In episode seven of season two, “Severance” delves into Lumon’s testing area, offering a peek into the routine life of Gemma (Dichen Lachman). Here, the organization is working on developing an inner for her to withstand agonizing trials. Jeremy Hindle, the production designer, describes the set as both a jail and a hospital, but also likens it to a spacecraft, stating that its design is reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s style.
All the Wrong Angles
In Gemma’s room, the desk located at the back is something Hindle takes great pride in. “I aimed for a place where she eats that appears spacious enough for two people to sit, yet they wouldn’t be able to see each other,” he explains. “Every set we create has an element of imperfection.” The team led by Hindle designed and constructed almost every piece of furniture on the floor. “Actors should be allowed to interact with any prop, and it should serve a purpose,” he notes. “Any item that would be subjected to testing were things that had never been seen before.” The door leads to an authentic hallway, providing the camera operators with the chance to capture uninterrupted takes.
Not Merry & Bright
Gemma’s suite, the hallway, and the Christmas room, along with three other sets (the control room, the dentist’s office, and the airplane), were all constructed on two separate stages that spanned 25,000 square feet. Decorations and toys for the Christmas room were made, while a sofa was shipped from Poland. Hindle remarks, “It feels like a prison. It’s not enjoyable.
A Bird’s-Eye View
Because of the 2023 writers’ strike, the design team for production had additional time to brainstorm concepts for the test site. With just outlines instead of full scripts, they were aware that episode seven (the last one filmed) would be a self-contained story, so it included a start, a progression, and a conclusion. On the map on the right, you can see the part of the testing floor that was physically constructed (in pink) on stage two. The rest of the space was created digitally using visual effects.
An Endless Hallway
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that TV games never feature ceilings within rooms. You can tell this by the lighting, and it’s something I’ve always found myself adding while designing. Although it creates a significant fire hazard issue, I believe it’s essential for achieving a realistic and immersive lighting effect in the game. This could be why the show feels so physically engaging and authentic as it appears to have been lit like a real place. Furthermore, incorporating ceilings contributes to the overall sense of claustrophobia and disorientation experienced within the game series, making players feel constantly lost.
Double Duty
In this episode, the show’s cinematographer, Jessica Lee Gagné, stepped into directing for the first time. This episode takes viewers back to the story of how characters Gemma and Mark (Adam Scott) initially met, and guides us through Gemma’s testing floor. According to Hindle, the room where they flashback to the IVF clinic was intended to be the same set by Gagné. The design needed to transform while still maintaining its original identity as the same space.
Originally published in a special May edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine, you can access future issues by clicking here for a subscription.
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2025-05-27 21:24