sherry thomas lane casting director

Learn how your comment data is processed. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Thats what it is all about. So he was intrigued. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. Thomas says, Damon tried to give me a hint: He should be a little unusual. My associate, Elizabeth, who knows the comics very well, she guessed it.. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. For the vampire mockuseries What We Do in the Shadows, nominees Gayle Keller, Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay find themselves looking for actors who dont look like typical actors. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? Thats me, Thomas says. What is the craziest audition story that you have? The Robert Downey Jr. -produced HBO series Perry Mason -which places the famed criminal defense lawyer played by Matthew Rhys in the era he debuted in literature, the 1930s-features a stellar cast. Lets try it. 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. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Gohar Gazazyan, Casting Director. Hes daring. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. All rights reserved. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. We all miss it. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. Its really wonderful to see that. ST: Not at all! So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. And I also just love her as a person. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. 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. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. So, I get an idea for the cadence and tone of the role, which I add to what I already have about it on paper. 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. 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 all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. 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. 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. . 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. Get our L.A. 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. Seriously. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. And thanks for sharing about the magic of working with the person who not only co-created the show, but who also produces, writes, directs, and stars in it. 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 also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. 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. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? I have no history with her. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . 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. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. You were also nominated for your work on the third season of The Handmaids Tale. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. Liz Feldman, Christina Applegate, Jessica Elbaum, and all of our producers fell in love with working with him and figuring out a complex way to bring him back. 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. I think within that the process will change a bit. Yahya took a leap of faith. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. Toothpicks and blue jeans. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. New to Casting Networks? In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. Jonathans secretary. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. It has all come down to this, friends. 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. 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). She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. A lot of it is having support. 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. And it worked! 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. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. 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. Shes just perfect. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. 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. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Twitter 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. 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. Fuck yeah!. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. He was pursuing editing work on the side. 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. I feel like I get him. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. Elaine Doremus. 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. 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. I dont see it. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. We started talking with her agent, and they basically said to make sure this was the direction we wanted to go in because if Katey found out she would certainly want to do it. Having her name value in that role grounded the whole office., For Skylars role, we auditioned lots and lots of great people, says Ulrich of the co-worker character with romantic potential. I want to get a sense of who they are, and how they handle text, and what they bring to the table in terms of choices, well watch it the whole way through because were educating ourselves. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. This website uses cookies. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. 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. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. So, you have to just be mindful of the process or the questions and anticipate what theyre going to ask, the producers or the director. 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. 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. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. 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. 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. He is so wonderful. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. What are some self-tape tips that you have? Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. She was kind of in my head when I read it. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. Im fully vaxed. Boom. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. Okay. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. 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. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. This interview has been edited and condensed. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. 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. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. 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. You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. 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. 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? 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. 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. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Sign Up. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. 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. 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. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Pros from five of the years newest dramas and comedies including 'Perry Mason' and 'We Are Who We Are' also reveal the surprising obstacles they hurdled before production began. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 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. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? 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. Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. From encouraging this writer about her questionable hair choices to estimating how many times shes forgotten to pick her kids up from school, Thomas candor in our interview provided an intriguing look into the person behind all the casting credits. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. 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. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. He felt just perfect for Bruce. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sharon Bialy: Right. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Casting just felt right for me. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. Weve read her over the years and have been a fan of hers, says Daniel of the role Moorjani eventually landed, as the cousin who initially inspires envy in Devi. 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 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. Kay says, I met with [showrunners Jemaine Clement and Paul Simms] in the beginning, and they were like, You know, just bring us good faces. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? 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 [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. You learn what you want to change moving forward. 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. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. And thats part of our job is to continue education. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. 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. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. This is my first experience with Luca, so the process involved me figuring out how he defines a lot of the things in the script. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. We can explain things like tone. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. I grew up thinking that acting was going to be my path in life, so when I was 22, I packed up my car and drove cross-country to LA with just 150 bucks in my pocket. Sherry Thomas. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Casting Director. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! 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]. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. I hope she never sees us. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. 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. They met and he loved him, and that was that., There is no shortage of star wattage in the dark origin story of the legendary defense lawyer, but there is an art to combining such talent. Type above and press Enter to search. 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. The cast of Gotham. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. And then when I did it, you kind of jumped up in your chair. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas.

Did Susan Calman Have A Baby, Are Glow In The Dark Valve Caps Legal, North Carolina Rodeo Schedule, Characteristics Of A Virtuous Person, Articles S