So, I got that part covered. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Twitter Icon We all miss it. And thanks for sharing about the magic of working with the person who not only co-created the show, but who also produces, writes, directs, and stars in it. Im not just saying that because hes my boss Im saying that because Ive had the privilege of watching the dailies [raw, unedited footage shot during a filming day] for Barry and have gotten to see his work from all angles. For Perry Mason (originally set to star Robert Downey Jr., who serves as executive producer with his wife, Susan), casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas discussed their suggestions for . Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. Casting just felt right for me. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. The testing was very rigorous and I think production did such an amazing job with what they had to accomplish in the way that they had to accomplish it. I think we all miss being in the room with actors and I think a lot of the actors miss it as well, because theres something that you just get from being in the room with someone and the ability to play. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Sherry Thomas retweeted. Get ready with our TV viewers guide, Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, The Buzzmeter: Our experts predict the 2020 Emmy winners - and so can you, The secret to What We Do in the Shadows success? For the vampire mockuseries What We Do in the Shadows, nominees Gayle Keller, Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay find themselves looking for actors who dont look like typical actors. Shes just someone Ive been watching. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. Im fully vaxed. Boom. Name one of your favorite television shows and it's a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. Having her name value in that role grounded the whole office., For Skylars role, we auditioned lots and lots of great people, says Ulrich of the co-worker character with romantic potential. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. Its also an emotional drama. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. If its somebody that we have known for a long time and we just say, not sure if its right, but just want to see if there is something there that connects the spirit of the actor to the spirit of the character, but its not right, then we can sort of move on and with respect because we know its not the perfect fit. If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. ST: Not for us particularly. So we can say, No, this is the Bob Odenkirk character youre reading with. And its like, oh, a light bulb goes off, but we cant in email. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). And sometimes the sides are fake. And then when I did it, you kind of jumped up in your chair. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. Toothpicks and blue jeans. We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. She came in for Mo [Zoeys neighbor, played by gender-fluid actor Alex Newell], and everybody remembered her when we were casting [Zoeys sister-in-law] Emily, says Ulrich. And especially for kids, dont try that hard in the slate to be liked and all of that, its just, Hey, Im Lance Carter, Im five foot 10. RS: We worked through a lot of hard work and cooperation between our production and the movie because she is someone who really understood the tone of the show. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. Its really wonderful to see that. Oh my God, this is completely the wrong actor that was in my head., And everybody was so nice and so lovely because hes a wonderful actor. Casting director Sherry Thomas (The Righteous Gemstones, Better Call Saul) explains if she has any tells when auditioning actors and how she wants them to fe. ST: It is a challenge when there are so many components beyond Are they a great actor? and Are they right for the part? The age had to be right so that it felt right appropriate for Diana. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. But Luca is very connected to the human side of actors, so I think he connected with her., Chlo [as Frasers other mother] is someone I have loved from the beginning. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. Were lucky., I was a giant fan of Janes for many, many years, from Suburgatory, Robert J. Ulrich says of the lead actress whose Zoey can see and hear what others are feeling via fantasy musical numbers. Liz Feldman, Christina Applegate, Jessica Elbaum, and all of our producers fell in love with working with him and figuring out a complex way to bring him back. We actually hit the limit of how many emails Gmail can accept in a day. After Kaling posted the open call on her social media and more than 13,000 submissions poured in, the duo discovered Toronto-based, then-17-year-old Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. Elaine Doremus. From Thomas passion for her work to her passion for her family, this has been a candid look into the person behind all the casting credits. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. You can see so many more people for a role, because you can take chances because you dont have to slot people in to 15-minute time periods with the producers. Bialy says, For Better Call Saul, we have an inside joke in the office that theyre a Vince-Peter type of an actor [co-showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould]. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. She then added, To be perfectly honest with you, I think that were all in the reality that there are several other huge nominees in there, and so were blessed and honored to be there. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . I have no history with her. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. RS: It was a very extensive search. casting director Casts for Film, TV, Theatre, New Media California About Sharon Bialy Sharon Bialy is an award winning Casting Director for television, film and theater. We had readings for that part. