Boss of HBO’s Industry on drastic step taken to shoot series

‘Industry’ exposes toxic corporate cultures in its gripping eight episodes, but behind the scenes, the show couldn’t have been more different.

One of the big takeaways from HBO’s hyped new series Industry is its unforgiving exposé of a ruthless corporate culture.

The eight-episode show, streaming on Binge, follows a group of new recruits at one of London’s largest and most successful investment banks, Pierpoint & Co, and the impact a gruelling workplace can have on young minds.

There was a hard-to-ignore parallel between that concept and the reality of young, inexperienced people entering a workplace – a TV set – for the first time in a world that is notoriously tough on up-and-coming actors.

This was not lost on executive producer Jane Tranter, who has been in the TV biz since 1985 and notably held the position of BBC Worldwide’s vice president of programming and production in LA from 2009 until 2015.

Myha’la Herrold stars in Industry. Picture: Binge/HBO

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She took some drastic steps to make sure cast and crew felt valued on the set of Industry, including hiring inexperienced staff across the board.

This started from the get-go with first-time writers and creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, who both have backgrounds in finance.

“In full disclosure, it was something I think we learnt as we went along. So one of the things I had worked through with HBO was, ‘Wouldn’t it be brilliant to do something where everyone is new?’” Tranter told news.com.au.

“I wanted to find really new writers to do it. And that they would be writing for an age group that would make it a necessity to have very inexperienced actors.

“That was also behind the camera. We gave people head of department jobs who hadn’t had them before. The production designers were new. The DP (director of photography) was new. All the directors other than Lena (Dunham) were all very new or completely new.

“Lots of people were given their first go’s, and I think in doing so we were very aware we needed to provide an atmosphere and environment in which people had the right to fail.”

Watch every episode of brand new series Industry on BINGE. New customers get your 14-day trial & start streaming instantly at binge.com.au

One of the other factors important to Tranter, who runs her own successful production company Bad Wolf, was diversity.

She’s been in the industry long enough to know how essential it is to make it a priority from casting, to hiring crew and story development.

“Diversity in every form was what we were after,” Tranter said.

“What I have realised, and I hadn’t realised beforehand, is that all the characters who we don’t like (in Industry) are white men. And normally older white men.

“I didn’t quite realise it would fall in that way, and I felt really pleased when it did.

“I think television drama has given voice to older white men for literally decades. And I like the fact that we don’t give them so much airtime, and when they do, they often look a bit foolish.

“Not because we make them mouthpieces in that way, but because we are following the authentic trajectory of what Mickey and Konrad saw on the trading floor. And I like that.”

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Industry is now streaming on Binge. Picture: Binge/HBO

Industry has already been renewed for a second season, and as exciting as another instalment is, Tranter says she thinks the next decade of television could, and should, see a different trend take over.

“I don’t think streamers need loads of seasons,” she said.

“I think it’s great when you’ve got six seasons of Schitt’s Creek, I’d take 60 seasons of Schitt’s Creek, but then you also have something like The Queen’s Gambit which is just fine as it is.

“Netflix can move on and give that space it would’ve given to a second season, to something new, to bring a different type of subscriber in.

“So I think it will be much more of a ‘let a thousand flowers bloom’ in terms of variety, than, it will be ‘let a hundred juggernauts just live on year after year after year.’

“I think that’s interesting and provides opportunity. I hope that quantity brings with it diversity of voice and approach, rather than a lowering quality.”

Industry is now streaming in Binge

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