Why ‘Severance’ Editor Swears By Macs For Emmy-Worthy Video Editing

In the fictional dystopian world of Lumon Industries from Apple TV+’s “Severance,” separating your work self from your personal self might sound like a dream—or a nightmare, depending on your boss. But while Lumon’s fictional employees fumble with glitchy team-building videos, Emmy-nominated editor Geoffrey Richman smoothly navigates the creative chaos using his Mac-powered editing setup. With an impressive ecosystem including an iMac, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro, Richman turns editing mayhem into cinematic brilliance right from his home edit bay in Brooklyn.

“It’s hilarious,” says Richman, commenting on the deliberately clumsy video in the episode “Woe’s Hollow.” Unlike the character Milchick, whose amateur editing screams backroom panic, Richman leverages the robust performance and multitasking prowess of Macs to deliver polished, visually arresting scenes—even when sorting through the editing nightmare of 70 different angles for the finale’s marching band sequence.

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Macs as the Backbone of Creative Collaboration

Richman, who collaborates closely with executive producer Ben Stiller, emphasizes how Macs streamline the creative workflow, even across multiple locations. From Manhattan’s West Village post-production facility to remote setups in upstate New York, Richman’s ability to effortlessly transition between his MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac is crucial.

“I can work on my laptop, my iMac, the post facility, or even Ben’s office, and as long as I’m logged into my account, everything shows up everywhere,” Richman says. “The seamless integration of iCloud and Continuity means I can jot down a midnight idea on my iPhone and see it the next day on my desktop.”

Tackling Editing Complexity with Ease

The high stakes and complex editing scenarios, especially in season two’s gripping finale, “Cold Harbor,” demanded a reliable and versatile setup. Richman recalls experimenting extensively with the episode’s structure, making Macs his clear choice for real-time editing, seamless multitasking, and efficient collaboration.

“For the finale, it was a constant flow of ideas. Macs made it easy to swiftly shift between applications—Avid, Slack, Notes—and keep everything running smoothly,” Richman explains. Editing scenes featuring the intricate marching band performances, synced meticulously to composer Theodore Shapiro’s music, was “extremely challenging,” but Macs facilitated the process significantly.

Mac Ecosystem: The Ideal Editing Companion

Richman’s trust in Macs goes beyond software preferences—it’s about comfort and efficiency. “I prefer the Mac interface much more than a PC,” he notes. From plugging his MacBook Pro directly into a TV at Stiller’s upstate location for live editing sessions to using AirPods Pro 2 for instant audio feedback, every device plays a critical role in his workflow.

“Music significantly shifts a scene’s emotional tone,” Richman observes, highlighting how essential real-time music integration via Macs is to crafting Severance’s distinctive atmosphere. Whether it’s syncing marching band footage or crafting suspenseful edits, Richman’s Mac setup remains indispensable.

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Final Thoughts: Editing Bliss or Severance Nightmare?

Lumon Industries employees might envy Richman’s sophisticated Mac-powered editing setup, though perhaps not the creative pressure. For Richman, editing “Severance” is both an exhilarating and challenging process—a task made infinitely smoother by the right technology. After all, who needs a surgical procedure to separate work from life when your Macs already blur those lines so seamlessly?