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Kay says, I met with [showrunners Jemaine Clement and Paul Simms] in the beginning, and they were like, You know, just bring us good faces. It has all come down to this, friends. A lot of it is having support. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Thats why the character [club owner Uncle Clifford] is so exciting and real because Nicco is willing to take those risks., Shannon [as dancer Keyshawn] is shockingly gorgeous. 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Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. 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For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Sharon Bialy: Also, because sometimes youre only getting a couple of pages, so you have to guess and when youre in the room, we can give you context. ST: I mean I cant even Its ridiculous. Speaking with Awards Daily, the 2020 Emmy nominees walked us through the challenges of the second season from chasing down Natalie Morales as the second seasons biggest addition to a number of high-profile cameos. He once told me, Youre weird too. . Casting Networks is a registered trademark of Casting Networks, LLC. She had been around and doing guest star work, but to get a series regular gig was a big step for her., Poorna has for most of her career been a dramatic actress, and she was like, I never get to come in on comedies because nobody thinks Im funny, says Greenstein about the role of Devis mother for Jagannathan. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. I feel like this is not in my wheelhouse, or Im not right for this at all, but wanted to come and meet you guys.. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. The actors dont care that they come in 10 times and didnt get the part, because they know that one time with us they will., Once you have Matthew Rhys, you want to make sure whoever is opposite isnt wiped off the screen, says Bialy of their lead. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Mercedes is the one who draws all the crowds into The Pynk, so you have to have someone that has this magnetism about them., Oh, what can you say? Instagram Icon We really needed someone for that role who would be able to come in and immediately keep up with Linda, Christina, and James who had already gelled. He fell in love with doing the show. So, I love self-tapes. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. We are very, very excited for season three. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Michael was one of those extraordinarily talented people who did not make it onto the show, but I kept in mind and saw him in stage productions and For the Record. A lot of times in these teenage parts, you have 20-year-olds playing 15, and that wasnt the case, says Cuba, who wanted the coming-of-age roles to be occupied by fresh faces. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. We had lots of auditions. Oftentimes you have to stay on your leading guy because other actors cant hold [their own]., The challenge is getting that first person of well-known stature to say yes, then you build from there, says Thomas. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. I dont think it took an hour for every creative to say, Shes perfect. , The most exciting thing is taking that actor everybody sees one way and flipping expectations, Bialy says. Like with Colins office mates; they have like one line here and there and Jemaine said, I need them all back. You dont see loyalty like that a lot.. Awards. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Now in the show's second season, casting directors Sherry Thomas and Russell Scott were tasked with the challenge of expanding on that world and filling out an ensemble that were able to keep up with Applegate and Cardellini. ST: Vice versa for Linda Cardellini, who has typically been known for drama to come in and wow everyone with her great sense of timing and comedic skills without ever making it too big. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? Its going to be hard for us because we love to be in the room with them. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. The external is not whats important to him. The main cast may seem only six actors deep, but to the casting directors, the world was expansive. He was pursuing editing work on the side. And it happens. I dont see it. We started talking with her agent, and they basically said to make sure this was the direction we wanted to go in because if Katey found out she would certainly want to do it. The process when we started of course is making lists. Yahya took a leap of faith. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. Alyssa Morris is our associate on this project and it was really, honestly the first time were working on a project where all of us are not together. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. We always want to be readily available to talk as they prepare their tapes so that there is that sense that weve been in the room with them. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. Deadline Media, Get our free, urgent prediction updates and news, 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: , Leaderboards: See All Past Prediction Accuracy Scores, Leaderboards: Best Prediction Accuracy Scores for Film, TV and Music Awards, Leaderboards: Best TV Show Predictions by Gold Derby Users, Find a User or Expert / Download Gold Derbys Free, New App. Keep reading for a window into everything from how she works including her Emmy-nominated casting of Barrys third season to what shed be doing if her chosen profession werent an option. Hes not afraid to try things. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Sharon Bialy: Right. