As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but reminisce about the unforgettable Music Dance Experience in Season 1 of “Severance.” The mastermind behind it all, Ben Stiller, left such an impact that he was driven to elevate the game for Season 2.
Stiller proposed a marching band segment for the final scene of the show. Consequently, once Mark S., played by Adam Scott, completes the crucial Cold Harbor file, Milchick brings in a fully choreographed marching band as a surprise.
Geoff Richman was among the three editors for the show, and it fell on him to trim the final episode. “I was apprehensive about the marching band sequence,” Richman admits during an interview with Artisans from EbMaster, sponsored by HBO. The scene was filmed over a span of four days, leaving Richman with a vast amount of footage to manage. He explains, “I had no experience in cutting a music video before. It was a balancing act: we wanted to showcase the marching band, yet ensure the story progressed smoothly.
To accomplish this, Richman explains he invested a significant amount of effort in editing the two marching band tunes. However, this task turned out to be difficult due to the extensive footage available. Furthermore, while working on the scenes, it was crucial to keep track of our main characters. So, following the first song, we inserted a rhythm with Jame (Michael Siberry) appearing in a viewing room, and also a quick check-in with Cecily (Sandra Bernhard) and Gemma (Dichen Lachman) en route to Cold Harbor. This serves as a stark reminder that events are unfolding, and Mark must escape since the final test is about to take place.
As I switch to the scene at Cold Harbor, I can’t help but remind my fellow moviegoers that we’re moments away from a pivotal event in the narrative. I make sure to keep everyone focused on the unfolding story.
Richman often edits a scene by layering multiple alternatives at a specific point in time. These aren’t numerous video tracks playing simultaneously, but rather various possibilities for where the scene could be at that moment. He finds it very useful to switch on and off different selections and observe how they influence each other. This method was one of the first effective combinations he discovered.
In the subsequent part of the episode, when Mark sprints through the corridor, Richman was once more limited in his choices. It seems as if we’re viewing the scene from Mark’s perspective as he runs, and it appears we’re approaching a wall, but then we take a turn. Oh dear, we find ourselves on the testing floor with Gemma. Richman goes on to say, “This editing style suggests that Mark is running towards somewhere specific. Where exactly? He’s rushing to reach Gemma before she completes the Cold Harbor test.
He confesses that the scene was pre-planned, stating “She enters Cold Harbor, then proceeds into Cold Harbor.” However, he adds, “We need to maintain all elements in balance. Once she reaches Cold Harbor, there’s an overwhelming intensity, emotion, and anticipation attached to this moment. It’s more effective to pause for a moment and let the impact of that scene linger.
When the camera shifts focus, we’re once again with the marching band. Richman clarifies that this pause is deserved since “we’ve created enough intrigue and suspense.” Following this, the narrative continues as Dylan makes his reappearance.
In due course, when Milchik is perched on the vending machine, there should be a sense of disorder during this scene. “We opted not to add sound effects. Instead, it’s an edited sequence of abrupt cuts, accompanied only by music, silence, and no dialogue. Yet, Milchik appears to be speaking, but his words remain unheard. This editing technique allowed us to escalate the scene and create something unique and unprecedented.
According to Richman, the freeze frame moment in the show was actually an idea proposed by Stiller. The intention behind it was to create a 1960s-style film feel. “The last shot was converted into actual film, so you notice the grainy appearance as you zoom in, like a cinematic effect. Everything you see with a grainy texture is due to this film grain. And then when it turns red, all of that solid red wasn’t just digitally created; it went through the entire film processing process.
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2025-06-02 18:47