You do a dark show and they go, lets get the girls to do the dark show. And whats exciting for us in casting, and it keeps us 23 years later together excited about things is to try new things, and to see an actor as a whole. 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. Sherry Thomas @SherryThomas_ST , Twitter Profile - instalker.org 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. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. Sharon Bialy: I think thats a really good note. 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. 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. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? 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 it worked! So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. 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Deadline Media, Get our free, urgent prediction updates and news, 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: , Leaderboards: See All Past Prediction Accuracy Scores, Leaderboards: Best Prediction Accuracy Scores for Film, TV and Music Awards, Leaderboards: Best TV Show Predictions by Gold Derby Users, Find a User or Expert / Download Gold Derbys Free, New App. 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. 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. For Austin Winsbergs musical extravaganza, Ulrich was asked to put together a cast that could sing, dance and pretend none of it is really happening. 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 . Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. To say I was enthused was another thing. It is how we really modulate a performance. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. So, I love self-tapes. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. 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. 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 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. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. And I also just love her as a person. 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. Sherry Lansing. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. 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? Its also a thriller. 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 . Members | The Casting Society of America Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. That has been nice because so many of these shows are aged for younger women. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. 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]. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House Jonathans secretary. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series Sharon Bialy - IMDb Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Year Program Casting Network So, there you have it. 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. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. I have no history with her. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. 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. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. Those things are leaps of faith, right? 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. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. He goes right to the edge, and it works. So, I got that part covered. 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 . At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. 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. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. 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. Because they're not "pro-life". 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). Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. 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.. All rights reserved. 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. Seriously. I mean, its just, its incredible. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. And sometimes the sides are fake. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Casting just felt right for me. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. I would own my own version of a Drybar. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. Im in LA. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. And thats part of our job is to continue education. 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. Back in 2019, Jones played. One of their latest shows, the wonderful The Shrink Next Door, just finished its run on Apple+ and the pair took some time out of their busy schedule to talk about casting the show, their thoughts and advice on self-tapes and much more! And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. 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. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. 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 I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. 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. He hadnt done anything either. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. 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. Was that hard at all? [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? You dont have to drive an hour and a half to two hours for an audition when youre getting the pages two or three days before. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Sherry Thomas - Director of Creative Services - LinkedIn Stacia Kimler, Casting . But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. 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. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. Her emotional depth and ability, in the scene, to always find the deepest but most surprising way to play it, is amazing and then to be able to sing on top of 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. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. . Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. The process when we started of course is making lists. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. 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. I love her performances and everything she does, and Luca felt the same way., Jack has a lot of experience in movies and TV, so he had a flexibility as far as craft goes, Cuba says. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. 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. It was a surprise to us. Toothpicks and blue jeans. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. 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. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. 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. AppleTV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry 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. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Facebook Icon. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. 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. 2006 I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Sherry Thomas - Managing Director, Global Strategic Advisory - Guy 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. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. 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. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? And it happens. You really want to buy into that environment. Sherry Thomas: Yep. That helps give me the essence of what Bill has in mind, and then as I get him going, hell just start going into the characters dialogue in a voice that reflects how he hears it in his head. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. 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. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. 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. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. 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. 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.