In the highly competitive television industry, rival creators do everything they can to stand out from the crowd. Nobody came closer to this task in the truest sense of the word than Dan Erickson, the creator of the Severance pay Series. He put some of his blood into pitch materials to be presented to Apple TV+.

The official summary for Severance pay reads like this:

Mark leads a team of office workers whose memories have been surgically divided between their work and home lives; When a mysterious colleague shows up outside of work, he begins a journey to discover the truth about his job.

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The creation of a unique pitch-in Severance pay

The premise of the series apparently stems from the disturbing idea of ​​surgically “severing” employees’ work and personal memories, which in turn sheds a dark light on corporate culture and work-life balance.

According to Erickson, standard pitching techniques may not do justice to the show’s unique flavor and depth. In the Severance pay On the podcast, Erickson revealed his creative process and explained:

“We worked with Ben (Stiller) and Jackie (Cohn) on this pitch document. It occurred to me that it must have a bloody coffee mug print, as if someone had taken a bloody coffee mug and put it on the side.”

At first, Erickson used food coloring, but it wasn’t authentic enough for him. To make a good impression, he decided to use his own blood. He purchased a piercing needle, drew a small amount of blood, and left an authentic bloody coffee cup stain on the pitch document.

This process was not disclosed to many of his collaborators, including director Ben Stiller and actor Adam Scott, fearing they would think he was “crazy”. However, executive producer Jackie Cohn knew the process and recalled that they had to go through so many iterations to get the bloodstain effect right.

The impact of Erickson’s involvement

Erickson’s commitment was translated into his vision for the material finishes used on the site. Severance pay is one of those shows that seems to be based on Erickson’s personal life experiences working in an office.

He says there were offices with no windows and the kind of repetitive work that made him wish he could have been separated from the workday.

Apple TV+ bought the pitch, which brought out something honest and passionate in Erickson that would later become something Severance pay. The show was praised for its stunning narrative, powerful performances and intellectual themes.

Critics praised the film’s ability to balance psychological thriller elements with a subtle satire of the corporate world.

The cast includes Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, John Turturro and Christopher Walken. Directed by Ben Stiller. The captivating artistry of the world-building and characterizations leaves the viewer wanting more.

If a literary work is to be a work of art at all, it must dramatize the quality of life and creative enthusiasm that imbue all great works; and it must emerge from and be influenced by one’s own experiences.

Erickson’s attempt to put his “life’s blood” into the project actually produced something in metaphor and in reality. It’s a show that pushes viewers to evaluate their own definitions of boundaries and value in relation to time.

There’s something else that makes the wait for the new season, premiering on January 17, 2025, even more exciting: the story behind the series’ beginnings.

Going from a disillusioned office worker to the creator of a highly acclaimed series is an inspiring journey for aspiring storytellers: dedicate yourself to the craft with authenticity and take creative risks.