The Studio

Yeah. I'm just getting in now.

There was a million motherfuckers trying to get on the lot this morning.

That Netflix Waterloo miniseries started shooting today.

Oh, that's right. Don't remind me.

We're renting out our stages to those fucking hacks.

Also, Chris Hemsworth is in town this week

and wants to get martinis, but... ...you're booked solid.

Oh, no. Really?

Okay, look. If any slot opens up, instantly fill it with Chris Hemsworth.

I love that dude. Okay?

Yo, where are we at on WINK , man? Are we closed?

Almost. Parker just wants to meet Matt before wrapping this up.

I told you that's gonna happen. Matt wants to do it.

He said to me, actually this morning, he said, "I can't wait to meet Parker Finn."

So, tell Parker that so we can close the deal, sign some papers.

Also, Parker's still worried it's too similar to Smile .

He doesn't want to direct the exact same movie again.

Yeah, don't even worry about that.

He's gonna talk to Matt, who will assuage him.

And we are gonna make a great movie.

Trust me, it'll be fine.

Quinn, stop dicking around. Has Matt even read Owen's script or not?

Matt has just got a lot on his plate right now.

But I'm gonna follow up with him first thing this morning.

You've been saying this for months.

We went with you because you said you had a lot of sway over there.

Can you get a movie made or not?

I absolutely can get a movie made. I just... I... I'm-I'm sorry.

Can you... Can you hold on a second?

Hi. Hi. I'm so sorry. What is happening?

Miss, lot's full. I'm gonna have you park in the remote garage down the street.

Um, but it's-it's 8:45, so how's it already full?

Uh, well, we lost two floors this week for a production.

Okay, um, Officer Anderson, is it?

Would it be possible, actually, to get a permanent spot next to my office?

Because I've worked here for five years, so...

I mean, operations can help you with your assigned spot.

For now, you're gonna have to park down the street.

Okay. You know, I'm a CE.

That stands for creative exec, which I guess means fucking nothing.

Hey, still here. Good luck finding a parking spot.

- And get Owen Kline's fucking movie made! -

Fuck my fucking ass.

- Hey, can I get a water from you? - Sure.

Thank you.

Look who decided to show up to work.

Literally two minutes after nine.

I know. I'm just kidding. But seriously, we start at nine, you know?

Of course. Yeah. Um, hey, did you get a chance to read that script I sent you?

Which one was that?

The low-budget slasher that Owen Kline wrote for himself to direct.

I think he's so talented and so smart.

Yeah, no. It was actually a really fun read.

But Sal's been also developing a low-budget slasher movie,

and I don't think we can do both, you know.

The rip-off of Smile ? We're still definitely doing that one?

Oh, yeah. Definitely.

He actually got a director on board he's really psyched about.

We were just gonna go meet about it.

Why don't you just help him with his instead?

Yeah, totally.

What up, baby?

- Salamander. -

- Fresh draft. Hot off of the press. - Nice.

Hey, Sal. How are you?

- Hey. Uh... -

Matt, I thought you and I had a meeting right now.

Oh, yeah. Quinn's actually gonna jump on board the WINK stuff from now on.

Hey, Petra, can you come in here and take some notes, please?

- Okay. - Yep, on my way. Coming. Coming.

Yeah, sorry.

Don't be sorry. Just take notes.

All right. So, WINK ...

Oh, love that script. Ghosts that wink before they murder?

Oh, that was cool.

Uh, script is really great. Uh, Parker Finn offer out.

He wants to meet you, which I said was fine.

Isn't that the guy who directed Smile ?

- Yep. - Really? Him?

Why do you say that like that?

Just 'cause I feel like if we're already ripping off his movie,

it makes sense to hire, like, a new, cool director, you know?

Just so it doesn't feel stale.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think it's gonna feel stale, you know?

The offer's out, the meeting's being set for this week.

But that was awesome. Great idea.

Hmm. Well, yeah. But maybe we shouldn't settle, you know?

We should probably take some more meetings.

Oh, what about Owen Kline? He's been dying to make a slasher for forever.

That's actually a really interesting idea.

Wait a minute. The Owen Kline? Uh, follow-up. Who the fuck is Owen Kline?

He literally made one of the coolest movies of 2022. So...

- Did he really? Oh. - Yeah, it's called Funny Pages .

- And it went to Cannes. -

And A24... stop doing that... A24 released it.

The Safdie brothers EP'ed it.

Wait, wait. All jokes aside... Cannes, A24 and Safdies? I-I like all of that.

So do I. WINK is not an A24 movie, all right?

