Devil Wears Prada - Meeting the Boss

HRforHer

3 Mar 201503:02

Summary

TLDRThe transcript depicts an intense job interview scene from a fashion magazine, Runway. Andrea 'Andy' Sachs, a recent journalism graduate, arrives for an assistant position under the formidable Editor-in-Chief, Miranda Priestly. Though Andy is unprepared for the high-fashion world and initially dismissed due to her lack of fashion knowledge, she confidently asserts her intelligence and work ethic. The office scrambles as Miranda arrives unexpectedly, heightening the tension. The scene captures the cutthroat nature of the fashion industry and the challenges Andy faces to prove herself in this prestigious role.

Takeaways

👔 Emily is meeting with Andrea, who is being considered for a position.
😅 Human Resources has a quirky sense of humor.
🔄 Emily was the second assistant but got promoted to first assistant.
🛑 Miranda sacked the last two assistants after only a few weeks.
📜 Miranda is the Editor in Chief of Runway and is a legend in the fashion industry.
💼 Working for Miranda for a year can lead to opportunities at any magazine.
👗 Runway is a fashion magazine, and an interest in fashion is crucial for the job.
🚨 Miranda arrives unexpectedly early, causing a commotion.
🙅‍♀️ Andrea doesn't read Runway and is not familiar with Miranda.
💪 Andrea admits she doesn't fit the typical mold but emphasizes her intelligence, willingness to learn, and hard work.

Q & A

Who is Miranda, and what is her role?
-Miranda is the Editor-in-Chief of Runway magazine, a highly influential figure in the fashion world and considered a legend.
Why does the first assistant position seem challenging to keep?
-Miranda has high standards, and the previous assistants were sacked within a few weeks, indicating that the job requires resilience and a high level of competence.
What opportunity does working for Miranda offer?
-Working for Miranda for a year can open doors to many opportunities in the fashion industry, as it is said that anyone who works for her can get a job at any magazine they want.
What is the impression of Andy Sachs when she first meets Miranda?
-Miranda and her team view Andy as inexperienced, hopeless, and out of place, as she doesn't seem to have an interest in fashion or understand its importance in the job.
What mistake does Andy make when meeting Miranda?
-Andy admits that she has never read Runway and is unfamiliar with Miranda's legendary status, showing her lack of awareness about the fashion industry.
What qualities does Andy claim to have despite not fitting in?
-Andy acknowledges that she is not skinny or glamorous but asserts that she is smart, learns fast, and will work very hard.
Why is everyone alarmed when they hear that Miranda is arriving early?
-The team is alarmed because they were not expecting Miranda to arrive until 9:00, and they feel unprepared for her sudden early arrival.
How does Miranda respond to Andy being introduced as a potential new assistant?
-Miranda dismisses Andy as 'hopeless' and implies that she will have to handle the assistant selection herself, as the previous candidates have been inadequate.
What does Miranda ask when Andy says she came to New York to be a journalist?
-Miranda questions Andy's knowledge of Runway and her sense of style, ultimately concluding that Andy lacks both.
How does Miranda's team view Andy at the end of the interaction?
-Miranda's team seems to view Andy dismissively, referring to her as a 'sad little person' and wondering if they are doing a 'before and after' piece, implying that she is in need of a transformation.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Meeting with Human Resources

The protagonist, Andrea, meets with Charlton, who is a part of Human Resources. There's some humor about their unusual approach to staff appointments. Andrea is replacing the previous assistant to Miranda, who is the Editor-in-Chief of Runway magazine. She learns that surviving in this role is tough, as the last two assistants were fired after only a few weeks. The dialogue emphasizes the high demand for this job, as many girls would 'kill' for it.

😨 Miranda's Unexpected Arrival

Andrea expresses her interest in the assistant position, but it becomes evident she has little to no knowledge of fashion or the importance of Runway magazine. Panic ensues when it's revealed that Miranda, who wasn't expected until later, is on her way. Her assistant frantically tries to prepare, as Miranda's arrival causes anxiety among the staff. Andrea remains uninformed about the fashion world and the status of Miranda, setting the tone for the tension and pressure within the workplace.

😳 The Tense Pre-Interview

Miranda arrives earlier than expected, throwing the office into chaos. Her assistant nervously admits that Human Resources sent Andrea for an interview, but hastily dismisses her as hopeless. Miranda takes control and asks to interview Andrea herself, as she finds the previous hires inadequate. This exchange reveals Miranda's high standards and sharp demeanor, making it clear that working for her is no easy task.

🎓 Andrea's Awkward Introduction

Andrea introduces herself to Miranda, stating that she recently graduated from Northwestern University and moved to New York to pursue journalism. However, she admits she has no knowledge of Runway magazine or Miranda's reputation. This moment highlights Andrea's naivety and lack of familiarity with the fashion industry, making her seem out of place in the high-stakes environment.

