Jessica Lee Gagné directed an episode of Severance for the first time, which was a huge success! Episode 7 of Season 2 has an excellent 9.5/10 rating on IMDb, making it the second-best episode in the series after the season 1 finale.
It’s also one of the highest-rated TV episodes ever!
Jessica Lee Gagné has been the cinematographer for most of Severance, but directing an episode was a life-changing experience for her.
Advertisement The thing I learned the most is that this is what I want to do. It’s hard to say I want to move on from cinematography, but it makes sense. I feel like a part of myself that I buried for many, many years has just shown up. It makes me a happier, lighter person. It’s been a bit of an awakening.
In an interview, she shared
Jessica Lee Gagné is excited about directing more Severance episodes but is also looking into other stories she might want to tell.
One of the most impressive moments in the episode is a smooth, one-shot sequence that follows Mark (Adam Scott) and Ms. Casey (Dichen Lachman) from the office to the basement.
Read More: Ben Stiller Had to Battle Apple to Cast Adam Scott in ‘Severance’
Many thought CGI was used, but Gagné revealed that the entire shot was done practically with a custom-built cable rig.
There’s a shot that goes from MDR to the control room downstairs. There’s no CGI in it. It’s all real. We actually shot through cables. It was the most laborious thing I have ever done as a DP. It was the biggest side project of this show, and so many people participated in it.
Jessica Lee Gagné explained that the camera moved inside a desk with a pulley system controlling it—a highly complex setup that took serious effort to pull off.
Ben Stiller, an executive producer and director on Severance, praised Gagné’s talent and dedication, calling her “a true artist with the camera” and commending her ability to commit to her craft fully.
With such a strong debut, it’s clear that Gagné has a bright future in directing. Fans of Severance will be eager to see what she does next.
Source: Comicbasis