ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. 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. 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. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. He was a huge part of why we got her it was a lot of working out schedules; we dont just get to read in a room with actors all the time. Did Scott have to break some legs to get it done? Learn how your comment data is processed. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. Its also a thriller. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. Seriously. 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. Facebook Icon. 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, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. All Rights Reserved. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. But this is definitely a collaboration between Jack and Luca, and who teenagers are today, in this moment., [The character of Sam Pratchett] was really about mixing and matching with whoever [would be playing his girlfriend] Caitlin. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. 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. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . We really needed someone for that role who would be able to come in and immediately keep up with Linda, Christina, and James who had already gelled. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Your email address will not be published. No. 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. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. That has been nice because so many of these shows are aged for younger women. Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. The others laugh a little. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . 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. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. We started back in February of 2020, right before everything shut down, so Covid added some new challenges and parameters that we had to work within. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. 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. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. 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: I think it is a little bit of both. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Get our L.A. We went back to our theatre brains, and Laila Robins is someone I had seen over 25 years ago doing The Real Thing opposite Jeremy Irons. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. Instagram Icon Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas - casting directors HBO: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2: Cindy Tolan - casting director Amazon: Russian Doll: Season 1: Christine Kromer - casting director Netflix: Veep: Season 7: Dorian Frankel and Sibby Kirchgessner - casting directors HBO: 2020s. 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. 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. Required fields are marked *. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. Let me try it. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. I would own my own version of a Drybar. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. It all kind of comes together. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. 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. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Yahya took a leap of faith. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. What are some self-tape tips that you have? There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Sharon Bialy: Also, because sometimes youre only getting a couple of pages, so you have to guess and when youre in the room, we can give you context. He felt just perfect for Bruce. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. 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. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House Lets try it. 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. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. She was kind of in my head when I read it. Thats a fantastic pick! Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. You really want to buy into that environment. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. He fell in love with doing the show. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. 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. So, there you have it. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. 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. Jeremy O. Harris was cast in a small role in FXs What We Do in the Shadows. Co-showrunner Jemaine Clement then wrote an episode just for him. She came in and was so natural, so funny. 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. And now jumping to present day, congrats are in order regarding the recent Emmy nomination you received with Sharon Bialy for your teams work casting Barry. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. 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. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. The cast of Gotham. 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. Okay. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. 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. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. 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 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. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. 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 . Its really wonderful to see that. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. 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 oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious. 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? Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up 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. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. Press Esc to cancel. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Its also an emotional drama. 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. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. Year Program Casting Network Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. 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. Sherry Thomas retweeted. Two different ways? She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. 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. Producer: Indecent Proposal. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. 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. I personally just do my best to be as organized as possible and stay present in the moment, taking it one day at a time. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. I feel like this is not in my wheelhouse, or Im not right for this at all, but wanted to come and meet you guys.. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. 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. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Im fully vaxed. Boom. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. Sherry Lansing. Hes not afraid to try things. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. Stacia Kimler, Casting . Despite the mega success of Breaking Bad at the Emmys including three acting wins for Bryan Cranston, a pair for Aaron Paul and one for Anna Gunn casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas have been mysteriously overlooked by the TV Academy year after year. Shes fantastic. He is so wonderful. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. 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. 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. A lot of times in these teenage parts, you have 20-year-olds playing 15, and that wasnt the case, says Cuba, who wanted the coming-of-age roles to be occupied by fresh faces. 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. How did you end up finding her for the role? There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. We put out the offer, and he was on board. Sharon Bialy: Right. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. 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. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys 1 win & 41 nominations total Photos Known for Rudy 7.5 Casting Director 1993 The Handmaid's Tale 8.4 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. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas Cat Elliott August 2, 2022 It's hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas' casting rsum. 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. 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. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. 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. And then we pulled from that to go and seek out the right people for the roles. Burrows eventually recommended Thomas for her first paying job in the industry, working as an assistant to the location casting director the person charged with hiring extras for movie and TV . The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? 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 hope she never sees us. That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. 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.. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. I appreciate that insight into collaborating with such a talented multi-hyphenate. 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. 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. 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. And it worked! 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. 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. And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. John Lithgow, for E.B. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? 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. Casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have worked on "Better Call Saul" and "The Walking Dead," say: "You tell where casting directors are making the effort.
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