Journalism is often described as a quest for truth, but in practice, its success lies in refining and packaging that truth in ways that make people pay attention. Directed by Roxine Helberg, Cold Copy draws comparisons to Whiplash, especially in how it presents journalism students pushing themselves to extremes in pursuit of professional recognition.
At the centre of this film is Mia Scott, a determined postgraduate journalism student who dreams of becoming a respected figure like Diane Heger, a presenter with a major television outlet called TNR.
Mia’s journey from student to storyteller takes a dark detour (Photo: Cold Copy/Votiv Films, Scythia Films, Needle’s Eye Productions, ShivHans Pictures, 30West, and Carte Blanche)As Mia embarks on the task of crafting a story that will win Diane’s approval, layers of her personality begin to emerge, revealing the pressures and choices she must confront to reach her goal.
Plot Synopsis: What Happened In The Film?
We are first introduced to Mia Scott as someone with a strong admiration for Diane Heger’s work. Her desire to emulate her idol becomes clear during her postgraduate studies, where she grows anxious about the possibility of joining Diane’s exclusive class.
Her interview with Diane doesn’t go well—her lack of confidence and a simplistic response about “seeking the truth” fail to impress. Although she attempts to justify herself, Diane doesn’t allow her to finish.
Around this time, Mia’s friend Alex, who couldn’t make the interview, handed over her portfolio to Mia with the hope she’d pass it on. But in a selfish move, Mia dumped it in the trash, fearing that Alex’s inclusion might threaten her own chances.
Eventually, Mia secures a spot in Diane’s class, even if it’s barely. Her roommate, Kim Connolly, also gets selected. Though both are driven, Mia sees Connolly more as a rival than a friend. Diane challenges her students to find compelling stories that are both original and deeply researched.
While others—including Connolly—begin making progress, Mia keeps facing rejection. Connolly soon finds a potential scoop involving a senator’s office, which starts to earn her praise from Diane, leaving Mia feeling sidelined and jealous.
What Did Mia Do To Connolly?
Mia kept working on ideas, but none got her the recognition she craved. One evening, a disturbing encounter on a date takes an unexpected turn when a teenage boy comes to Mia’s aid. The boy, Igor Nowak, invites her to his lavish home, where she learns about his background.
Igor turns out to be the son of Charlotte Nowak, a late author of children’s books, whose death left a mystery behind. As Mia sees his story, she notices his artwork—sketches filled with emotional depth. This sparks an idea: portraying Igor as someone who channels his pain into creativity.
Eager to pitch her concept, Mia trails Diane to a bar and discusses the story with her and another journalist. While the idea gains some attention, Diane still isn’t convinced it’s enough. Mia becomes desperate for Diane’s support, but before she knows it, Connolly gets chosen for an internship at TNR, a position Mia had hoped for.
Angry and determined to win at any cost, Mia does the unthinkable. Connolly had once shared details about her scoop, which included sensitive information passed on by a senator’s office receptionist named Rachel.
Viewing Rachel’s actions as unethical, Mia wrote an anonymous tip-off, causing Rachel to be dismissed—and Connolly’s story to collapse. Connolly immediately suspected Mia, having told no one else. The betrayal damaged their friendship severely, though the two continued living together in tense silence.
Did Mia Finally Get Her Story?
In pursuit of the perfect story, Mia takes a questionable route. She sneaks into Igor’s room and discovers a heartfelt suicide letter from his mother. She takes a picture and sends it to Diane, who praises the depth of her work.
Despite her growing guilt—especially since she had also lost her mother to suicide—Mia feels compelled to meet Diane’s expectations. Rather than focus on Igor’s recovery and emotional growth, Diane instructs her to highlight his inner darkness.
Initially hesitant, Mia eventually gives in when Diane offers her a job, albeit a minor one—serving coffee to the TNR team. Mia accepts, believing proximity to Diane will accelerate her growth.
Mia pretends to befriend Igor, sharing her personal traumas to gain his trust. During a conversation on a rooftop, she carefully manipulates him into recalling his worst memories, including being bullied.
She records his emotional outburst, although her heart isn’t in it. Back home, Mia edits the footage to fit the disturbing image Diane wanted, shaping Igor into a troubled character. Diane receives the final piece and is highly impressed with Mia’s execution.
Did Diane Really Steal Mia’s Story?
Despite her efforts, Mia gets blindsided. When her piece is broadcast on TNR, it has Diane’s voiceover instead of hers, with no credit to Mia. Outraged, she storms into Diane’s dressing room, demanding an explanation.
A friendship falls apart in the shadows of competition (Photo: Cold Copy/Votiv Films, Scythia Films, Needle’s Eye Productions, ShivHans Pictures, 30West, and Carte Blanche)Diane maintains that it wasn’t theft, but rather a case of needing a well-known voice to lend weight to such a story. Mia disagrees and walks out, disillusioned and heartbroken.
The admiration she once held for Diane turns into bitter resentment. Feeling crushed, Mia drops out of her programme and begins plotting her retaliation against the TV host she once revered.
What Happened To Diane?
After stepping away from school, Mia makes a calculated move. She goes to a sauna Diane had recommended, hoping to confront her face to face. During their conversation, Diane assumes Mia has returned to seek forgiveness or a second chance.
She goes on about her difficult beginnings and her rise from poverty to prominence. Diane refers to herself as the “Iron Hammer” in journalism, claiming her path justifies her actions.
According to her, wronging people like Connolly and Alex meant little in the larger picture, as success demands harsh decisions. She says that even those Mia had hurt would someday pretend to admire her once she reached a top position.
When questioned about the stolen story, Diane remains unapologetic. She even argues that Mia should be grateful, claiming it was Diane’s influence that helped shape the piece into what it became.
Mia sees clearly that Diane feels no remorse. She quietly reveals that their conversation had been recorded. With that evidence in hand, she prepares to take her revenge from behind the scenes, aiming to dismantle the public image Diane had so carefully built.
