More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys And sometimes the sides are fake. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Luckily he did. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Im in LA. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. 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? 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 . The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. 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. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. John Lithgow, for E.B. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. We can explain things like tone. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. 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. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. A lot of offices have become that even prior to pandemic, to COVID, but thats just never been the way that we like to generate the work. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? 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. Its a visceral feeling, says Ingram, when you see an actor who you really know should be in a role., [Brandee] really had the strength and the forcefulness and chutzpah that [lead dancer] Mercedes needs, Hopkins says. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. Victoria Thomas, who is nominated this year for casting both Insecure (with Matthew Maisto) and Watchmen (with Megan Lewis), said the latter had unusual secrecy concerns: There were dummy sides or fake names on a breakdown. 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. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. 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. 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. 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. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . 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? 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. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. 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. We would give a little context of the tone. 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. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. 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. And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. 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. 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. Was that hard at all? 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. 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. I would own my own version of a Drybar. 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. 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. We received a lot of calls from agents and managers who loved the show with their clients who would love to be a part of it. 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. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. Hes not afraid to try things. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. Sherry Thomas retweeted. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. 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 . 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. I have no history with her. 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. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. Its really wonderful to see that. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. ST: Not for us particularly. And it worked! 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. 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. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. And thats part of our job is to continue education. 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. 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. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. He hadnt done anything either. 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 . In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. 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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. 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. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Of course she would have a crush on him. Darren was somebody who had this quality that was a little mysterious, obviously very handsome and surprisingly funny., We never really expected there to be a love triangle, because in the pilot Devi and Ben are just so nasty and mean toward each other. 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. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. We are very, very excited for season three. 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. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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. We have been very lucky on this show. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. 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. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. We thought wed cast an unknown. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. All Rights Reserved. What is the craziest audition story that you have? We were really happy with the outcome of that! 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. 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. She was kind of in my head when I read it. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. He once told me, Youre weird too. . Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). 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. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? You guys cast this while everything was locked down. 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. Then he went to dinner with Regina and came back and said, Why didnt I just I feel so ashamed. Because here, on a plate, is this great actress. . 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. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. 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. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. AD: Before we jump into the new characters of the second season, I wanted to talk about the shocking twist at the beginning of the season; the return of James Marsden with a new character. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. 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. 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. 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. When people used to ask us, I used to say, Oh, our reward is working with Vince Gilligan every day, which we continue to do and thats still true, Bialy told Gold Derby during our recent webchat (watch below). You learn what you want to change moving forward. You were also nominated for your work on the third season of The Handmaids Tale. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. We all miss it. 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. 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. 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. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. All Rights Reserved. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. Interview: Jeremy Davis on Playing Olaf in Frozen, Costume Mishaps and Making the Role His Own, Interview: Casting Director Kim Coleman on Five Days at Memorial, Self-Tape Tips and Portraying Real People, Interview: David Christopher Wells on His Role in To Kill a Mockingbird, Being an Understudy and Getting His MFA, Interview: Clifton Collins Jr. and Molly Parker on Jockey, Research and Bad Auditions, Ted Lasso Star Phil Dunster on How He Got the Role of Jamie Tartt, Theres No Such Thing As Chemistry In Acting. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. 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. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. 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. We had lots of auditions. 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. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. He is so wonderful. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. 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. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. . That was a really nice way to come back into the second season.
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