Dan Erickson on the ‘Mesmerizing Dynamic' of ‘Severance' Auteurs Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné
Below, 'Severance' creator Dan Erickson tells IndieWire about how Auteur Award winners Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné work together to bring their distinct vision to vivid life.
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I frequently have had the privilege of sitting just a few feet behind Ben and Jess on set, usually while they're working in their respective capacities as director and D.P. They stand at their consoles and confer intensely about each shot, and I've often caught myself weirdly staring at them for long stretches, just kind of mesmerized by their dynamic.
At times, I almost feel like these two have their own language, known only to them. Part of this might be due to my alarming ignorance of production jargon (I've been told that the glass circle on the front of the camera is called a 'lens' and is quite important), but I'm pretty sure it's something more. In any normal scenario, Ben and Jess would each be the most brilliant person in any room. Each has an innate understanding of the language of filmmaking, and a beautiful and twisted imagination that allows them to contort that language in new and innovative ways. Geniuses on this level often clash, but what always strikes me about Ben and Jess is the mutual trust and respect that permeates their every conversation. They listen to each other, give each other the benefit of the doubt, and honor each others' experience and intellect as they work to find the best possible version of each moment.
When Ben first told me that he thought Jess should direct an episode, I immediately knew it was going to work. Not only did she know the show better than anyone, but it felt like an inevitable evolution of their collaborative partnership. The brilliance of her episode highlights both what she has learned from Ben and the immense level of talent she's brought to this show from the very beginning.
I count myself as profoundly lucky to know both of these incredible artists, and hope to be able to awkwardly gawk at them as they make incredible work together for years to come.
Read Ben Stiller and Jessica Lee Gagné's full IndieWire Honors profile here.
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