It's not for a bunch of pansexual mixologists living in Bed-Stuy.

This is a wide release for normal American people who like cool movies.

Okay, but if we are making a low-budget movie

maybe it makes sense to take a big swing on a director.

If you take a big swing, you can strike out.

Matt, I got you the original director of Smile

to basically remake his own movie for this studio.

If a scary smile could gross over two hundred million,

imagine what a scary wink could do.

Just because that worked one fucking time doesn't mean it's gonna work again.

All right. There are 11 Fast and the Furious movies

that prove your little theory fucking stupid, man.

Okay, listen. I would love to be proven wrong by you, okay?

- You are. - I would love to be.

But I just think this idea, as it stands, is just a little lame.

- Lame? - It is not lame.

- Yeah. Just a little. Yeah. - It is not lame.

I mean, honestly, I kinda had, like, fears it was a little lame.

- It's not. - And I was like, "It's not lame."

- And then she said it was lame. - She's fucking dumb.

- And then I'm like, "Oh, no. Is it lame?" - Okay, well...

Maybe it is lame. Honestly, I-I don't want this whole thing

to come across as, like, a cynical cash grab.

- Well, you need a hit, so it kind of is. - Yeah.

Well, but it doesn't have to be that.

You know, I-I'll meet the Smile guy, but I'll also meet Owen Kline.

He-He-He sounds cool.

- He's so cool. Amazing. - That is great news.

Matt Remick's office. Oh, yes. One second.

It's Johnny Knoxville.

Get out. I need to take this.

Knox, Knox, motherfucker.

Oh, I mean... Yeah, I'll hold for Johnny.

Quinn, what the fuck was that?

What was what?

Owen Kline? I'm making a deal.

I've been trying to get Parker Finn on this for fucking weeks.

Owen Kline is cool.

It's not a cool contest.

That's literally all Matt talks about.

Matt let you into my meeting and you absolutely derailed it.

Derailed it? I helped you.

You said the word lame. And you know that is very triggering to Matt.

When I was a first-year creative executive,

I did not pitch directors willy-nilly.

I shut the fuck up because if I didn't, someone would throw a stapler at my head.

Well, times have changed.

If you throw a stapler at my head, you're gonna end up dead like Scott Rudin.

Is Scott Rudin dead?

Professionally, yeah.

Okay, well, professionally, if you don't start respecting the hierarchy,

you'll probably be gone too.

Are you threatening me? Is that a threat?

I'm trying to give you some fucking friendly advice.

Chill out, you fucking maniac.

- Fire! -

Oh! Oh, my God. Oh, my God. This feels so good.

- - Oh, God. Quinn, isn't this amazing?

- - Oh, did you just cum?

- No. - Oh. Oh. This is so good.

- Isn't this so good? - Oh, my God.

- I'm so sick of getting fucked. - What?

Oh, my God. Okay. I'm sorry.

Sorry. Sorry. It's not you. I'm sorry.

I just had a really shitty day at work.

And you're thinking about it now?

Yes. I'm sorry. Also, when you fuck me from behind my mind wanders sometimes.

- Sal's just pissing me off. - Oh. About what?

He said when he was my age, he just listened in meetings.

He didn't speak. Isn't that crazy? To not talk at work?

Well, maybe it's your job to just listen sometimes.

Well, then why did I get promoted if I can't talk in meetings?

I swear to God, he's just threatened by me.

Well, you have said repeatedly that you think you're smarter than him

and that you want his job.

And why shouldn't I have his job? Because I'm young?

Alexander the Great was king by 20 years old.

That was literally 2,000 years ago, and everyone was dead by 28.

My talents are being wasted.

You guys excited? A little Musso and Frank's on a weekday?

Wow. What a cool dad.

You guys can get whatever you want.

If you wanna get a glass of wine, get a glass of wine.

I don't give a shit. Just don't tell your mother, please.

I saw a pretty funny meme this week.

It was, uh, Schwarzenegger and Carl Weathers doing the Predator hands.

I was... Ooh! Here we go. Yay, yay, yay. Thank you.

Girls...

Thanks.

Thank you.

Skye, why are we still doing the baby voice?

Hmm. I dunno.

Yeah.

Oh, Bella, hey. How's photography classes going?

Your mom sent me a photo you took. It was gorgeous.

Darkroom class sucks. It takes, like, two hours to develop a single photo.

Yeah, that-that does kind of suck.

Just take it on your phone, you know. Easier.

- Mmm. Food. -

- Steak for her. - Hi, hi.

- This is the Bolognese girl right here. - Yeah, I can talk.

If you could get a little extra Parmesan cheese?