In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. We have been very lucky on this show. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. But not even Thomas and Lewis knew who the character, a nice guy married to Regina Kings vigilante character, would later be revealed to be. 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. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. 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. Learn more about how we use cookies. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. Sherry Thomas: Yep. Bialy, Thomas and Russell Scott are nominated twice this year, for Dead to Me along with Handmaids Tale. Another of their shows, Better Call Saul, now has 11 acting nominations. This website uses cookies. Jonathans secretary. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. 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. 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. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. Bialy/Thomas & Associates - Casting Director | Backstage Back in 2019, Jones played. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. 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. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. From our perspective though we are still always trying to surprise the producers. Luckily he did. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage A lot of casting people their choices have shifted to self-tapes and some of them only self-tapes, but for us our choice will always to be in the room with actors. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . We sent the audition, and Jemaine fell in love with him: We have to have him! And the next season, they wrote an episode for him, but he couldnt do it. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. Thats me, Thomas says. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. 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. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. Its also a thriller. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. We had read her for The Handmaids Tale one season, and we had read her for an independent movie that was a really deep and layered character. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. 1 on iTunes Charts, Jussie Smollett finally appeals his conviction stemming from 2019 hate-crime hoax, Gayle King surprises Angela Bassett with her Whats Love Got to Do With It dress, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Sweetie Pies alum Tim Norman gets life sentence for planned execution of nephew, Fox News finally reveals its kryptonite: the bottom line, Unlike Andor, Mandalorian is going all in on Star Wars lore. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. Its been a long time coming and were very proud of it., 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: Breaking Bad, Scandal, , If they do win the Emmy, they arent worried about getting kicked off the stage if their acceptance speech lasts too long. What is the craziest audition story that you have? Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. 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.. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. It feels like thats not as much of a requirement anymore, though, and I want to help fully facilitate that change for the next generation of women. Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. Now, I would never assume that Melissa McCarthy would be so interested in my life that she would say yes to playing me in a series about it. Im just blown away with how Bill can be in a scene, fully connected to it as an actor, even when I know his eye as the director and ear as the writer are simultaneously at work. At the time [we started casting], she was working with one of my best friends on What/If, and I was hearing a lot about her and how she would sing karaoke. For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. 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? Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. Was that hard at all? At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. 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. He goes right to the edge, and it works. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Stacia Kimler, Casting . Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. 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. This cast is definitely a combination of people who Luca knew hed have to shepherd along. Of Seamn, whose outwardly confident Caitlin struggles with gender identity, Cuba adds, But its funny, because we thought this going in, and then Jordan turned out to somehow be a savant and know how to do everything, even though shed had no experience., I have auditioned [Scott] over the years for various things. Creator Katori Hall made a short film of her intended pilot that featured several castmembers, but the search still encompassed thousands of auditions and extensive chemistry reads. Shes fantastic. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). One of their latest shows, the wonderful The Shrink Next Door, just finished its run on Apple+ and the pair took some time out of their busy schedule to talk about casting the show, their thoughts and advice on self-tapes and much more! So, to be able to support her in a role like this, where she really gets to show what she can do as an actress and the layers and the levels that she has and that she is nuanced, is its exciting. ST: Not at all! Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. 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. 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 . Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. Sherry Thomas. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. Her role in "Barry" came about thanks to its casting director, nine-time Emmy nominee Sherry Thomas, as well as the Hollywood satire's dedication to meta humor. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. Apple TV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. Press Esc to cancel. 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. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. Producer: Indecent Proposal. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. 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. I love her performances and everything she does, and Luca felt the same way., Jack has a lot of experience in movies and TV, so he had a flexibility as far as craft goes, Cuba says. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. But this is definitely a collaboration between Jack and Luca, and who teenagers are today, in this moment., [The character of Sam Pratchett] was really about mixing and matching with whoever [would be playing his girlfriend] Caitlin. AD: I imagine one of the more interesting challenges of that character is finding someone who can believably portray someone who has both dated Ana (Diana-Maria Riva) and Judy. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. But, just like any other season, we got the scripts and then talked with [co-creator/star] Bill [Hader] and [co-creator/showrunner] Alec [Berg] to hear what they were identifying within the new characters. Did you experience a lot of actors who struggled to nail the specific tone and how did you help them get there in the audition room? Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. We thought wed cast an unknown. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. In Season 1, says Keller, Harvey Guilln, who costars as Guillermo, familiar to one of the vampires, starts talking to this other familiar at a party, and it was a very nondescript part. I knew that Mary could sing. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. Sharon Bialy: I think thats a really good note. 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. We ultimately will probably only send one take, unless were really questioning We dont edit it ourselves too much sometimes because the producers could come back and say, You know, theyre missing a moment, and thats exactly what was in the other take. