That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. 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. 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. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. Shes the real deal.. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. I have no history with her. . Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. 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. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. 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. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. 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. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. But Luca is very connected to the human side of actors, so I think he connected with her., Chlo [as Frasers other mother] is someone I have loved from the beginning. It has all come down to this, friends. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. And were really fing funny! 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. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. 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. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Sign Up. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. 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 . At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? 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. And then when I did it, you kind of jumped up in your chair. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. 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). Im fully vaxed. Boom. You learn what you want to change moving forward. So theres some benefits to both. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! Its not recent, but it is really 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. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. 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. Elaine Doremus. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. Hes coming in this week. . With Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd attached to it, if I went in for an audition, Id automatically think, this was like a more comedic sort of thing. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. This interview has been edited and condensed. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. 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 Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. 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. 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. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Learn more about how we use cookies. 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. Fuck yeah!. 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. 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. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. 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. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. The testing was very rigorous and I think production did such an amazing job with what they had to accomplish in the way that they had to accomplish it. 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. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. 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. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. Instagram Icon He did come in and audition and just blew everybody away., The most fun bit of casting was the fact that Mo was written as a woman. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. 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. 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. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. 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. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? 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. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. It is how we really modulate a performance. That makes sense. And thats part of our job is to continue education. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. Toothpicks and blue jeans. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. 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. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Sharon Bialy: And it was the hardest thing in the world to not be hysterical, laughing when she wrote, I meant Michael Imperioli. And then we had to go through the audition and Im biting my lip so that I laugh. 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. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. I think within that the process will change a bit. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. 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. 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. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. It all kind of comes together. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. How do you like the way casting is right now? Year Program Casting Network By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. 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 . And it worked! We really kind of leave it up to the actor. And it happens. I mean, its just, its incredible. 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. Id actually liken it to the audition process. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. 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. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. 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. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. ST: Not for us particularly. 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. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. 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. 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 . Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? So he was intrigued. 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. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. We are very, very excited for season three. Sherry Lansing. Send it to the producers. RS: It was a very extensive search. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. A lot of casting people their choices have shifted to self-tapes and some of them only self-tapes, but for us our choice will always to be in the room with actors. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. 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. So, there you have it. 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. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. 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. 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. This cast is definitely a combination of people who Luca knew hed have to shepherd along. Of Seamn, whose outwardly confident Caitlin struggles with gender identity, Cuba adds, But its funny, because we thought this going in, and then Jordan turned out to somehow be a savant and know how to do everything, even though shed had no experience., I have auditioned [Scott] over the years for various things. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. RS: We worked through a lot of hard work and cooperation between our production and the movie because she is someone who really understood the tone of the show. Stacia Kimler, Casting . She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. How did you end up finding her for the role? Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. And sometimes the sides are fake. One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. While eager to gather a diverse troupe for Mindy Kaling and Lang Fishers series, casting directors Collin Daniel and Brett Greenstein quickly realized that until they had nailed down their series leads, there was no ensemble to assemble. 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. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . 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. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? 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. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. John Lithgow, for E.B. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. 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. 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. I dont think it took an hour for every creative to say, Shes perfect. , The most exciting thing is taking that actor everybody sees one way and flipping expectations, Bialy says. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? 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. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. He was pursuing editing work on the side. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. But now that the show has cooked its last batch of blue meth and said goodbye to the Albuquerque sunset, Bialy and Thomas finally heard their names called on nominations morning, along with Kiira Arai, in the Best Drama Casting category. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. 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. 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. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. We put out the offer, and he was on board. 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. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. You do a dark show and they go, lets get the girls to do the dark show. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. He was playing a husband. He was kind of signing on to play the girl part., As to King (she and Abdul-Mateen II are nominated, along with costars Jovan Adepo, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons and Jean Smart), the Oscar winner and three-time Emmy winner who worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers wasnt a slam dunk precisely because shed worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers.. 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. 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. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. 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. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. 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. So, theres time to do a little bit of research and we tried to educate people as much as possible that this was based on the podcast based on a true story. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. Wow. 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. Casting just felt right for me. I started exploring acting once I got to LA and met a casting director named Victoria Burrows, who kind of took me under her wing. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? Learn how your comment data is processed. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. 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. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. I knew that Mary could sing. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. For 'The. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. 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.