“Didn’t wanna be a backseat director”- ‘The Studio’ creators reveal Martin Scorsese held himself back from giving directorial notes during his cameo
Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese made a rare comedic cameo on the Apple TV+ series The Studio. However, what happened behind the scenes has drawn as much attention as the episode itself.
While parodying himself, Scorsese reportedly gave no advice and chose to observe rather than interfere with the creators’ work. In their recent interview with People, Evan Goldberg and Alex Gregory, creators of “The Studio,” revealed tidbits around the cameo.
They explained that the Oscar-winning director only gave one suggestion, but he “had one note, but he didn’t give it until” they got the shot.
Goldberg said:
“There was a moment where him and Charlize Theron were whispering to each other, and it took like 10 takes to get the shot.”
He added:
“And then we got it and I was like, ‘What were you whispering about?’ He was like, ‘I knew you were doing this wrong, but I didn’t wanna be a backseat director, so I just didn’t say anything.’ And I was like, ‘Well, we could have used that time, but I appreciate that you didn’t wanna manhandle us.’”
Gregory also shared that people on the set were “pretty shocked Martin Scorsese was in the show.” Goldberg continued by praising Scorsese’s role, mentioning that:
“unanimously we would say Martin Scorsese as an actor was unbelievable.”
Goldberg continued:
“The fact that he actually showed up, ’cause we kept thinking, ‘He’s gonna cancel. It’s too amazing. It’s too special. He’s just the best."
Scorsese’s reputation as a famous director is backed up by his ten Oscar nominations for Best Director.
“Didn’t Wanna Be a Backseat Director”: Surprise Scorsese cameo
Scorsese, known for Goodfellas and Killers of the Flower Moon, unexpectedly appeared in the pilot episode of The Studio on Apple TV+. The satirical part focuses on the conflict between auteur filmmaking and Hollywood’s obsession with intellectual property.
Being behind the scenes, Scorsese’s collaboration with showrunners Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and co-creators Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck was noticeably professional.
While shooting a scene featuring Charlize Theron that needed many takes, Scorsese realized there was an issue with the way the scene was shot. Still, instead of taking control as director, he kept silent to respect those directing the project.
“I knew you were doing this wrong, but I didn’t wanna be a backseat director,” he reportedly told Goldberg afterward.
Though Scorsese’s part in The Studio seemed unexpected, it perfectly demonstrates the show’s theme: the friction between art and industry.
