Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. 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. Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sherry Thomas. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. Specialties: Catastrophe Modeling<br>Portfolio Management<br>Reinsurance Pricing | Learn more about Sherry Thomas's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . 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. Were just gonna have a great time.. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. This interview has been edited and condensed. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. Every time we had a conversation or auditioned actresses that werent a perfect fit, Russell would get on the phone and see if her availability changed. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. We were trying to find the perfect person that would excite Liz to the point where she would want to continue writing for if the character came back. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. Seriously. With Tyler as Diamond, when you see him experience that, you dont question whether or not thats his truth., We all loved [Harriett] from the beginning. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . ST: Not for us particularly. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. 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. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. 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 . Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. 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. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Required fields are marked *. 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. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. Over the course of my daughters lives my oldest is going to be 12 in September and my youngest is 10 Ive probably forgotten to pick them up from school about 20 times. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. We are very, very excited for season three. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. But Thomas and Scott have been able to channel their passion into rounding out the ensemble of the second season with big name guest stars from Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal to utilizing some of the best character actors working today. Its not recent, but it is really funny. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. We discussed a bunch of people [for the role of Caitlins father, an Army lieutenant] and then it just felt natural for Scott and Luca to meet. 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. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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. 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. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. It has all come down to this, friends. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. How do you like the way casting is right now? It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. The thing that Luca seemed to be connecting to is a real combination of, could they do the material, but also could he engage in real dialogue with them about what it means to be their age in this moment and incorporate that into the vision that he had., Jordan didnt even have an agent. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Instead its all of the supporting players, the day players, because you have to have great actors, the majority of who are in scenes with Christina and Linda. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. 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. She needed the right role to be able to show that shes not just someone whos gorgeous, and Mississippi allows her to do that., Elarica [as dancer Autumn Night] has a very openhearted vulnerability that comes forward when you just look in her eyes, says Ingram. Hes daring. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys Let me try it. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. 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! Type above and press Enter to search. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. From our perspective though we are still always trying to surprise the producers. Casting Director. John Lithgow, for E.B. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? 2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind Argentina, 1985 Remains More Relevant Than Ever, 2023 Oscar Nominee Fire of Love: How Editors and Co-Writers Erin CasperandJocelyne Chaput Crafted the Krafft Love Story, Double Oscar Nominee & Producer Shane Boris Talks What Fire of Love & Navalny Have in Common, Inaugural Television Publicity Executives Committee (TPEC) Submissions Are Now Open, Amazons Daisy Jones and the Six is the First Great Limited Series of 2023, Melissa Rauch On Presiding Over a New Night Court Era, 'The Morning Show' Director Mimi Leder on Why Cable is Better for Female Characters. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. So youll see Breaking Bad is peppered with stand-up guys doing their first drama., Join the fiery discussion of Breaking Bad in our forums, Thomas added, But really what we just love to do is great material and hire really interesting actors. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. Hes coming in this week. . Its also a thriller. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. 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. We checked in on her, and the challenging part was convincing producers to take a chance on an actor that youre very familiar with but they might not be. 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. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. 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. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. We have been very lucky on this show. And then, Sherry, you redirected me to do something. Sauls Rhea Seehorn was one they called in many times before she booked the key Kim Wexler role. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. 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. Learn more about how we use cookies. I mean, its just, its incredible. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. Luckily he did. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? The Emmys may be in September but its never too early to look out for potential nominees, including Succession, Schitts Creek and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The cast of Gotham. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. And so I said, Oh my God, oh my God, Michael Rispoli is going to be in town from New York and we need to get him in. 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. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. Press Esc to cancel. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Stacia Kimler, Casting . I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. ST: We hadnt discussed the idea in general, probably because of the previous relationship with Christina, and we didnt want to pull anybody out of it. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. And thats exciting when were able to do that. And it worked! But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. He fell in love with doing the show. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. 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. He once told me, Youre weird too. . THE PHIL SPECTOR BIOPIC (HBO Movie): David Mamet, Writer-Director Barry Levinson, Michael Hausman, Exec Producers Starring: Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor, Chiwetel Eji of or (HBO) WIDOW DETECTIVE (pilot): Carol Mendelsohn, David Hubbard, Julie Weitz, Davis Guggenheim, Exec Producers So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. 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. 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. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Thats what it is all about. We can explain things like tone. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Among them, theyre responsible for five of the shows nominated for casting Emmys this year as well as a host of others that have received acting nominations in the past. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Im in LA. Russell Scott, Casting Director. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. 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. 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. I appreciate that insight into collaborating with such a talented multi-hyphenate. Thats me, Thomas says. And one of the first things that we did together as Bialy/Thomas was The Unit with Shawn Ryan and David Mamet and Eric Haney. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House We would give a little context of the tone. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. It's a game A Tale of Two Cities One City: The BAFTA voters chose to give just one award to Everything, Everywhere All 2023 Golden Reel Award Sound Editorial Winners Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Feature Dialogue / ADR The Banshees of 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. Her emotional depth and ability, in the scene, to always find the deepest but most surprising way to play it, is amazing and then to be able to sing on top of it. The Commander that Christopher Meloni played [Commander Winslow] was challenging because often times the first script doesnt tell you what the journey is going to be. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. How did you guys bring her on? Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. 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. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. 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. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. 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. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. New to Casting Networks? 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 just someone Ive been watching. If you have one weak link, it becomes obvious. According to Ashley Ingram, who also served as casting director on the show, an added challenge of populating the struggling Mississippi Delta strip joint was the desire for authenticity over recognizability. 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. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. Back in 2019, Jones played. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Now in the shows 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. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. The storylines and arcs are massive, and youre also in a period piece, so it was important to make sure that each actor [remained] defined within their own self, even if the character wasnt around all the time, says Thomas. But honestly, I had no idea how well Jane could sing., I knew she could sing because she had been on Broadway, and she just brought such a fun element to the show, says Ulrich of the Gilmore Girls and Parenthood vet, who made her Broadway debut in a 2009 revival of the musical comedy Guys and Dolls; Graham plays Zoeys boss. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. Closing out the conversation we were joined by their casting partner Sharon Bialy to discuss their second nomination of the year for their work on The Handmaids Tale. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. 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. While leaving no stone unturned in his search for the perfect San Francisco enclave, Ulrich ended up with more than a few recognizable names of both stage and screen in key roles. Its also an emotional drama. Liz responds to actors who arent hitting the jokes but have a sense of humor, not typical sitcom, playing-to-the-audience types you might see on traditional multi-camera shows. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. It was the biggest new role of the season. Thats a fantastic pick! 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. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. 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. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. This website uses cookies. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. I didnt know anyone here, but was a manager at The Gap at the time and got transferred to an LA location of the store. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. Casting Networks is a registered trademark of Casting Networks, LLC.

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