In this deep dive, Steve Otis Gunn chats to Cat Miller, the property master behind Apple TV+'s critically acclaimed Severance. From meticulously designed props rich with hidden meanings to carefully altering vehicles to appear timeless, Cat reveals the artistry behind bringing the surreal workplace to life, one perfectly placed vending token and trackball at a time. From a family rooted in the film industry, Cat shares her journey from professional dancer to on-set visionary, discussing the high-stakes world of propping for modern television and how her dance discipline informed her meticulous creative eye. Whether she's building retro-future computer terminals or choreographing the visual language of control and claustrophobia, Cat’s work shapes the tone of Severance in ways most viewers don’t even realise.

Topics include:

• Creating the unsettling retro-futurism of Severance
• Why comedies are more difficult to prop than other genres
• How props can tell the story when words are forbidden
• Fabrications, fake IDs, and Lumon mugs on Etsy
• The ethics of realism: When accuracy in props becomes a form of invisible integrity

This episode is a must-listen for design enthusiasts, Severance superfans, and anyone fascinated by the invisible magic of world-building in television.

Cat Miller is a seasoned property master whose credits include Severance, Russian Doll, The Affair, Uncut Gems, Confess Fletch, and many more. With a background in professional dance and a deep-rooted family history in the film industry, Cat brings rigour, creativity, and storytelling to every project. Her props don’t merely adorn the background—they shape the very world they inhabit.

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Podcast: Television Times with Steve Otis Gunn

Host: Steve Otis Gunn

Guest: Cat Miller – Property Master

Duration: 52 minutes

Release Date: May 25, 2025

Season: 4, Episode 2

All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis Gunn

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