On April 1, 2022, on Twitter, director Ben Stiller and actors from the Severance series answered fan questions about the TV series. Officially, the chat ran from 8:55 PM to 10:05 PM.
Ben, thank you for spending this time with us!❤️馃檹
See what questions fans were asking.
Hello and thank you all for such a hauntingly unhinged masterpiece! What's everyone's favorite Severance food? Melon? Waffles? Deviled egg bar? Vending machine? Something I'm missing? I'm obsessed.
I personally cannot deal with the Egg Bar. I considered changing it because I abhor eggs. But realized it was necessary for the story. Not my favorite day of shooting.
What's a tiny production design detail you think we as viewers might not notice, but wish we would? (I'm not asking for clues here, just the weird props/writing/etc that get put in for fun but are only on screen for half a second).
Honestly I’m amazed at how incredibly detailed oriented our audience is. It’s really satisfying. I feel people pick up on the smaller things. Our prop department is AMAZING and worked so hard to create those details. Shout out to Cat Miller!!!
It’s not quite about the set but there was an actual brain surgeon and nurse on set “conducting” Helly’s procedure.
It was incredible. Open a cupboard the audience never sees and there is lavender Lumon stationary. Pens, stacks of all kinds of branded Lumon things which really helped to feel it was a fully fleshed out world.
I had a TON of different caricatures in my desk drawers.
Is the opening theme purposely similar to “depressed Ben Wyatt claymation”?
It might have been deep in my psyche… I just loved Oliver Latta’s work and it felt right. I am a Big Ben Wyatt claymation fan.
I don’t understand this thread or the internet but I love this show help.
You’re doing great. I’m just hanging on myself.
Was Ricken’s book inspired by Jack Handey quotes??
Is there one self help book in the last 30 years not inspired by Deep Thoughts?
Did Britt Lower get brought on because of her original role in Ghosted (which ofc did not get a fair chance to continue as a show)?
No, I wasn’t aware of that till after she read… she was just so good in her reading and seemed to embody all things Helly…
Ben I am sure I seen you drive past me in a black suv (I won’t say what) in nyc last night! I’m here on honeymoon.
Hi, I’m from the mid-Hudson Valley where I think some of this show was shot, and love this show so much, do you all want to just tell me some things you loved about the mid-Hudson valley?
I LOVE the Hudson Valley. I grew up in NY. I love shooting here and find it very beautiful. Amazing, inspiring landscapes. Love the river towns and the history.
The scenes at Devon and Ricken’s house were shot in the Usonia Historic District in Pleasantville. A super cool community of historic houses with architectural significance. The layout of the neighborhood and some of the homes were planned and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Before this Q&A is over I want to repeat others and say thank you soooo much for this show. Thanks for interacting with us so much throughout. You all are amazing. Each character is so wild, you all really brought a lot of joy to my home.
Thank Melissa!! That really makes me happy to hear!
What's been the most surprising thing that's happened since you first started working on the show?
First off, I see you and appreciate your super fan status. To me, it’s been so incredible to feel people who love the show really dig in. We were in a bubble for the better part of 3 years with it. So having it connect so deeply with those who are into it is what you wish for.
Agreed—you never know what the reaction to a given project is going to be, and we couldn’t have asked for a better one, or a more passionate and smart community of viewers. Feeling so fortunate—thank you!
At a certain point I was wondering if we would ever get to finish the show. We started talking about it before COVID and it was a very strange ride.
Hi Severance cast, it's Mashable. Once again I would like to inquire about the safety of Burving!
Safety is a relative term. Are any of us safe?
Can’t believe I missed the Q&A! I really enjoy the complexity of the characters in Severance. I love the ensemble cast. Whomever did your casting did a great job. I look forward to watching future episodes!
Rachel Tenner is our amazing casting director. Thanks!
Is the show taking place on Earth?
Originally it was set on Gamma Hydra IV.
This show is amazing! from cast to directing and production design. Thank you! Did someone create a floor map of Lumon?
Parts of it… but the entire one is in Dan Erixon’s head.
They would keep moving doorways and entrances in the hall maze overnight so we were always disoriented.
Did you get to see that amazing Kier Eagan 100% completion animation live on set, or did it get added in post?
The animation was so sophisticated we wanted the actors visceral reactions.
Kier’s voice was the most inspiring part of that for me.
Hello to all! Amazing show, thanks so much for your great work. I’d like to know what you like most about Adam Scott. Thank you.
The way he sits in a chair.
He is a good magician. Can make things appear and disappear.
He’s so very nice and kind.
He is a very kind sweet person and a wonderful actor and he loves his family.
I noticed that both Severance and Walter Mitty have a lot of geometric lines and cool tones, big corporate architecture. Is that something you gravitate towards?
Yes, for better or worse.
What was the most difficult part about working on the show and why?
Hi! Working on the show was challenging because of Covid… so it was a long shoot over many months… so we had to shoot parts of episodes at different times… over 10 months …
Well they kept moving doorways in the halls overnight so we would get lost like rats in a maze. Also aI spent about 2 months in lockdown because of COVID protocols. Severance 24/7.
This show & all of you are absolutely incredible! I haven’t been dissecting a show this much since I watched LOST (my favorite, so it’s the biggest compliment). I’ve noticed some similarities and was wondering if it was in any way an influence.
I can tell you I haven’t watched Lost. I saw parts of episodes over the years but never watched… though people seem to really relate unanswered questions to it… our show is its own thing and hopefully will continue to be!
Ben great job on the direction of this show. The visual style feels strange and claustrophobic at times inside Lumon. How do you create that atmosphere?
Amazing collaboration of our designers and my fellow director Aoife McArdle, all inspired by Dan Erixon words… and of course the incredible cast who bring the reality and emotion.
Love the show! Was telling my wife if corporations were allowed to do this, they absolutely would. Where did this story come from? Is there a book, or was this an original idea of Ben Stiller?
Original idea of Dan Erixon. I just read it and liked it.
What do you think is more important in the show? Mood or plot?
What's the secret to a great theme song? The Main Title music for Severance is an absolute banger.
Thank you Kevin! Much credit due to Ben Stiller for falling in love with that musical idea (I sent him many) and for giving the main titles a generous amount of time-- enough for the music to feel like a complete thought. I'm lucky to work with him!
I’m a filmmaker, and my goal is to make something as powerful and great as Severance. When I started watching the show, I was hypnotized and knew I want to make something as deep and amazing as this. Any tips? Where should I start?
Make your own stuff—chances are you have a really good camera in your pocket. Grab some friends, make stuff—don’t worry about it being good or Bad.
I agree. Just create. It’s the best way to learn and get better.
I have so many questions but really I want to say THANK YOU. Severance makes me wonderstruck and it has been my favorite television experience. Pure bliss and I'm in awe. Thank you for your work!
Thank YOU. Kind of you to watch, and means a lot that it connects—
Yes!! Thank you for watching and paying such attention to the details…
Thanks for all the questions. Really love connecting with our Severance fans. More like experts. So much fun.
