The lobby is already buzzing. Assistants weave around one another, carrying stacks of scripts, production binders, and coffee orders. Executives stride through the halls, Bluetooth headsets permanently attached to their ears. Movie posters from the studio’s biggest blockbusters line the walls, each a reminder of why everyone works such ridiculous hours.

Tina flashes her employee badge to security and heads upstairs to the Development Department.

Before she even reaches her desk, someone calls her name.

”Kennard!”

She turns and sees one of the junior executives hustling toward her, holding three thick screenplays. ”I need coverage on these by tomorrow morning.”

Tina blinks. ”Tomorrow? I already have four due for—”

”I know.” He smiles apologetically as he stacks the scripts into her arms. ”Welcome to development, kid.” He disappears before she can answer.

Tina sighs. “This damn day hasn’t even officially started yet….” She says as she reaches her desk, which sits just outside a row of executive offices. As a Development Assistant, her responsibilities change by the hour. Some days she’s reading scripts; other days she’s tracking agent submissions, updating project databases, coordinating pitch meetings, or researching directors attached to potential films. Today, it seems like it’s gonna be a little bit of everything….

***

By the time eleven rolls around, Tina’s perfectly pressed suit jacket is hanging on the back of her chair at her desk, which she hasn’t been to in hours. While juggling multiple other jobs, she’s walking around the lot on the phone with an agent’s assistant, trying to track down a missing draft. Just as she seems to make progress on the phone, the radio on her hip crackles. ”Kennard, conference room three.”

Tina immediately groans and pivots as she responds into the radio. “On my way…” She then rolls her eyes as she talks into her phone. “No, not you….” She says as she begins to jog down the hallway.

Forty-five minutes later, Tina somehow miraculously has fifteen uninterrupted minutes. She walks into the employee break room carrying a wrapped turkey sandwich she’d grabbed from one of her favorite food trucks parked outside the studio gates.

Tina drops into a chair at an empty table and lets out a long, exhausted sigh. ”Finally.” She unwraps her sandwich and takes a well-earned bite.