Where Was Severance Filmed - Locations Revealed
Have you ever wondered about the actual places that bring a story to life on your screen? The thrilling series, Severance, with its unique premise of separating work memories from personal ones, really captures people's attention. This show, which explores a rather chilling workplace culture, achieves its distinctive look by using a mix of real spots and studio work, you know.
The production team behind this compelling series made careful choices about where to set their scenes. They picked locations that truly helped build the feeling of a world where human experiences get taken to a whole other level. These spots, often found in New York and New Jersey, lend a very specific atmosphere to the story, creating a sense of both the familiar and something quite unsettling.
So, if you've ever found yourself curious about the actual buildings and outdoor areas that appear in Severance, you're in the right place. We're going to explore the places where Lumon Industries stands, where characters gather for a drink, and even those isolated, quiet spots that hold a deeper meaning within the show's narrative. It's pretty interesting, actually, how these real-world settings contribute to the show's overall mood.
Table of Contents
- Where Was Severance Filmed - The Core States
- What Cities and Towns Appear in Severance's Filming?
- Lumon Industries - Where Was Severance Filmed's Central Hub?
- Exploring Kier - Where Was Severance Filmed's Fictional Town?
- Beyond Lumon - Other Notable Severance Filming Spots
- How Did Production Choose Severance Filming Locations?
- Season 2's New Severance Filming Discoveries
- Where Was Severance Filmed - Studio Work and Soundstages
Where Was Severance Filmed - The Core States
The unsettling story of Severance, a show about people who have their work and home lives kept completely separate, found its real-world footing mostly in two American states. A great deal of the on-screen action, the parts that really make you feel the show's peculiar vibe, took place in various spots across New York and New Jersey. These two states, with their mix of urban settings and more spread-out areas, offered just the right kind of background for the series. It's kind of cool, actually, how they managed to find such fitting places.
When the camera crews started their work for the first season, back in October 2020, they began capturing scenes that would soon become very familiar to viewers. The filming continued for quite a while, bringing to life the different parts of the story. The choice of these particular states was, in a way, very much tied to the overall feeling the show aims to create. You get a sense of a recognizable world, but one that feels just a little bit off, which is really what the show is all about, you know.
The production team put a lot of thought into picking each spot. They weren't just looking for pretty pictures; they were searching for places that could truly help tell the tale of a company that takes human separation to an extreme. So, the places in New York and New Jersey aren't just backdrops; they're very much a part of the story's unsettling mood. It's pretty clear they wanted to make every scene count, setting the tone just right.
What Cities and Towns Appear in Severance's Filming?
When you watch Severance, you might wonder if the places you see are real or just made up for the show. As a matter of fact, many of the scenes were shot in actual cities and towns, mainly in New York and New Jersey. You'll find bits of New York City itself, with its very distinctive feel, making an appearance. Then there are other spots like Nyack, a place that has its own unique character, contributing to the show's look. It's quite interesting how these different settings come together.
The list of real-world locations stretches further into New York State, including places like Kingston, a town that holds a good deal of history. Beacon, another New York spot, also played a part in bringing the series to life. Even Yonkers, a city with its own kind of busy feel, was used to capture specific moments for the show. These varied settings help give the series a sense of depth, showing different sides of the world the characters live in, you know.
Over in New Jersey, the town of Holmdel stands out as a key filming area. This particular spot became very important for one of the most recognizable buildings in the series. The careful selection of these places, from the more populated areas to those with a quieter feel, really helped shape the show's distinct visual style. It's almost like each town added its own little piece to the overall puzzle, making the world of Severance feel very real, yet also a bit strange.
Lumon Industries - Where Was Severance Filmed's Central Hub?
The building that houses Lumon Industries, the very heart of the Severance story, feels like a character all its own. This imposing structure, where the main characters spend their severed working hours, needed a real-world counterpart that could convey its vastness and somewhat cold nature. The production team found exactly what they needed in Bell Works, a significant building located in Holmdel, New Jersey. This place, with its unique design, truly serves as the physical representation of Lumon, you know.
Bell Works, originally a Bell Labs research and development facility, has a long history and a very particular kind of architecture. Its wide-open spaces and clean lines make it a perfect fit for the sterile, almost futuristic look of Lumon Industries. When you see the characters moving through those long hallways and large office areas, you're actually seeing the interior of this real New Jersey building. It's pretty cool how they transformed it to fit the show's specific needs, giving it that distinct Lumon feel.
The choice of Bell Works was, in a way, a very smart one for establishing the show's atmosphere. The building itself helps to create that chilling, somewhat dystopian feeling that runs through the series. It's a place that feels both familiar, like a regular office building, and utterly alien at the same time, which really matches the show's themes. So, if you're ever wondering about the real location of Lumon's headquarters, now you know it's a very real place with a past of its own.
Exploring Kier - Where Was Severance Filmed's Fictional Town?
The town of Kier, the fictional place where many of the "outie" lives unfold in Severance, plays a very important part in the show's overall feeling. While Kier is a made-up community, the scenes that show this small, somewhat eerie town were captured in real places. A good number of those critical scenes, the ones that really give you a sense of Kier's quiet and somewhat unsettling character, were filmed in Kingston, New York. It's pretty interesting how they used a real town to create a fictional one, you know.
Kingston, located in New York State, provided the right kind of setting for Kier's streets and various buildings. The way the production team used Kingston helped to establish the feeling of a place that is, in some ways, cut off from the wider world, much like the severed employees themselves. You get a sense of a community that is deeply tied to Lumon Industries, even if it's just through its general atmosphere. It’s almost like the town itself has a secret, just like the people living in it.
