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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. Twitter Icon So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. 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. That has been nice because so many of these shows are aged for younger women. This interview has been edited and condensed. So theres some benefits to both. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. 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. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. Its also a thriller. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. 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. Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. 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. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Livin' the dream. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. So, I got that part covered. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. 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. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. Lets try it. Its going to be hard for us because we love to be in the room with them. 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. 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. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Id actually liken it to the audition process. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. 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. 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. Its good to be (Regina) King: The Oscar winner might win her fourth Emmy for her portrayal of Angela Aybar/Sister Night in Watchmen., The Doctor is in: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was a surprise choice to play Dr. Manhattan in HBOs Watchmen.. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. Thank God. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. Sherry Thomas. He is fantastic. sherrythomaslane Follow 284 posts 5,086 followers 587 following Sherry Thomas Lane Casting Director / Owner @ Bialy Thomas & Associates Blue collar Northampton, MA native who is Livin' the dream. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. And it worked! I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. 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. 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. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. [Laughs] Sharon always says that she spends a lot of money to get her hair done for special events like the Emmys, only to ultimately wind up at my house so I can fix it. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. And say, Lets try them for this.. So we can say, No, this is the Bob Odenkirk character youre reading with. And its like, oh, a light bulb goes off, but we cant in email. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. 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. Casting Director. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . You were also nominated for your work on the third season of The Handmaids Tale. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. 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). We always want to be readily available to talk as they prepare their tapes so that there is that sense that weve been in the room with them. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. 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. Sauls Rhea Seehorn was one they called in many times before she booked the key Kim Wexler role. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. 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. 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. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. 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. 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. AD: I imagine one of the more interesting challenges of that character is finding someone who can believably portray someone who has both dated Ana (Diana-Maria Riva) and Judy. 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. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. Producer: Indecent Proposal. Toothpicks and blue jeans. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. 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. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. And tonally, youd had to have both here. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. 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? 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. 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. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. 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. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. 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. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. Its not recent, but it is really funny. 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. 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. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. And were really fing funny! Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. And sometimes the sides are fake. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Get our L.A. 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. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. 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 then, Sherry, you redirected me to do something. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! 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. 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. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. 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. 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. Hes often the heavy for this, he was a father who had a lost son., We cast Chris in Gotham but have known him for years, says Thomas. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. 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. 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. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. He is so wonderful. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. ST: Not for us particularly. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Women of that level and age arent coming in to read at that point in their careers, so we kept combing through this huge list. 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. Fuck yeah!. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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? And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. It is how we really modulate a performance. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. Sharon Bialy: I think thats a really good note. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. We were really happy with the outcome of that! Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? There was something she found the strength in that character, the fearlessness in her eyes., We werent identifying what roles would be people of color, adds her colleague Sherry Thomas. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. 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. AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? 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. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. 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 . AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. 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. She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. It was the biggest new role of the season. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. 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. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. New to Casting Networks? It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. 2006 For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. We put out the offer, and he was on board. I mean, its just, its incredible. How did you end up finding her for the role? In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. We all miss it. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. I obviously knew of him, but he was a friend of Austins, so he suggested him, and he is so great on the show., John I also knew because he was in What/If. But 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. 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. How did you guys bring her on? I think we all miss being in the room with actors and I think a lot of the actors miss it as well, because theres something that you just get from being in the room with someone and the ability to play. Press Esc to cancel. 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. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. We were trying to find the perfect person that would excite Liz to the point where she would want to continue writing for if the character came back. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? The cast of Gotham. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. 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. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. 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. 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.. Its also an emotional drama. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. 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. 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. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. 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. The Emmys may be in September but its never too early to look out for potential nominees, including Succession, Schitts Creek and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. It has all come down to this, friends. 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? Facebook Icon. All rights reserved. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Hes coming in this week. . Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices.