In the quest to depict a sinister corporation in the dystopian thriller “Severance,” director of photography Jessica Lee Gagné embarked on a search for the perfect filming location. Her goal was to find a fictional headquarters that would effectively convey the unsettling atmosphere of the series. While exploring various abandoned malls online, Gagné stumbled upon a captivating blog showcasing images of a decaying, midcentury office building known as Bell Labs.
Bell Labs, with its hauntingly empty spaces, features wraparound internal walkways, triangular skylights, a magnificent sunken lobby, and expansive planters integrated into a vast atrium. The building exuded an eerie charm that sparked Gagné's interest. Intrigued, she quickly typed “Bell Labs” into Google Maps and zoomed in on a rural town located in central New Jersey, known as Holmdel. “When I saw the overhead of it, I was like, this can’t be true,” Gagné recounted. “Is this a real place?”
Within days of discovering the location, Gagné teamed up with Ben Stiller, the director and executive producer of the series for Apple TV+. They embarked on a road trip to New Jersey, navigating a winding access road that led them to the building. Along the way, they passed a striking three-legged white water tower that resembled a transistor radio, setting the tone for their visit.
Upon arrival, Gagné was astonished to find that, although the building had undergone renovations since the initial photos were taken, the developers had managed to preserve its corporate chilliness. “There was a part of me that couldn’t believe how perfect it was,” Gagné expressed, reflecting on the sight of the mirrored building she had first seen in the summer of 2019. “It was this mind-blowing moment.”
The choice of Bell Labs as the filming location for “Severance” underscores the importance of setting in storytelling. The building’s architectural features not only enhance the visual narrative but also contribute to the unsettling themes explored in the series. As the production team continues to unravel the mysteries of the corporation depicted in the show, Bell Labs stands as a testament to the power of location in creating a captivating cinematic experience.
Through Gagné’s discovery and Stiller’s vision, the eerie ambiance of Bell Labs has become an integral part of the narrative landscape of “Severance,” effectively immersing viewers in a world that reflects the complexities of corporate life.
