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. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. SB: It will change, but we are hoping once this is over to be able to go back to that mixture of in-person and self-tapes. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. Ask a Casting Director: Sherry Thomas and Gohar Gazazyan of - Observer Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House These are edited excerpts from that conversation. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. Sherry Lansing. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Seriously. Interview: Jeremy Davis on Playing Olaf in Frozen, Costume Mishaps and Making the Role His Own, Interview: Casting Director Kim Coleman on Five Days at Memorial, Self-Tape Tips and Portraying Real People, Interview: David Christopher Wells on His Role in To Kill a Mockingbird, Being an Understudy and Getting His MFA, Interview: Clifton Collins Jr. and Molly Parker on Jockey, Research and Bad Auditions, Ted Lasso Star Phil Dunster on How He Got the Role of Jamie Tartt, Theres No Such Thing As Chemistry In Acting. 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. Name one of your favorite television shows and it's a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. Sherry Thomas Lane (@sherrythomaslane) - Instagram However, theres a great deal of team Read More, Two in five Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 experience a mental disorder at some time in Read More, From college basketball tournaments to St. Pattys Day, the new month is synonymous with more than a few events. Read More, I believe there is some anxiety in the air over the expectations for commercial self tapes. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. 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.. Now in the show's second season, casting directors Sherry Thomas and Russell Scott were tasked with the challenge of expanding on that world and filling out an ensemble that were able to keep up with Applegate and Cardellini. And were really fing funny! 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. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. It feels like thats not as much of a requirement anymore, though, and I want to help fully facilitate that change for the next generation of women. 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. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. 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? 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. 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. She works constantly in New York, but she was this undiscovered gem to the rest of the world, and now everybody knows who she is., To populate Luca Guadagninos vision of an American Army base in coastal Italy, casting director Carmen Cuba knew she had to build her cast out from the kids at the center of the story. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. Sign Up. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. And thats exciting when were able to do that. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. 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. AppleTV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry 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. Thats what it is all about. Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The I knew that Mary could sing. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. Bialy/Thomas & Associates - Casting Director | Backstage Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Sharon Bialy - IMDb Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. Apple TV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. 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. Learn more about how we use cookies. 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. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. Yahya took a leap of faith. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. This interview has been edited and condensed. How to Get Cast on a TV Series via Self-Tape | Backstage 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. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. 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. And now jumping to present day, congrats are in order regarding the recent Emmy nomination you received with Sharon Bialy for your teams work casting Barry. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. Jonathans secretary. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . We had lots of auditions. All rights reserved. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. 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 . I have no history with her. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. 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. 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. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. Awards. 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. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. 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 . Because they're not "pro-life". 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. Back in 2019, Jones played. 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. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Your email address will not be published. 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. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! It was a surprise to us. ST: Not for us particularly. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. 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. 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. 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.. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. 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. 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: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. Hes daring. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. They tell the story of when they had to call Margolis in New York and ask him to put himself on tape, despite the fact that his character had no lines. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. Sherry Thomas - Awards - IMDb She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. 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. For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. John Lithgow, for E.B. Casting Director. ST: Not at all! 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. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. He hadnt done anything either. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. Sherry Thomas Lane - Facebook Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. Contact | Sherry Thomas 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. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. AD: Before we jump into the new characters of the second season, I wanted to talk about the shocking twist at the beginning of the season; the return of James Marsden with a new character. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? We all miss it. 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. 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. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. 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]. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. 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. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. 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. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage Im in LA. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. 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. We had readings for that part. 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.