No, but it made me feel like just more confident. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. Specialties: Catastrophe Modeling<br>Portfolio Management<br>Reinsurance Pricing | Learn more about Sherry Thomas's work experience, education, connections & more by visiting their profile on LinkedIn We thought wed cast an unknown. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. 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. 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. Okay. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. He is fantastic. Thats what it is all about. Every actor that comes in, even if they dont get the job, we keep a lot of notes . Well often write notes like, Remember for BCS because theres a naturalistic approach to the acting on the show; its not showy at all. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. So find somebody who really is going to, give you a little bit of something to play off of, but not try to sort of make it about them, because thats not what theyre there for. Learn how your comment data is processed. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. Im not just saying that because hes my boss Im saying that because Ive had the privilege of watching the dailies [raw, unedited footage shot during a filming day] for Barry and have gotten to see his work from all angles. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . 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. AD: Im sure you cant say anything about the final season, but Im curious if you have a dream guest actor that you think would fit perfectly into the world of the show? Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. Sherry Thomas: Yep. Contact | Sherry Thomas Like everyone else on the planet we love her. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. 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. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. I think within that the process will change a bit. We discussed a bunch of people [for the role of Caitlins father, an Army lieutenant] and then it just felt natural for Scott and Luca to meet. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. BIALY / THOMAS CASTING - The Casting Society of America She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. 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. For the vampire mockuseries What We Do in the Shadows, nominees Gayle Keller, Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay find themselves looking for actors who dont look like typical actors. 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. Its not recent, but it is really funny. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. You learn what you want to change moving forward. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. Was that hard at all? Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. 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. 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.. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. We can explain things like tone. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. How do you like the way casting is right now? And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. Walking Dead's Casting Director On Finding Heroes, Villains & Zombies Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! Its been a long time coming and were very proud of it., 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: Breaking Bad, Scandal, , If they do win the Emmy, they arent worried about getting kicked off the stage if their acceptance speech lasts too long. Primetime Emmy Awards. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. You were also nominated for your work on the third season of The Handmaids Tale. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. He is so wonderful. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. NORTHAMPTON When she was growing up in Florence, Sherry Thomas This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign 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. She came in and was so natural, so funny. After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Im just blown away with how Bill can be in a scene, fully connected to it as an actor, even when I know his eye as the director and ear as the writer are simultaneously at work. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. I dont see it. 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. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Having her name value in that role grounded the whole office., For Skylars role, we auditioned lots and lots of great people, says Ulrich of the co-worker character with romantic potential. 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. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage 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. Casting just felt right for me. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. Even Nate said, I cant believe Im in this part. He tapped into the soul of [kidnapped sons father] Matthew Dodson., He was in that initial conversation with Tim it was just determining which role, says Thomas of Patrick. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. This interview has been edited and condensed. I think we will all be more mindful of that process, but I also dont want to be in a room with an actor with a giant piece of plexiglass between us. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. 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. She had been around and doing guest star work, but to get a series regular gig was a big step for her., Poorna has for most of her career been a dramatic actress, and she was like, I never get to come in on comedies because nobody thinks Im funny, says Greenstein about the role of Devis mother for Jagannathan. 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 . 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. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. 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. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. Casting Networks is a registered trademark of Casting Networks, LLC. 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. 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. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? Awards. 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. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. Twitter Icon 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. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. We had lots of auditions. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. Members | The Casting Society of America . And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. So he was intrigued. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. Lets try it. Elaine Doremus. Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. And tonally, youd had to have both here. 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. 2006 Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. Producer: Indecent Proposal. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. Fuck yeah!. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. 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. 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 would own my own version of a Drybar. 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. 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. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. 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. Casting Directors From 'Never Have I Ever,' 'Zoey's Extraordinary With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. Because they're not "pro-life". Shes fantastic. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. My partner Sherry Thomas, who casts the show with me, and I have a history of colorblind casting, so we're always looking for the best actor. One of the limited series biggest secrets spoiler alert: If you havent seen Watchmen, skip down several paragraphs was that perhaps the most iconic character from the comic would indeed appear in the show, set years after the source material. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. She was kind of in my head when I read it. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Casting a Casting Director: How Allison Jones Ended Up in Front of the You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. 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. 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.. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. So, I love self-tapes. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. Sherry Thomas - Managing Director, Global Strategic Advisory - Guy Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Seriously. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. And it worked! AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. Learn more about how we use cookies. So theres some benefits to both. 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! These are edited excerpts from that conversation. Type above and press Enter to search. Casting Directors Help Achieve Diversity in Hollywood - Variety She was shooting a movie here in LA. 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. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for..
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