Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Shes just perfect. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . Jonathans secretary. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. Sharon Bialy: I think thats a really good note. I feel like I get him. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. 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! Thats what it is all about. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? 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. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. 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. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? 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. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. You learn what you want to change moving forward. Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. Speaking with Awards Daily, the 2020 Emmy nominees walked us through the challenges of the second season from chasing down Natalie Morales as the second seasons biggest addition to a number of high-profile cameos. It was the biggest new role of the season. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. 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. They also discuss what its like to be casting directors in the middle of a pandemic and if they think their profession is permanently changed by it. 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. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. 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. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. 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. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. We had readings for that part. 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. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. Your email address will not be published. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. She then added, To be perfectly honest with you, I think that were all in the reality that there are several other huge nominees in there, and so were blessed and honored to be there. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. Mercedes is the one who draws all the crowds into The Pynk, so you have to have someone that has this magnetism about them., Oh, what can you say? I hope she never sees us. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. He is so wonderful. 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. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Elaine Doremus. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. 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 It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. New to Casting Networks? I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. Shes the real deal.. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. 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. 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. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. 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. I personally just do my best to be as organized as possible and stay present in the moment, taking it one day at a time. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. Seriously. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. 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. But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. 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. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. Thats me, Thomas says. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. She was kind of in my head when I read it. 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. 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. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Its also a thriller. You really want to buy into that environment. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. Let me try it. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. 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. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. Sherry Thomas. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. I remember going in for you guys a couple times and unlike a lot of rooms, you guys made it so comfortable, and it was just so warm. So theres some benefits to both. And it happens. 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. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Were lucky., I was a giant fan of Janes for many, many years, from Suburgatory, Robert J. Ulrich says of the lead actress whose Zoey can see and hear what others are feeling via fantasy musical numbers. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. 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. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. 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. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. 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? Were just gonna have a great time.. Its great for the world to see his story; something that youre certainly seeing more and more television, which is wonderful, but that you dont see every day., When putting together an ensemble in which one star cannot shine brighter than the others, theres a key to getting it right: You need strong people all around, people who can match each other talentwise, says casting director Billy Hopkins. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. 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. 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. 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. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. 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. 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. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. 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. 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. 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. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? Casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have worked on "Better Call Saul" and "The Walking Dead," say: "You tell where casting directors are making the effort. He fell in love with doing the show. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Sign Up. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. Lets try it. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. How do you like the way casting is right now? Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. How did you guys bring her on? How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. ST: Not at all! There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. 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. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. 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. 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. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. 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. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Wow. Twitter Icon Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. Required fields are marked *. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. It was a surprise to us. 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 . No. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. 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. 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. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. Its also an emotional drama. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas Cat Elliott August 2, 2022 It's hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas' casting rsum. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. The external is not whats important to him. The main cast may seem only six actors deep, but to the casting directors, the world was expansive. 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.. 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. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. 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. 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. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. Yahya took a leap of faith. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. 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. 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 . Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. We are very, very excited for season three. Year Program Casting Network And sometimes the sides are fake. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. 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. So, I love self-tapes. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. 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. 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. If its a co-star role and its one scene, a few lines, two takes. 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. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. Shes fantastic. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. Primetime Emmy Awards. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. 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. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. 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. Awards. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. 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. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. We have to experience the duality of his life, and that heartbreak, and the choices he makes., I remember in the audition process, the actors had to say to Mississippi how they could take care of her abusive boyfriend, Ingram recalls. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. 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. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. 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. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. 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. Sharon Bialy: Right. 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. So he was intrigued. That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. Then he went to dinner with Regina and came back and said, Why didnt I just I feel so ashamed. Because here, on a plate, is this great actress. . Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. I mean, its just, its incredible. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. 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.