With two seasons of Severance having aired on Apple TV+, fans have had a chance to dive deep into the show’s unsettling world—with much of that world brought to life through film locations in Westchester County.
Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller, the psychological thriller stars Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee of Lumon Industries who undergoes the titular severance procedure, which separates people's memories between their work and personal lives.
Crafting the Look of Severance
“Season one was about establishing the look of the world,” explained Ryan Smith, the show’s second unit director and supervising location manager. Smith and his team worked closely with writers and production designers, often scouting locations based on tone and story development. “The aesthetic informs the mood and the tone,” he noted. “We’d find spots that matched not just the content but also the vibe, the angles, the symmetry. By season two, that look became so refined that we could immediately tell if a location ‘felt very Severance.’”
One of the pivotal locations selected was the Bier House in the Usonia neighborhood of Pleasantville. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Kaneji Domoto, the mid-century modern structure is used as the home of Devon (Jen Tullock) and Ricken Hale (Michael Chernus) in the show. Its earthy wooden panels, sunken living room, skylights, and expansive windows match the show’s design-driven aesthetic, according to Smith.
“Not only did it have the right look, it was also big enough for the book party scene and all of our Covid-era equipment in season one. The neighbors and surrounding community were also great. We were able to stage our equipment and use roads and driveways. We were welcomed back and happy to return for season two,” said Smith.
Flexible Film Locations
For both seasons, the production team sought unique, previously underutilized locations that would enhance the show’s unsettling atmosphere.
“We like going to Westchester mostly because there's a lot of flexibility in terms of aesthetics and looks,” said Grace Kwon, location manager. “When we need more of a rural look, we go up toward Ossining, and for more of an urban vibe, we can be in Yonkers.”
Trinity Lutheran Church in White Plains, selected for a funeral scene in season one, was given a full makeover on the inside. “We completed an extensive set build over about three weeks prior to our filming, getting the details just right,” said Kwon, noting the location had ample space to suit production needs. “We also shot out on the main road and built a tent for catering.”
The former Sprainbrook Nursery in Greenburgh and Croton Gorge Park in Cortlandt set the stage for outdoor scenes; the former, for a surreptitious meeting; the latter for a car crash setup. Both offered off-the-beaten path locations and natural, atmospheric backdrops that complemented the show’s themes of secrecy and isolation.
The Hudson River Museum and its Glenview Historic Home in Yonkers also feature in both seasons as the Perpetuity Wing, a museum where severed employees are indoctrinated in the history of Lumon Industries and its founder, Kier Eagan (Marc Geller). “What we loved was the architecture. It’s so concrete and linear right next to this historic mansion. With some visual effects, we made it seem enclosed. Creatively, this was a big location for us,” noted Kwon.
Advantages of Filming in Westchester
For the Severance crew, Westchester afforded several key advantages. Its proximity to New York City made it accessible from the show’s Bronx sound stage location. “There’s definitely a convenience factor,” said Kwon. “To be a stone's throw from Westchester, where you can have a variety of looks, offers flexibility.” The production also filmed key reshoots at Haven Studios NY, a NYS qualified production facility in Mount Vernon.
Beyond aesthetics, supportive and film-friendly communities played a significant role in making the production a success. “People have experience and familiarity with filming, and an understanding of what goes into a shoot. I genuinely enjoy filming in Westchester,” she added.
With a third season of the show confirmed by Apple TV+, the show’s location team has expressed a strong desire to continue working in Westchester. “There’s a great variety of housing stock and landscapes,” said Smith. “There are big boulders, beautiful and geologically chaotic, that contribute to a look that’s not anywhere else. We embrace the trees, stone walls, and amazing architecture. Westchester is so strong visually that it helped inform the whole look of the show. There’s a richness and authenticity you can’t fake.”
Severance is streaming on Apple TV+.
Photos courtesy of Apple.
