An Hour-by-Hour Account of What Four New Yorkers Do at Their Jobs -- New York Magazine

Watching the Clock

(Photo: Donald Bowers for New York Magazine)

The Reality-TV Scout
Risa Tanania, 27, freelance casting director, Lion Television

8:57 A.M.
JOE THE ART OF COFFEE
Grab coffee with partner before work. Watch man feed blueberry muffin to large, beautiful blue bird outside. Smoke cigarette.

9:10
WEST VILLAGE APARTMENT
Finish getting ready for work.

10:04
SOHO OFFICE
Check work e-mail.

10:10
Take call from sister to confirm weekend plans.

10:12
Send e-mail to boss about morning meeting with vice-president to discuss progress on casting families for a new pilot. Send e-mail to photographer friend who is looking for head-shot clients.

10:17
Check personal e-mail. Forward pictures of cousin’s new baby to closest friends.

10:25
Ask production assistant and associate producer if they want to order breakfast. Decide on egg, avocado, and tomato on whole-wheat toast from Jazzy’s.

10:30
Tell team that when breakfast arrives, we will meet in conference room.

10:35
KITCHEN
Fill bottle of water. Chat with co-worker.

10:40
DESK
Delete, archive e-mail.

10:50
E-mail cousin about seeing baby this weekend.

10:55
Call family in Patchogue to confirm second interview tonight.

11:10
Breakfast arrives.

11:15
CONFERENCE ROOM
Meeting begins. Review interviews for this week—families with adult children willing to relive an experience from their childhood. Team has done pre-interviews, now they pitch new families.

11:35
DESK
Read latest Not in Our Name newsletter.

11:45
Send interview-confirmation e-mails to two families.

NOON
Watch footage from last week’s interview on digital-video player. It’s easier to be objective when watching tape. Fast-forward some parts.

12:20 P.M.
Write thank-you note to the woman on the tape.

12:23
Associate producer re-pitches a family. Call them. Take notes during interview.

12:50
Read e-mail confirming rental car to be picked up today at three. Send thank-you e-mail.

12:52
Review this afternoon’s trip with associate producer.

12:58
Bathroom break.

1:03
Procrastinate over expenses. Call mother interviewed last week on cell. Leave message.

1:08
Call mother’s home number. Begin interview—the idea is to create a nurturing environment for personal meeting. She cries.

1:38
Hang up. Begin expense reports.

2:15
Submit expense report. Make sure rental car is four-door.

2:20
Sign for petty cash from production coordinator.

2:23
Check cell voice-mail. Bathroom break.

2:40
AVIS Pick up rental car.

3:15
Grab food from Dean & DeLuca. Finally get the car.

5:10
PATCHOGUE
Arrive twenty minutes early. Sit in car until 5:30. Chat about associate producer’s boyfriend, my girlfriend, what we did last night. Discuss interview briefly.

5:35
Arrive at house. Set up camera. Ask for one-on-one interviews to elaborate on first group interview.

5:40
Interview with Dad.

6:10
Interview with Mom.

6:40
Interview with Son.

7:15
Head back to car. Interviews went well, but not enough color.

8:00
Drop off associate producer at home in Huntington.

9:30
Arrive in city, conduct a long search for a parking spot.

9:45
HOME
Snack on an apple with peanut butter and pass out.

Work day: 12:48

SEE ALSO:
The New York Diet
What five of us ate in a week, down to the last peanut-butter-dipped celery stick.