Jessica Lee Gagné has embraced a new challenge by learning to surf in Los Angeles, pushing herself out of her comfort zone. This adventurous pursuit follows her directing debut in Season 2 of "Severance," a career leap she long hesitated to take. Gagné has made a promise to herself to seek experiences that make her uneasy, and surfing has become a significant part of that journey. "I'm just trying to get my body used to the discomfort," she reflects.
Originally from Quebec, Gagné's instincts have played a major role in her career, leading her to make history at the Emmys. Earlier this month, she became the first woman to win the Emmy for Best Cinematography in a series for the Apple TV Plus hit "Severance." This Ben Stiller-directed workplace thriller follows employees who undergo a procedure to separate their work and personal lives. Gagné is determined to challenge prevailing biases about women in behind-the-camera roles.
She identifies an ingrained subconscious belief that questions women's capabilities in these fields. "Even though there are amazing women directors and cinematographers out there, there’s still this bias, like, ‘Oh, can women really be as good as men at this thing?’" she states. Gagné won this award for the Season 2 premiere, where Adam Scott’s character, Mark, navigates the oppressive, sterile corridors of a secretive corporation.
Furthermore, Gagné was nominated for a directing award for her episode "Chikhai Bardo," which delves into Mark's relationship with his wife, Gemma, portrayed by Dichen Lachman. Currently, she is venturing into directing a feature film. Described as an erotic thriller with a '90s flair, she aims to reposition the genre from a female perspective. The project is still in the early stages of financing and casting, and Gagné envisions it having a "Hitchcock feeling" while exploring Carl Jung's concept of the 'shadow' within individuals.
Growing up in a family deeply immersed in films, due to her father's video store chain in Quebec, Gagné considers the neo-noir films of the late 1980s and early 1990s, such as "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct," as formative influences on her career. "Many of the directors were men making these films, and I just want to take a stab at it with a different perspective," she emphasizes. She finds the captivating suspense in '90s erotic thrillers lacking in recent cinema, noting how entertaining those stories were in her youth.
After graduating from Concordia University with a degree in film, Gagné gained valuable experience as the cinematographer for "Sarah Prefers to Run" directed by Chloé Robichaud in 2013. Her work on the 2017 thriller "Sweet Virginia" drew the attention of Stiller, who subsequently hired her for his limited drama series "Escape at Dannemora" in 2018. Gagné describes her collaboration with Stiller as fluid, ultimately leading her to "Severance," despite her initial uncertainty about directing an office-centered show.
"It’s every cinematographer’s nightmare: white walls and ceiling lighting. There are no windows. What am I supposed to do?" she recalls of her first impressions. It was her collaborative efforts with the production design team and inspiration drawn from photographers like Lynn Cohen and Lars Tunbjörk that convinced her to embrace the project. Gagné's visual style emphasizes paranoia and surveillance, interweaving feelings of confinement in both office and external environments.
Although she has long harbored an "unconscious desire" to direct, Gagné suppressed this urge until the chance to helm "Severance" arose. Initially hesitant about taking on directorial duties, she was persuaded after discovering that the episode would delve into Gemma's backstory. "I wanted to ensure that episode was done right. It felt like I was the person to do it," she recalls, influenced by her perspective as a woman in the industry.
Gagné describes her initial experience as directing as nauseating, but it ultimately revealed a newfound strength within her. "I feel like I’ve unlocked a dragon inside of me. There’s a lot of stuff I want to work on and do," she asserts. While she remains uncertain about directing again in Season 3 due to the team still being in the writing phase, Gagné has embarked on penning her own feature film that questions consciousness and the nature of reality.
"I’m attempting to operate in worlds that challenge concepts of time and the human experience," she explains. She aims to broaden the scope of narratives surrounding women by exploring action-oriented projects and higher-budget films. Gagné strongly believes in challenging the perceptions that continue to associate certain themes with women in filmmaking. "I don’t want that to ever be the connotation we have when we think of women," she concludes.
