Severance helmer Ben Stiller talks about contemporary Hollywood: Reports

Ben Stiller, the director and executive producer of Apple TV+’s Severance, has talked about the struggles in contemporary Hollywood and compared the industry dynamics with the theme of his dystopian sci-fi series.

Ahead of the release of Severance season 2, the filmmaker and actor appeared on a podcast with The New York Times, where he talked about the entertainment industry’s current situation in depth.

Ben Stiller pointed out how the decision makers in the industry have control over the creatives, just like the Lumon Industries’ executives control their employees in the Apple TV+ series. He also highlighted how the problem has aggravated in the last few years, with unexpected challenges like the Covid pandemic and strikes.

Severance director Ben Stiller compares the show to the contemporary Hollywood industry

Ben Stiller recently appeared on The New York Times podcast, The Interview, and opened up about the working conditions in the industry and the challenges he has to face as a creative person.

In Severance, the characters are under the control of Lumon Industries, which has implanted their brains with chips to control them and separate their work and home selves. Stiller said the show’s theme resembles contemporary Hollywood as there is a divide between decision-makers and creatives:

“At a certain point, there’s always somebody making a decision who is not making it to your face, or you don’t even know who that person is.”

Adding how the decisions are not even conveyed properly to the concerned team, Stiller said:

“Why a decision is made is never explained to the creative person. Or, if it is, it’s usually not the truth. It’s a cliché in Hollywood, but it’s kind of true that everybody will say yes and it doesn’t mean yes. It means no or let me think about it — more than ever, honestly.”

Speaking about the reason behind the divide, Stiller said with crises like the pandemic and the writers’ and actors’ strikes, the decision-makers are trying to make safer choices in films and shows, so there is less risk of failure and their jobs remain safe.

Ben Stiller has been a part of the industry for decades

Ben Stiller can speak out of his experience, as he has been working in the industry since 1975. He has directed films like Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, and Zoolander.

Apart from being a director, he is also a comedian and actor, known for his roles in films that include While We're Young (2014), Along Came Polly (2004), and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013).

Along with Severance, Stiller has served as an executive producer on The CW’s In The Dark, Showtime’s Escape at Dannemora, and Comedy Central’s Big Time in Hollywood, FL.

Stiller has directed 11 episodes of Severance so far, including 6 in the first season and 5 in the second season, which is soon going to premiere on Apple TV+. The new season continues the story of Lumon Industries’ employees Mark, Dylan, Helly, and Irving, who now know they are being controlled by their organization.