How "Severance" DOP Jessica Lee Gagné Crafted The Elevator Zolly Shot

Dan Lalonde
Apr 26
2 min read

Apple TV+'s Severance stands out not only for its gripping story but also for its haunting, meticulously crafted visuals — thanks to cinematographer-turned-director Jessica Lee Gagné. Speaking with PetaPixel, Gagné revealed the painstaking care behind the show’s signature style, from its disorienting hallway shots to the rich, cinematic mood of Season 2’s flashbacks.

Gagné, a seasoned cinematographer with over 40 credits, immersed herself fully in Severance, earning a producer credit and directing the pivotal episode “Chikhai Bardo.” For this emotional chapter, she made a bold creative choice: shooting flashbacks on traditional film to evoke nostalgia without relying on clichéd effects. “It has to subconsciously affect people,” Gagné explains, emphasizing her dedication to authentic emotional resonance.

One of the show's most iconic moments — the elevator "zolly" shot — perfectly demonstrates Gagné’s technical mastery. This dizzying visual effect was created by simultaneously tracking the camera backward on a dolly while zooming in with the lens, keeping the character’s size consistent while dramatically altering the background perspective. The result captures the surreal, jarring feeling of transitioning between the characters’ "innie" and "outie" identities.

Her collaborative spirit with showrunner Ben Stiller and the entire creative team was key in establishing Severance's distinctive visual identity — a world defined by sterile hallways, mid-century brutalism, and carefully controlled color palettes. Every detail, from lighting choices to set design, was fine-tuned to maintain the unsettling duality between the two realities.

Beyond the interiors, Season 2 expanded Severance's world into vast outdoor landscapes, including the chilling, remote beauty of Newfoundland’s Fogo Island. The shift preserved the show's eerie aesthetic while deepening its emotional scope. “Newfoundland’s austere coldness felt right for Cobel’s story,” Gagné notes.

Even during setbacks, like potential issues with film softness, Gagné trusted her instincts — avoiding costly reshoots through quick problem-solving and communication with the crew. She credits colorist Tom Poole, whose artistry further amplified the show's lush analog feel, for helping to bring her vision to life.

Through daring risks, analog techniques, relentless collaboration, and deep passion, Jessica Lee Gagné has helped turn Severance into a visual and emotional masterpiece — a series where every frame draws the viewer deeper into its strange, beautiful world. Few shows can claim such artistic cohesion, and even fewer can make it look so effortless.