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. But now that the show has cooked its last batch of blue meth and said goodbye to the Albuquerque sunset, Bialy and Thomas finally heard their names called on nominations morning, along with Kiira Arai, in the Best Drama Casting category. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. Hes daring. When we circled back, I remember looking at the date and I was like, Holy shit, I think shes available. , Theres an assuredness to Sister Alice that the audience has to buy because she believes [her evangelism] so strongly, Bialy says. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. BIALY / THOMAS CASTING - The Casting Society of America It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. It was a surprise to us. My wife is my reader and shes terrible. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. That helps give me the essence of what Bill has in mind, and then as I get him going, hell just start going into the characters dialogue in a voice that reflects how he hears it in his head. Twitter Icon Get our L.A. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. And it happens. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Sherry Thomas Lane - Facebook That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. Shes just perfect. And were really fing funny! Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. 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. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. Its also an emotional drama. So find somebody who really is going to, give you a little bit of something to play off of, but not try to sort of make it about them, because thats not what theyre there for. The cast of Gotham. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? All Rights Reserved. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. He was shooting a really naturalistic portrait of this group, and so much of this was about how these kids are as themselves: How are they when theyre not doing the scene? What sets this young cast apart from many other series starring young adults is the actors age range. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. We have to experience the duality of his life, and that heartbreak, and the choices he makes., I remember in the audition process, the actors had to say to Mississippi how they could take care of her abusive boyfriend, Ingram recalls. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. Id imagine that at this point, after collaborating with Hader since the first season of Barry, you all are very familiar with how you work together. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. And say, Lets try them for this.. Required fields are marked *. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Sharon Bialy: Right. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Year Program Casting Network We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. What are some self-tape tips that you have? We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Artios Awards: Casting Directors for 'The Boys,' 'Pose,' 'Watchmen We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. 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 each role with director and executive producer Timothy Van Patten. For 'The. We had readings for that part. I think within that the process will change a bit. I truly love doing hair and have always told people that if I somehow just sh-t the bed and was no longer able to be in casting, I would do hair instead. Sherry Thomas @SherryThomas_ST , Twitter Profile - instalker.org There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. It was the biggest new role of the season. Casting Director. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. I mean, its just, its incredible. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. Sharon Bialy - IMDb Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting Yahya took a leap of faith. 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 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. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. We were able to find actors like Ericka Kreutz who played Shandys mother, and you had Adora Bricher who played Shandy who is amazing as the dark, dark little girl. Alice Lee was just a discovery. Sharon Bialy: And it was the hardest thing in the world to not be hysterical, laughing when she wrote, I meant Michael Imperioli. And then we had to go through the audition and Im biting my lip so that I laugh. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. But I dont think that it is ever more important than having the right person. Of course, the greatest discovery of this musical comedy is its lead, Jane Levy, best known to viewers for her comedic skills on the ABC series Suburgatory. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. I personally just do my best to be as organized as possible and stay present in the moment, taking it one day at a time. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. SB: It will change, but we are hoping once this is over to be able to go back to that mixture of in-person and self-tapes. There was something she found the strength in that character, the fearlessness in her eyes., We werent identifying what roles would be people of color, adds her colleague Sherry Thomas. 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. And sometimes the sides are fake. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. He felt just perfect for Bruce. John Lithgow, for E.B. Jeremy O. Harris was cast in a small role in FXs What We Do in the Shadows. Co-showrunner Jemaine Clement then wrote an episode just for him. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. Casting Networks is a registered trademark of Casting Networks, LLC. Its great for the world to see his story; something that youre certainly seeing more and more television, which is wonderful, but that you dont see every day., When putting together an ensemble in which one star cannot shine brighter than the others, theres a key to getting it right: You need strong people all around, people who can match each other talentwise, says casting director Billy Hopkins. We went back to our theatre brains, and Laila Robins is someone I had seen over 25 years ago doing The Real Thing opposite Jeremy Irons. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. Skylar is obviously a name, but hes also just a real standout, an extraordinary singer and actor., Michael Thomas Grant, who plays [rival coworker] Leif, I knew from The Glee Project, says the casting director. Sherry Lansing - IMDb We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. 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. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. To say I was enthused was another thing. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. Id actually liken it to the audition process. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. 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). Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. 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 mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. We had lots of auditions. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. But even with such a rsum, the highly sought-after casting director came across as nothing short of a grounded, down-to-earth individual when she sat down with Casting Networks via Zoom. He once told me, Youre weird too. . He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. Literally, we were all just howling because she just got it., We needed a Jake from Sixteen Candles, someone brooding and obviously swoon-worthy and somebody that Devis going to have a mad crush on, Greenstein says of the protagonists love interest, Paxton Hall-Yoshida. ST: Not for us particularly. And also sometimes not having all the producers in the room gives the actor, even on a zoom call back with us, we can play with them more and theyre not trying to please everybody, theyre just concentrating on the work. Hes coming in this week. . Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. I dont see it.
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