The appearance of Kingston as Kier is quite prominent, showing up in many of the outdoor shots that define the characters' lives outside of Lumon. From the homes where they live to the places they visit, Kingston's architecture and general feel were used to build this unique fictional setting. This careful selection of a real place to stand in for a story's made-up town really helps to ground the series, making it feel more believable even with its very unusual premise. It’s a good example of how filming locations can become a character in themselves.
Beyond Lumon - Other Notable Severance Filming Spots
While Lumon Industries and the town of Kier are very central to Severance, the show also takes us to other memorable spots that add to its unique atmosphere. One such place is Pip's Bar & Griller, a spot where characters sometimes go to unwind, or at least try to. This particular establishment, which has a distinct look and feel on screen, was actually filmed at a real location in Ulster County, New York. It’s pretty cool how they found a place that just fit the bill, you know.
Another very distinct location is Woe's Hallow, a natural area that appears in the series, including a striking waterfall. This scenic spot, which adds a touch of natural beauty and mystery to the show, was captured at Minnewaska State Park Preserve, also in Ulster County, New York. The Awosting Falls within the preserve served as the waterfall seen in Woe's Hallow, giving that scene a very real and powerful backdrop. It really shows how they blended natural settings with the show's more constructed environments.
The series also includes other spots that contribute to its overall sense of place. For instance, Village Gate Way is mentioned as one of the filming locations. These various places, from the more public areas like a bar to the secluded natural settings, all play a part in building the complete picture of the world in Severance. They help to show the different sides of the characters' lives, both inside and outside of their work. It’s almost like every location was chosen to tell a little bit more of the story, making the world feel richer.
How Did Production Choose Severance Filming Locations?
The team behind Severance put a lot of thought into where they would film each scene. The choice of locations was not just random; it was done with a very clear purpose: to make the show's eerie and unsettling tone feel even stronger. Every building, every street, every natural setting was picked because it could add to that specific feeling. It’s pretty clear they wanted the surroundings to speak to the show’s themes, you know.
The goal was to create a chilling, almost dystopian reality that, despite its strange premise, still felt somewhat familiar to viewers. This meant finding places that could be transformed into the stark, controlled environment of Lumon, but also spots that could represent the slightly off-kilter world outside. The locations needed to support the idea of a workplace culture that pushes boundaries, taking things to a whole other level of strangeness. They really looked for places that had a certain kind of character.
Whether it was a historic building that could be made to look futuristic or a quiet natural area that could feel isolated and mysterious, each choice served the story. The locations aren't just backdrops; they are active participants in building the show's mood and helping the audience feel the strangeness of the characters' situations. So, the next time you watch, pay attention to the places; they're telling a part of the story too. It's quite a thoughtful way to approach filming, actually.
Season 2's New Severance Filming Discoveries
As Severance moved into its second season, the production team continued to explore new places to expand the show's world. While still relying heavily on the Hudson Valley in New York and various parts of New Jersey, new locations were brought into the picture to show different aspects of the story. This expansion of filming areas helped to give the second season a fresh feel while keeping the core visual identity of the series. It's very interesting to see how they keep finding new spots, you know.
One very notable addition for season two is the abandoned town of Salt’s Neck. This ghostly setting, which appears in episode 8, plays a very important part in the narrative. The depiction of Salt's Neck on screen is meant to symbolize the destructive influence of Lumon Industries, showing how the company's reach can affect even seemingly remote places. The choice of such a desolate area really adds to the show's unsettling atmosphere, making you feel the weight of Lumon's presence even more strongly.
The search for these new settings for the second season shows a continued dedication to finding just the right visual elements for the story. Each new place, like Salt's Neck, is chosen not just for its looks but for what it can add to the show's deeper meanings. It’s almost like every new location helps to peel back another layer of the mystery, giving viewers more to think about. This careful approach to location scouting truly helps to keep the series visually compelling and emotionally resonant.
Where Was Severance Filmed - Studio Work and Soundstages
While Severance makes great use of real-world locations to create its distinctive look, a lot of the magic also happens indoors, on soundstages. The primary place for much of this studio work, where many of the show's interior sets were built, is York Studios in The Bronx, New York. This facility served as the main shooting location for the series, allowing the production team to construct the detailed and often unsettling environments of Lumon Industries. It's pretty cool how they built these entire worlds inside a studio, you know.
Many of the soundstage sets for Severance were carefully put together at York Studios. This means that the hallways, the office spaces, and other enclosed areas that feel so much a part of Lumon's strange world were actually constructed from the ground up. This method gives the creators full control over the environment, allowing them to design every detail to fit the show's specific aesthetic and mood. It’s almost like they were building a character out of steel and plaster, making it feel very real.
The ability to build these intricate sets in a controlled studio environment is a very important part of creating the show's unique visual style. It allows for consistency in lighting and design, ensuring that the Lumon building, for example, always looks exactly as it should, regardless of the weather outside. So, while you might be seeing real places when characters are outside, a good deal of the show's iconic interior scenes come to life within the walls of York Studios. This mix of real and built environments truly makes the world of Severance feel complete.
This article has explored the various places where the Apple TV+ series Severance was brought to life, from the key states of New York and New Jersey to specific cities and towns like Kingston and Holmdel. We looked at how Bell Works became the iconic Lumon Industries building and how real spots like Minnewaska State Park Preserve were used for fictional settings such as Woe's Hallow. The discussion also covered the thought behind choosing locations to fit the show's unsettling tone and the role of studio work in The Bronx for creating interior sets, including new discoveries for the second season like Salt's Neck.
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