Inside HBO's 'Industry': Showrunners Reveal Daily Routines

HBO Industry showrunners Konrad Kay and Mickey Down have revealed the intense daily routines behind the hit series, now in its fourth season. The former bankers transitioned from complete inexperience to running a major television production, learning to delegate and empower their talented team.

Their typical day starts at 6:30 or 7 a.m., even after filming until 2 a.m., driven by adrenaline and caffeine. Kay consumes six to seven cups of cheap coffee daily, while Down limits himself to two cups off-set. On set, they survive on Skittles, Oreos, and occasional McDonald's, both losing weight during production due to the physically demanding environment.

Self-care is crucial for managing the stress. Kay exercises regularly, while Down takes up to three baths daily to stay calm. Both struggle with phone addiction but have developed coping strategies, particularly around family time. Despite the show's content, the creators prefer quiet evenings with early bedtimes.

The journey from novice to experienced showrunner has been significant for both Konrad Kay and Mickey Down. When they started season one, they were "totally green" with no prior experience on a set, having only made one film together previously.

Running a major television show alongside veteran collaborators was intimidating. This inexperience initially led to micromanagement, as they feared their vision wouldn't be communicated clearly, which ironically created communication problems.

However, four seasons in, they have learned to be effective delegators. The show has attracted high-level talent who think about the series with depth that surpasses even the creators' own perspective. Kay notes that empowering people and letting go has significantly enhanced the show's quality.

Leadership philosophy evolved through experience. Down realized that a leader's attitude permeates the entire production ecosystem. He explains: "The head both rots and is glorified from the top. So if you come into work with an incredibly good attitude and you think it's going to be a great day, you are lovely to people, and you are appreciative — all the things that you should be as a leader — then that just makes people do their best work."

The production schedule demands constant energy. Filming often involves "splits," meaning day and night shoots. Despite finishing at 2 a.m., they wake at 6:30 or 7 a.m. due to adrenaline. Kay's body naturally wakes him early, and he struggles to sleep past 6 a.m. without magnesium supplements.

Down, now a father of two, has developed an internal alarm clock. He hasn't set a physical alarm in years, as his children wake him naturally. He tries to limit coffee intake off-set, having just one before work and one before lunch.

Caffeine consumption varies dramatically between them. Kay admits to drinking "an unhealthy amount of coffee," preferring cheap brands that taste like "mud," specifically Dunkin' Donuts. He consumes at least six to seven cups daily.

Their on-set diet is less than ideal. They survive on:

• Sour Skittles
• Oreos
• Diet Coke and Diet Red Bull
• Green apples and chewing gum

Down's assistant, Sam, becomes adept at sneaking forbidden snacks into stately homes used as filming locations. The highlight for Down was having McDonald's on set during the final week of shooting. Despite the poor nutrition, both lose weight due to constant movement and elevated heart rates.

Physical and mental health maintenance is critical for the showrunners. Kay prioritizes exercise, a decision prompted by a serious illness about a year and a half ago that caused significant weight loss. The experience motivated him to start going to the gym regularly.

Down has a unique requirement for his well-being: multiple daily baths. He admits this might sound privileged, but he requires a bath whenever staying in a hotel. An email was once sent stating, "Unfortunately, this hotel isn't up to Mickey's specifications," simply because it lacked a bathtub.

Baths serve as a major stress reliever for Down. His routine sometimes includes three baths per day when not on set:

1. One in the morning
2. One around 4 p.m. if working from home
3. One before going out at night
4. An additional one before bed if returning early

He acknowledges this habit contributes to his chronic lateness.

Despite their professional success, both struggle with modern distractions. Kay describes his phone use as a "disaster" and an "untrammeled phone addiction." He must physically place it in another room, though he admits this only lasts about 10 minutes before he retrieves it.

Down also battles phone addiction, particularly when with his children. He leaves his phone downstairs during bath time and bedtime routines to prevent his hand from automatically reaching for it. However, on set, he believes moderate phone use is acceptable as long as it doesn't interfere with directing.

During downtime on set, Down attempts to learn French on Duolingo between takes, though he notes it "didn't work out."

Their personal lives contrast sharply with their show's content. Industry depicts hard-partying, backstabbing bankers, but Kay and Down are "a couple of geriatric 65-year-old women" by comparison. Kay goes to bed earlier than Down's 5-year-old daughter, aiming for 8 p.m. bedtime and 9 p.m. sleep. He takes sleep supplements and handles his high caffeine intake well, sleeping deeply. Down needs seven hours of sleep, aiming for 9 p.m. bedtime, and reads extensive nonfiction and history books to help him sleep.

Kay summarizes their approach: "The thing is, we get to do all the cocaine and partying vicariously through fiction." Their actual aspirations are simple: "Tea, toast, and baths."