And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. 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. Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. However, theres a great deal of team Read More, Two in five Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 experience a mental disorder at some time in Read More, From college basketball tournaments to St. Pattys Day, the new month is synonymous with more than a few events. Read More, I believe there is some anxiety in the air over the expectations for commercial self tapes. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. . 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. He was pursuing editing work on the side. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. And as a casting director, it feeds my soul to get to go through the whole collaborative process of finding that person who just pops in a role. We had readings for that part. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. How did you end up finding her for the role? Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. You believed everything that was coming out of her mouth., We did an open call for Kamala and I feel like [Richa Moorjani] came in pretty early on. 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. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. No. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? And were really fing funny! 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. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. 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 But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. 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.. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. 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. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. And thats part of our job is to continue education. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. As part of our inaugural BackstageFest, longtime casting directors Theo Park ("Ted Lasso," "Master of None"), Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas ("Perry Mason," "The Comey Rule," "The. 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. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. And I also just love her as a person. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. This website uses cookies. 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. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. 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. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? Wow. 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]. Luca is a director whos interested in the rawness and the grounding of truth., Because of City of God, [Alice] is somebody Ive always looked at and always been really curious about, says Cuba of the actress, who plays one of protagonist Frasers mothers, both in the military. Livin' the dream. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. And Peter [Gallagher, as Maggies husband, Mitch] obviously had been on Broadway. You really want to buy into that environment. 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. 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. 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? The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. 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. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. They also discuss what its like to be casting directors in the middle of a pandemic and if they think their profession is permanently changed by it. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. It was a surprise to us. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. 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.. 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. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. 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. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. Casting Directors From 'Never Have I Ever,' 'Zoey's Extraordinary To see somebody with natural comedic timing who really got the nuances of the scenes and really got the multidimensional character she wasnt just reading lines. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. 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. Sauls Rhea Seehorn was one they called in many times before she booked the key Kim Wexler role. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. AppleTV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry Sharon Bialy: Right. I obviously knew of him, but he was a friend of Austins, so he suggested him, and he is so great on the show., John I also knew because he was in What/If. 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. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. Twitter Icon 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 Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. We thought wed cast an unknown. Seriously. 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. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Sherry Thomas Lane - Facebook He fell in love with doing the show. She was kind of in my head when I read it. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. We are very, very excited for season three. New to Casting Networks? AD: Im sure you cant say anything about the final season, but Im curious if you have a dream guest actor that you think would fit perfectly into the world of the show? Okay. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas And then there were some people that we redirected and from the day players up to our more significant roles that were prominent in the piece. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. 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. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Then he was totally game to be in the last episode in front of the camera., After co-creator and executive producer Mindy Kaling tweeted an open casting call for series lead Devi Vishwakumar, the casting directors discovered newcomer Ramakrishnan. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. 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. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. We had lots of auditions. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. Primetime Emmy Awards. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. My wife is my reader and shes terrible. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. Slowly they realized that Maitreyi and Jaren have this really great chemistry, so it naturally evolved into this love triangle, which was really fun to see., Finding stars for a show that centers entirely on musical numbers is not the daunting task one imagines especially if you were the casting director of Glee and have an enormous roster of singing actors at your disposal. Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. 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. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. 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. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. He once told me, Youre weird too. . 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. 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? And sometimes the sides are fake. Name one of your favorite television shows and its a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. 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. He felt just perfect for Bruce. They tell the story of when they had to call Margolis in New York and ask him to put himself on tape, despite the fact that his character had no lines. All Rights Reserved. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Bialy/Thomas & Associates - Casting Director | Backstage What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? 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. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Hes not afraid to try things. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. Were in a very different time and our priorities are a little different, but it doesnt take away from the pride of it and the love and passion we have for it. That makes sense. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Its really wonderful to see that. sherrythomaslane Follow 284 posts 5,086 followers 587 following Sherry Thomas Lane Casting Director / Owner @ Bialy Thomas & Associates Blue collar Northampton, MA native who is Livin' the dream. John Lithgow, for E.B. Artios Awards: Casting Directors for 'The Boys,' 'Pose,' 'Watchmen Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. To say I was enthused was another thing. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. 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. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). 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. For Austin Winsbergs musical extravaganza, Ulrich was asked to put together a cast that could sing, dance and pretend none of it is really happening. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . I think within that the process will change a bit. A lot of it is having support. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. So, I love self-tapes. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. I would own my own version of a Drybar. Sharon Bialy is on Instagram 782 posts on their profile But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. 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. Get our L.A. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. 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. Instagram Icon So that bar was set very high., She had been finishing up something and was not available, Thomas says of the actress who plays E.B. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. 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. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? Exclusive: AMCs Emmy episode submissions for Breaking Bad & Mad Men, Even though Breaking Bad is over, Bialy and Thomas are still involved in that universe thanks to their casting of the spin-off series Better Call Saul. However, Bialy warns us, I cant tell you anything about Better Call Saul. Were sworn to secrecy! Theyre also keeping busy casting Halt and Catch Fire, which just ended its first season on AMC, Foxs upcoming comic-book series Gotham and TVs biggest ratings hit The Walking Dead., Hey, whats with all the dark shows on their resumes? You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. Its also an emotional drama. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! Women of that level and age arent coming in to read at that point in their careers, so we kept combing through this huge list. Casting just felt right for me. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. 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 of a sudden were like, Guys, shouldnt we make sure he wants to do this? recalls Collin Daniel of the role that was part narrator, part Voice of God, and all affectionate snark. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? I knew that Mary could sing. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? And then when I did it, you kind of jumped up in your chair. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. 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. 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. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. Sherry Thomas - Managing Director, Global Strategic Advisory - Guy Required fields are marked *. I think we will all be more mindful of that process, but I also dont want to be in a room with an actor with a giant piece of plexiglass between us. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. 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. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. Sherry Thomas - Awards - IMDb Your email address will not be published. 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. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. 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. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. 'Perry Mason' Casting Directors Reveal the Casting - Daily Actor 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. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. 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. 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. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. 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. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. 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. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative .
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