Severance is not your typical car show. The Apple TV+ series is a chilling sci-fi drama that focuses on its characters in a close-quarter environment within a mysterious office building. Despite being set in the present-ish, the show’s car casting has been a hot topic of discussion since Season 2 premiered in January. To delve deeper into the world of cars in Severance, prop master Catherine Miller and car supervisor Peter Dancy shared insights on why and how certain vehicles made it into the show.
The show’s creators intentionally wanted to avoid using cars that would immediately pinpoint a specific time period. Instead, they chose cars that would add to the ambiguity of the temporal setting. The cars in Severance play a crucial role in creating the disorienting atmosphere that mirrors the characters’ state of mind.
The design aesthetic of the show, which revolves around two worlds – the « innie » world inside the Lumon building and the « outtie » world outside of it, required a careful selection of cars. The show’s main characters are torn between their work and personal lives, and this duality is reflected in the choice of vehicles. The cars needed to have a timeless feel, with a hint of nostalgia, to match the retro vibe of the innie world and the show’s overall design.
The production team deliberately removed all branding and labels from the show to maintain a sense of timelessness and create an alternate reality. The focus was on the design and overall vibe of the cars rather than their makes and models. Cars from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with distinct lines and shapes were chosen to complement the brutalist architecture of Lumon and enhance the visual appeal on screen.
The process of selecting cars for the show starts with the script, crafted by writer and creator Dan Erickson. Car supervisor Peter Dancy approaches car casting in a similar way to casting actors for roles, considering the character’s personality and traits when choosing the perfect vehicle. Each character has five different car options, carefully selected to enhance their role in the story.
Overall, the cars in Severance are not just props but integral elements that contribute to the show’s unsettling and immersive atmosphere. Then, the production team had to obtain one of each vehicle option and bring it to a stage where Stiller and the crew could inspect the cars in person. They would carefully consider each car’s style, how well the body could hold camera rigs, and even details like headrest designs.
« Ben and Jessica Lee Gagne, our fantastic cinematographer, would also provide input on how things could be shot from different angles. We would discuss details like headrest designs and start narrowing down our choices, » said Miller.
Once a specific car was chosen, such as Dylan’s minivan, Dancy’s job was to find multiple duplicates. Instead of relying on traditional car rental services, Dancy scoured platforms like Facebook Marketplace and even left business cards on cars he liked on the roadside.
Finding duplicates was a challenge, and Dancy would travel between 600 and 700 miles per week with a car trailer, transporting cars between his home and the workshop.
The cars needed mechanical repairs to ensure they were reliable for filming. Additionally, they had to be made identical through paintwork, wheel changes, aging effects, and matching interior upholstery. Dancy handled most of the work, with Miller assisting in keeping the cars’ details consistent.
A few scenes featured background cars, carefully selected to match the show’s aesthetic. For scenes with many cars, like Lumon’s office parking lot, a combination of real cars and VFX was used to create the desired effect.
Each character’s car was chosen to reflect their personality, such as Mark Scout’s safe choice of a ’90s Volvo. Dylan’s family-man character drove a minivan, specifically the original Dodge Caravan for its ’80s and ’90s vibe. Devon Scout-Hale’s classic Range Rover reflected her grounded and level-headed nature. Since she is one of the wealthier characters in the show, her car had to reflect that level of classiness. According to Dancy, they wanted something high-end for Devon, considering her husband’s profession as a writer or professor. They opted for a SUV for her character. Seth Milchick, portrayed by Tramell Tillman, stands out as one of the favorite characters on television, and his performance led to the decision for him to ride a motorcycle, despite not originally being planned. Milchick’s bike is a custom-built Royal Enfield, and Tillman learned to ride for the show.
Helena, played by Britt Lower, drives the oldest car in the show, a 1968 Lincoln Continental, chosen purely for its aesthetic appeal and how it suited her character. The standout car in the series is the Mk1 Volkswagen Rabbit driven by Harmony Cobel, portrayed by Patricia Arquette. The production team had to go through great lengths to find five gas-powered, automatic Rabbits from the ’80s for the show, as diesel engines are not preferred due to their noise.
The choice of cars in « Severance » is more about vibes and aesthetics rather than deeper meanings, meant to create a sense of disorientation for viewers. The cars act as extensions of the characters and contribute to the show’s eerie atmosphere. Despite taking place mostly in an office building, the cars in « Severance » make a significant impact when they are on screen. The selection process for these cars was meticulous, adding to the overall visual storytelling of the show. Découvrez ses œuvres ici et sur BMWBlog. Plongez dans son univers artistique et explorez ses créations uniques disponibles en ligne. Ne manquez pas l’opportunité de vous immerger dans son talent exceptionnel et de découvrir des œuvres qui ne manqueront pas de vous émerveiller. Rendez-vous sur BMWBlog pour en savoir plus sur cet artiste passionné et talentueux.
