Apple recently released a Behind the Mac video showcasing the meticulous editing process behind Severance, its acclaimed Apple TV+ psychological thriller. The show’s unique storytelling relies heavily on precise editing, and editor Geoffrey Richman played a crucial role in shaping its final form.
With an immense 83TB of footage to sort through, complex multi-camera sequences, and remote collaboration challenges, the Severance post-production team leaned on a powerful combination of hardware and software to bring the series to life. Here’s a deep dive into the editing process.
The Editing Software: Why Avid?
Despite being an Apple-produced series, the Severance team chose Avid Media Composer as their primary editing software.
Why Avid Media Composer?
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Industry Standard for Large Productions – Avid is widely used in Hollywood due to its ability to handle massive amounts of footage efficiently.
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Superior Multi-Camera Editing – The series' intricate scenes required the ability to manage multiple angles simultaneously, and Avid’s multicam feature allowed Richman to view nine different angles at once while making his selections.
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Robust Media Management – With 83 terabytes of footage, having a system that could efficiently organize and index media files was critical.
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Collaboration Features – Avid supports shared projects and remote workflows, making it ideal for an editor working across different locations.
While Apple’s Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro are popular choices, Avid Media Composer remains the go-to option for high-budget, multi-camera productions like Severance.
The Hardware: A Fully Mac-Based Setup
Richman’s editing workflow was powered entirely by Apple’s Mac ecosystem. His setup included:
1. iMac (Primary Editing Machine)
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Used for core editing tasks such as assembling rough cuts and refining sequences.
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Connected to high-speed external storage to manage the vast 83TB of footage efficiently.
2. Mac mini (Remote Access Server)
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Acted as a dedicated Avid system, allowing Richman to work remotely without transferring massive files.
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Provided seamless access to the production’s centralized media storage.
3. MacBook Pro (On-the-Go Editing)
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Allowed Richman to edit while traveling, with real-time access to his projects thanks to Apple’s ecosystem sync.
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Even when away from his main workstation, he could continue refining sequences and reviewing footage.
This multi-device setup ensured flexibility, allowing Richman to work from anywhere without losing access to the production’s enormous media database.
Editing Challenges: The Season Finale’s 70-Angle Scene
One of the most technically demanding sequences to edit was a marching band scene in the season finale, which had:
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70 different camera angles and takes to choose from.
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A massive amount of footage requiring precise selection to maintain pacing and visual coherence.
To tackle this, Richman used Avid’s multicam editing tools, which allowed him to:
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Load all 70 angles into a single sequence for quick review.
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Play back nine angles at once, helping him select the best shots efficiently.
Without this feature, editing such a complex sequence would have been far more time-consuming.
Remote Collaboration: A Seamless Workflow
Because Severance was edited remotely, Richman’s workflow relied on:
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Cloud-based media access via Avid’s shared project system.
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Apple’s ecosystem for seamless file syncing across his iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro.
This setup eliminated the need for constant file transfers, allowing Richman to work from multiple locations while staying connected to the main editing system.
Final Thoughts: A Masterclass in Precision Editing
The post-production process of Severance is a testament to the power of:
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Avid Media Composer for handling massive, multi-angle footage.
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Apple’s Mac ecosystem for seamless remote collaboration.
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A well-structured editing workflow that enables editors to tackle even the most complex sequences efficiently.
With Severance Season 2 now available on Apple TV+, fans and fellow editors can appreciate the painstaking attention to detail that went into crafting its mind-bending narrative.
