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Peter König
Artist at Valve Corporation, other stuff

    Severance S02 E04 pre-vis

    To help figure out the scale of Woe, I built the desk set in Blender, using screenshots from the show to approximate.

    To help figure out the scale of Woe, I built the desk set in Blender, using screenshots from the show to approximate.

    The script called for Helly Woe to be 50% in scale, but what would that actually look like? Turned out that 50% would be too small, especially from Irving's seated position

    The script called for Helly Woe to be 50% in scale, but what would that actually look like? Turned out that 50% would be too small, especially from Irving's seated position

    Rough previs of Irving's POV

    Rough previs of Irving's POV

    Originally the Woe in the dream was to be Brit L in fx makeup. The description was that Woe was gaunt and ghoulish and emaciated. So the question was could this be done with practical makeup fx or would it require digital enhancement or something else?

    Originally the Woe in the dream was to be Brit L in fx makeup. The description was that Woe was gaunt and ghoulish and emaciated. So the question was could this be done with practical makeup fx or would it require digital enhancement or something else?

    I did many explorations of Helly Woe, trying to keep in mind that fx makeup is additive, so would she look thin and gaunt enough with added makeup appliances?

    I did many explorations of Helly Woe, trying to keep in mind that fx makeup is additive, so would she look thin and gaunt enough with added makeup appliances?

    Tried to give a range from subtle to extreme. We wanted the audience to be able to recognize her as Helly R, so going too extreme shape-wise might not work.

    Tried to give a range from subtle to extreme. We wanted the audience to be able to recognize her as Helly R, so going too extreme shape-wise might not work.

    I also gave every version of the Helly Woe with and without a rough approximation of a wedding veil so Director Ben Stiller and crew could see if it would obscure her face too much, making her unrecognizable

    I also gave every version of the Helly Woe with and without a rough approximation of a wedding veil so Director Ben Stiller and crew could see if it would obscure her face too much, making her unrecognizable

    Additional comp of an early test...tried some very simple makeup, mostly light and dark shading, but it was much too subtle. Worth trying though.

    Additional comp of an early test...tried some very simple makeup, mostly light and dark shading, but it was much too subtle. Worth trying though.

    After testing ideas with Brit, it was decided that using her would be too much of a 'tell' or clue about her character in the story, so it looked like actor Zoe Samouris would play Woe.

    After testing ideas with Brit, it was decided that using her would be too much of a 'tell' or clue about her character in the story, so it looked like actor Zoe Samouris would play Woe.

    So I went through the same process of giving a number of variations to help production figure out the direction of the look. These are a few samples.

    So I went through the same process of giving a number of variations to help production figure out the direction of the look. These are a few samples.

    Ultimately, actor Faith Vaughn was cast as Woe. Unfortunately the artwork had been created with the other actor in mind, but it still proved useful to the production. Things change all the time in these situations—it’s just part of the deal

    Ultimately, actor Faith Vaughn was cast as Woe. Unfortunately the artwork had been created with the other actor in mind, but it still proved useful to the production. Things change all the time in these situations—it’s just part of the deal

    It’s pretty amazing—and rare—to get a call from your favorite TV show and have the chance to work on it. I really loved Season 1 of Severance, so I was thrilled when I got a call from the production team (back in 2022) to contribute work on Episode 4 "Woe's Hollow". I was fortunate that my former Tippett Studio colleague, Eric Leven (ILM), was the VFX supervisor on the show and recommended me when they needed concept art.
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    In Episode 4 of Season 2, Irving has a dream set in a snowy forest, and they needed some pre-vis for the sequence—specifically the appearance of the "Woe" character from Season 1, but in a new form. The initial idea was that it would be actor Brit Lower in effects makeup and 50% in scale as a strange and creepy version of Woe sitting at her desk. The questions that needed answering were the scale issue and the visual look of Lower in makeup and how/if that would all work.
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    In the end the initial direction and idea changed a bit and the final result was a different then where I was aiming but that's what pre-visualization is for. Overall it was a great experience working with Severance production.

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