If you're here for another chaotic yet cleverly-crafted episode of AppleTV+'s satirical gem The Studio, then buckle up. Episode 5 shakes things up from the usual director-actor absurdities and turns its lens inward—at a war brewing between two of Continental Studios’ own: Sal Saperstein and Quinn Hackett. Matt Remick takes a step back this week, giving us front-row seats to an all-out executive ego battle. Spoiler alert: It gets messy.
A Missed Chris Hemsworth Martini
We open on a frenzied morning at Continental Studios, where chaos reigns—not due to a new production, but because Netflix has rented their sets. Yes, you read that right. The once-proud studio is now leasing space to other companies to pay the bills. This explains the studio’s jammed parking lot and a very irked Matt Remick.
Already irritable, Matt perks up when his assistant shares some juicy news: Chris Hemsworth is in town and wants to grab martinis. Sadly, due to Matt’s packed schedule, she’s declined on his behalf. Big mistake. Matt is crushed and quickly orders her to clear any upcoming slot if Chris calls again. Priorities, right?
Wink vs. Weird: Let the Horror Showdown Begin
While Matt dreams of clinking glasses with Thor, behind the scenes a horror war brews. Sal Saperstein, the opportunistic executive producer, is betting big on a low-budget horror flick called Wink. The pitch? Ghosts wink before killing. Yep, it’s a straight-up knockoff of Parker Finn’s Smile, but Sal wants Finn himself to direct this parody of his own work. Meta, much?
Meanwhile, Quinn Hackett—recently promoted from assistant to creative executive—has her own slasher vision. She’s working with Owen Kline (Funny Pages), whose indie credentials (A24 release, Safdie brothers, Cannes) scream artistic promise. But there’s a catch: Kline’s agent doubts Quinn can get the project past Matt.
Pitch Battle: The Hustle Gets Personal
Soon, Sal and Quinn realize they’re both pitching competing horror films, and neither is backing down. Sal already has Matt’s ear, and Matt even tells Quinn to assist him with Wink—a demotion she refuses to swallow.
Determined to flip the narrative, Quinn employs a brilliant strategy: she casually calls Wink “lame” during a conversation with Matt. The trigger word hits its mark. Matt, haunted by the idea of producing a soulless cash grab, becomes hesitant. Quinn pounces, hyping Kline as a critically acclaimed filmmaker with serious indie cred.
Now curious, Matt agrees to meet both Finn and Kline. And just like that, the gloves come off.
Cinema vs. Movies: A Philosophical Brawl
Sal and Quinn embody two opposing ideologies. Sal is unapologetically commercial—think explosions, franchises, and dollar signs. To him, films are a business. He references Fast & Furious as the gold standard of success.
Quinn, however, wants to balance profit with purpose. She’s not a snob, but she believes in elevating the studio with meaningful cinema. The episode cleverly uses their conflict to explore deeper industry divides: prestige vs. popcorn, A24 vs. Blumhouse.
Though Sal argues that now—amid Continental’s financial woes—is not the time for arthouse risks, Quinn refuses to budge. And Matt, ever the indecisive head honcho, lets the tension simmer.
Quinn Gets Sneaky: Sabotage, Schedule, and... Hemsworth?
Tired of playing fair, Quinn decides to tilt the playing field. One night, she hangs back at the office and chats with Petra, Matt’s scheduling assistant. Once Petra leaves, Quinn hacks her computer using a password literally taped to the monitor (rookie move, Petra). She deletes Matt’s next-day meeting with Parker Finn.
The result? The following morning, Petra sees the blank spot in the schedule and—ding ding ding—books that long-awaited martini meet with Chris Hemsworth.
When Sal arrives, ready to introduce Finn, Matt casually says he’s off to hang with Chris. Sal is stunned. He tries to cover the mess by telling Finn there's been a tragic on-set accident. Finn reluctantly agrees to reschedule, but the damage is done.
Sal Strikes Back: Interrogation, Humiliation, and Exit Stage Left
Sal figures out Quinn’s behind the scheduling switcheroo. He storms toward her office, only to find she’s already pulled Kline in for a meeting with Matt.
Refusing to be outplayed, Sal joins the meeting under the guise of curiosity. He immediately undermines Kline by asking inappropriate questions, starting with: “What will you do if your film bombs at test screenings?” Kline, confused but composed, replies that he'd consider making changes based on feedback.
Sal scoffs. He lectures everyone on how low test scores usually mean full-blown reshoots or cancellation. Quinn defends Kline, but Matt actually enjoys the grilling. Unfortunately, Kline does not. Frustrated and offended, he storms out, declaring he wants nothing to do with Continental Studios. Ouch.
Burrito Wars and a Golf Cart Catastrophe
With Kline out, Sal smugly taunts Quinn, even calling her a “lowly employee.” Quinn plots revenge—again.
The next morning, she parks a golf cart in Sal’s designated spot. As expected, chaos ensues. Sal is unable to find a spot and drives in circles while Quinn tips off security. When Sal finally arrives, Finn—fed up and furious—has already left, vowing to make Wink with Paramount instead.
Zero projects greenlit. Two disgraced executives. One very empty production slate.
Food Fight Fallout
Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, Sal confronts Quinn in full tantrum mode. He rips her burrito from her hands and throws it at her.
She ducks. The burrito smacks an assistant director in the face—who then crashes his golf cart into an active set. Cue property damage, HR investigations, and the final twist: Sal and Quinn are both on the chopping block.
Uneasy Alliance: Enemies to... Not Friends, But Co-Conspirators
With both facing serious disciplinary action, Sal and Quinn are forced to team up to save their necks. For the first time, we get glimpses into their personal vulnerabilities—Sal’s deep-seated insecurity and Quinn’s simmering frustration over being patronized.
Episode 5 ends not with a triumphant production, but with mutual destruction. Neither Wink nor Kline’s film gets made. Continental Studios is no closer to salvation. And Matt Remick? He’s off sipping martinis with Chris Hemsworth, blissfully unaware
Final Thoughts: A Battle of Egos, A Loss for Cinema
Episode 5 of The Studio trades its usual Hollywood satire for a more introspective, office-politics-fueled chaos. By zooming in on internal rivalries, it delivers one of the show’s funniest and most layered episodes yet. Burritos fly, dreams crash, and somehow, no one wins—but boy, is it fun to watch them try.
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