👗 Fashion Faux Pas

Miranda sharply questions Andrea's sense of fashion, pointing out that she lacks style and awareness of the fashion world. Andrea acknowledges that she doesn't fit in but insists that she's smart, learns quickly, and is willing to work hard. Despite this, Miranda dismisses her, showing little faith in Andrea’s ability to succeed in the fashion-driven atmosphere.

😏 Miranda's Judgment

As Andrea leaves, Miranda makes a snide remark, asking if they're doing a 'before and after' piece on her, implying that Andrea's appearance doesn't meet the magazine's high fashion standards. This final comment reinforces the harsh and judgmental nature of Miranda's world, where appearance and style hold great importance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Miranda

Miranda is the Editor-in-Chief of Runway magazine and a central figure in the video. She is portrayed as a demanding and powerful authority figure in the fashion industry. Her reputation is such that working for her is considered a career-defining opportunity. The other characters exhibit a mix of fear and reverence toward her, which illustrates her immense influence within the narrative.

💡Runway

Runway is the fictional fashion magazine where much of the video’s action takes place. It symbolizes the high-stakes, fast-paced world of fashion journalism, where the pressures to perform are immense. Working at Runway is depicted as a prestigious position that could launch careers, particularly for those who can survive its demanding environment.

💡Fashion

Fashion is a critical theme throughout the video, representing both an industry and a marker of social status and identity. Characters in the script, such as Miranda and Andrea, navigate their relationship to fashion differently—Miranda embodies the high-end, polished world of haute couture, while Andrea initially lacks an understanding of fashion's importance but hopes to learn.

💡Assistant

The role of the assistant is a key job position in the video. Andrea is interviewing to be Miranda's assistant, a job notorious for its difficulty due to the high expectations and demands. The assistant role is depicted as a stepping stone to larger career opportunities, though it comes with intense pressure.

💡Andrea

Andrea (Andy) is the protagonist who is interviewing for the assistant position at Runway. Her character represents the outsider perspective, as she is unfamiliar with the fashion industry. Her ambition to be a journalist and her initial lack of fashion sense contrast with the elite world of Runway, creating the central tension in her character arc.

💡Human Resources

Human Resources is mentioned as the department responsible for sending candidates for the assistant position. This highlights the formal, corporate structure of Runway, but also how even HR struggles to meet Miranda’s extreme expectations, as seen in the dissatisfaction with the previous assistants.

💡Legend

The term 'legend' is used to describe Miranda's iconic status in the fashion world. It indicates that she is not just a professional but a towering figure whose influence and success transcend the ordinary. This word emphasizes the respect and fear she commands, and why working under her is seen as a golden opportunity.

💡Opportunity

The concept of 'opportunity' is central to the dialogue, as working for Miranda is framed as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to launch a successful career in journalism or fashion. Characters emphasize how coveted the job is, with millions of others aspiring to get the same break. This ties into the theme of ambition and career advancement.

💡Interview

The interview process is a focal point of the video, as Andrea navigates a challenging and intimidating interview with Miranda. The interview is more than just a job application—it's a test of whether Andrea can fit into the high-pressure world of fashion. Her lack of knowledge about Miranda and Runway adds tension to the scene.

💡Fashion Sense

Fashion sense refers to one's ability to dress stylishly and understand fashion trends. In the video, Andrea's lack of fashion sense is pointed out as a flaw, especially in a workplace where appearance is paramount. Her admission that she doesn’t fit in highlights the divide between her background and the world she is trying to enter.

Highlights

Andrea meets with Emily for a job interview and learns about the demanding environment of working for Miranda, the Editor-in-Chief of Runway.

Emily explains how Miranda's previous assistants were fired quickly, and Andrea's role would be critical in surviving in the job.

Andrea is initially unaware of who Miranda is, revealing her lack of knowledge about the fashion industry.

Emily explains that working for Miranda for a year could open doors to any job in the magazine industry.

Andrea expresses interest in the opportunity, despite not having a background in fashion.

Emily is shocked when Andrea shows a lack of fashion sense and knowledge, just as Miranda is about to arrive unexpectedly early.

Miranda arrives and instantly exerts her authority, dismissing people's excuses and demanding perfection.

Miranda expresses dissatisfaction with the previous candidates for the assistant position, saying they were inadequate.

Miranda decides to interview Andrea personally, noting her lack of fashion sense and unfamiliarity with Runway.

Andrea reveals she graduated from Northwestern University and came to New York to pursue a journalism career.

Miranda criticizes Andrea for having no style or understanding of fashion, questioning her suitability for the job.

Andrea defends herself by acknowledging her weaknesses in fashion but emphasizing her intelligence and work ethic.

Miranda dismisses Andrea, but there's a suggestion that she may still consider her for the position.

Miranda sarcastically asks if they are doing a 'before and after' piece, referring to Andrea's appearance.

Andrea leaves the encounter feeling unsure, but there's an underlying potential for her to prove herself despite Miranda's judgment.