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. Despite the mega success of Breaking Bad at the Emmys including three acting wins for Bryan Cranston, a pair for Aaron Paul and one for Anna Gunn casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas have been mysteriously overlooked by the TV Academy year after year. You are known for bringing in people who are looked at one way, and then you sort of have given this whole new sort of light, this new career almost to them. AD: One of the reasons the show has become so popular is because of the way it straddles this really thin line between comedy and drama in ways we rarely see on television. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. It has this sense of urgency that I love and the tangible aspect of running a business, but then theres also the creative side of it. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. Every actor that comes in, even if they dont get the job, we keep a lot of notes . Well often write notes like, Remember for BCS because theres a naturalistic approach to the acting on the show; its not showy at all. She works constantly in New York, but she was this undiscovered gem to the rest of the world, and now everybody knows who she is., To populate Luca Guadagninos vision of an American Army base in coastal Italy, casting director Carmen Cuba knew she had to build her cast out from the kids at the center of the story. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. Facebook Icon. Luckily he did. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. And then we pulled from that to go and seek out the right people for the roles. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. As for the ladies favorite guest stars over the years, they bring special attention to Charles Baker (Skinny Pete), Matt Jones (Badger) and Daniel and Luis Moncada (the Cousins), but they admit that Emmy nominee Mark Margolis may be their favorite casting scoop for the show. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys 1 win & 41 nominations total Photos Known for Rudy 7.5 Casting Director 1993 The Handmaid's Tale 8.4 Alice Lee was just a discovery. Its also a thriller. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. The theater is located at 38 Commerce Street between Barrow and Bedford Streets in the West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City.The Cherry Lane Theatre contains a 179-seat main stage and a 60-seat studio. Sherry Lansing. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. Despite the mega success of "Breaking Bad" at the Emmys -- including three acting wins for Bryan Cranston, a pair for Aaron Paul and one for Anna Gunn -- casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry . Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. Q&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo Park (Ted Lasso) and Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy (The Shrink Next Door). TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . And if an actor does the wrong choice and they come in the room, you can easily give them direction and play with it and get them more relaxed and support them. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? You dont have to drive an hour and a half to two hours for an audition when youre getting the pages two or three days before. We can be a force of nature in our career and still want to spend more than an hour and a half with our newborn baby. This is my first experience with Luca, so the process involved me figuring out how he defines a lot of the things in the script. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. It all kind of comes together. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. Kids is the movie that made me recognize that this was something I could do, and the first movie I did on my own as a casting director was a movie called Bully, which was by the same director as Kids [Larry Clark]. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. And thats exciting when were able to do that. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. That was a very, very challenging role, Thomas says of the eager young econowife character who comes to learn just how divorced love and marriage are in the Gilead dystopia. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. My partner Sherry Thomas, who casts the show with me, and I have a history of colorblind casting, so we're always looking for the best actor. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. Thats what it is all about. And thats part of our job is to continue education. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. Shes just perfect. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. And whats exciting for us in casting, and it keeps us 23 years later together excited about things is to try new things, and to see an actor as a whole. ST: I think thats one of the reasons we love to be in the room with actors and why right now it is really hard with the world of COVID. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Its good to be (Regina) King: The Oscar winner might win her fourth Emmy for her portrayal of Angela Aybar/Sister Night in Watchmen., The Doctor is in: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was a surprise choice to play Dr. Manhattan in HBOs Watchmen.. What is the craziest audition story that you have? The others laugh a little. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. Burrows eventually recommended Thomas for her first paying job in the industry, working as an assistant to the location casting director the person charged with hiring extras for movie and TV . Producer: Indecent Proposal. She was the lead casting director on this one and what she did was really take actors that are known for one thing and respect them and the breath of their talent and say, Im going to try something else here. And now jumping to present day, congrats are in order regarding the recent Emmy nomination you received with Sharon Bialy for your teams work casting Barry. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us.