If you are as hooked on Apple TV+'s mind-bending show Severance as we are you have probably been captivated by its eerie and unique locations. Season 2 has taken us beyond the stark white hallways of Lumon and into some seriously intriguing real-world spots. Ever wonder where these places actually are? Let's take a peek behind the scenes and uncover the mystery of Severance's filming locations especially that chilling town of Salt's Neck .
Venturing into the Frozen Time Bubble: Unmasking the Salt's Neck Filming Location in Newfoundland and Labrador
Episode 8 of Season 2 "Sweet Vitriol" finally took us to Salt's Neck a place that has been hinted at as holding significance for Cobel's past. And boy was it a memorable location. This isn't your sunny vacation spot. Salt's Neck is portrayed as a frigid coastal town grey skies crashing waves and an overall feeling of eerie isolation. It is beautiful in a haunting kind of way right?
Turns out Salt's Neck isn't just a set it is a real place or at least based on real places. The Salt's Neck scenes were filmed in Newfoundland and Labrador a province in Canada known for its dramatic coastlines and yes its sometimes harsh weather. Specific filming took place in Bonavista and Trinity Bay North. That abandoned Lumon ether factory you saw? Reportedly that's an old fish plant they used to create the perfect unsettling vibe.
Patricia Arquette who plays Cobel had some amazing things to say about filming in Newfoundland. She described it as "magical" and a "time bubble". She mentioned feeling like she stepped back in time because of how remote and unique the area is. Apparently you can still hear Irish accents from early settlers. She even joked that things felt "20 years behind" in a good way. Locals she met sounded incredibly resilient telling stories of navigating harsh winters and helping each other out. She mentioned even hearing about women reaching hospitals an hour away by snowmobile while in labor! Talk about tough.
And if you are feeling adventurous you can even try some local delicacies like fried cod tongues but maybe steer clear of cooked seal unless you want a smell that never leaves your house as the locals jokingly warned her.
For Severance which often keeps sets confined to Lumon and the characters' homes filming in Newfoundland provided a huge visual change. Arquette said it "was really fun" to shoot the Cobel-focused episode in such a "magical place." It definitely added to the episode's atmosphere and Cobel's backstory making Salt's Neck feel like another character in itself.
Stepping into Academia: Nassau Community College as a "Severance" Flashback Location
Salt's Neck isn't the only real-world location Severance has utilized. Remember the flashbacks of Mark and Gemma meeting at a college in Episode "Chikhai Bardo"? Those scenes were actually filmed at Nassau Community College in Garden City New York. Pretty cool right?
Apparently Severance had filmed at Nassau Community College before so they were familiar with the campus. The college spokesperson Jerry Kornbluth said the Governor's Office even supported the production coming back to film there. College officials met with the producers who explained what they planned to do and everyone agreed to make it happen without too much fuss.
The episode shows Gemma walking through an open-air tunnel and across the plaza in front of the administration building with students all around. Then there is an overhead shot looking down at the plaza making everyone look tiny. This shot was apparently filmed from the roof of the four-story administration building. The blood drive scene where Mark and Gemma first meet was filmed in the A. Holly Patterson Library on campus.
For the shoot the production set up camp on the sixth floor of the administration building's tower. Since it was summer break the campus was relatively empty which made filming easier. The college even put out notices to recruit students and faculty as extras for those opening plaza scenes. Around 30 people from the college got to be in the show and were paid for their time. The college itself also received payment for use of their facilities around $100000 according to Kornbluth.
Using Nassau Community College as a location added a touch of normalcy to the otherwise surreal world of Severance especially in those flashback scenes of Mark and Gemma's pre-Lumon life.
Beyond Salt's Neck and Nassau: Exploring Other Severance Season 2 Filming Spots in New York State
While Salt's Neck and Nassau Community College are standout locations Severance Season 2 filmed in various other spots around New York State. If you are local you might recognize some of these areas:
- Kingston
- Beacon
- Hudson
- Ossining
- Utica
- Nyack
- Long Island
- Brooklyn
- Palisades Interstate Park
These locations helped create the overall atmosphere of Severance blending corporate eeriness with a touch of real-world grounding even when things get super weird in the Lumon office.
Key Filming Locations for Severance Season 2:
- Salt's Neck (Real Location): Bonavista and Trinity Bay North Newfoundland and Labrador Canada
- Lumon Ether Factory in Salt's Neck: Old fish plant in Newfoundland and Labrador
- College Flashback Scenes: Nassau Community College Garden City New York
- General Location Filming: Various locations in New York State including Kingston Beacon Hudson Ossining Utica Nyack Long Island Brooklyn and Palisades Interstate Park.
Step Into Severance's World: From Eerie Offices to Real-World Locales
So there you have it a glimpse into the filming locations that bring the world of Severance to life. From the haunting beauty of Newfoundland as Salt's Neck to the familiar campus setting of Nassau Community College the show uses real places to enhance its unique atmosphere. Next time you watch Severance keep an eye out and see if you can spot these real-world locations adding another layer of intrigue to this already captivating show.