025

The podcast humorously explores the clash between art and commerce in Hollywood, featuring Seth Rogen as a hapless studio head in 'The Studio.' Discussions dive into the evolving power dynamics between filmmakers and studios, revealing the struggles of maintaining artistic integrity amidst corporate pressures. There’s a nostalgic look at the golden age of cinema while acknowledging the current industry's challenges, including a decline in production and the impact of the pandemic. Despite these issues, there's a glimmer of hope for a creative resurgence in filmmaking.

49:17

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Quick takeaways

In 'The Studio,' Seth Rogen's character exemplifies the struggle to marry artistic integrity with commercial demands amidst Hollywood's changing landscape.

The podcast highlights current industry challenges like the rise of AI and market pressures, prompting a call for innovation and adaptation in filmmaking.

Deep dives

The Art vs. Commerce Dilemma

The tension between artistic integrity and commercial viability is a central theme in contemporary Hollywood. This conflict is vividly illustrated in the show 'The Studio,' where Seth Rogen's character, a movie executive, grapples with producing meaningful films while facing pressure to prioritize profit. The narrative captures how artists often have to compromise their creative visions to appease studio demands for marketable content. This dichotomy highlights the struggle to achieve artistic excellence in an industry increasingly driven by financial concerns.

Intro

2min

Art vs. Commerce in Hollywood

13min

Hollywood Dreams and Bizarre Realities

6min

Navigating Weddings and Cultural Dilemmas

2min

Art vs. Commerce in Hollywood

11min

The Shifting Power Dynamics of Hollywood's Film Industry

5min

Hollywood's Crisis and Creative Resurgence

13min

Anticipating Epic Storytelling in Film

3min

The tension between art and commerce is a tale as old as time, and perhaps the most dramatic clashes in recent history have played out in Hollywood. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz explore how moviemaking and the business behind it have been depicted over the decades, from Lillian Ross’s classic 1952 work of reportage, “Picture,” to Robert Altman’s pitch-black 1992 satire “The Player.” In “The Studio,” a new Apple TV+ series, Seth Rogen plays a hapless exec who’s convinced that art-house filmmaking and commercial success can go hand in hand. At a moment when theatregoing is on the decline and the industry is hyper-focussed on existing I.P., that sentiment feels more naïve than realistic. And yet the show’s affection for the golden age of cinema is infectious—and perhaps even cause for optimism. “Early auteurs were people who knew Hollywood and could marshal its resources toward the benefit of their vision,” Cunningham says. “I wonder if now is the time for people who are seasoned in the way of Hollywood to really think about how it can be angled toward making art.”

Read, watch, and listen with the critics:

“The Studio” (2025–)
“Veep” (2012-19)
“The Player” (1992)
“The Pat Hobby Stories,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“Picture,” by Lillian Ross
“Why Los Angeles Is Becoming a Production Graveyard,” by Winston Cho (The Hollywood Reporter)
The New Yorker’s Oscars Live Blog

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Critics at Large | The New Yorker

“The Studio” Pokes Fun at Hollywood’s Existential Struggle

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Art vs. Commerce Dilemma

Character Insights and Satire

Current Challenges in the Film Industry

A Unique Moment for Hollywood

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts