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. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? Awards. 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. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. Stacia Kimler, Casting . 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. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. She was the lead casting director on this one and what she did was really take actors that are known for one thing and respect them and the breath of their talent and say, Im going to try something else here. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. Did you experience a lot of actors who struggled to nail the specific tone and how did you help them get there in the audition room? Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. 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. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. And tonally, youd had to have both here. 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. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly 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. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. 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. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. 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. One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. 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. 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. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. We were really happy with the outcome of that! Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. DEAD TO ME - Sherry Thomas, Russell Scott, Sharon Bialy, Alyssa Morris (Associate) 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. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. 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. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. New to Casting Networks? 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. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. 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. 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 Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. 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. Oftentimes you have to stay on your leading guy because other actors cant hold [their own]., The challenge is getting that first person of well-known stature to say yes, then you build from there, says Thomas. Luckily he did. 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. Its also a thriller. We had lots of auditions. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? Sherry Thomas: Yeah. And were really fing funny! 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. How did you end up finding her for the role? I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. 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. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. Your email address will not be published. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. 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? 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. Pros from five of the years newest dramas and comedies including 'Perry Mason' and 'We Are Who We Are' also reveal the surprising obstacles they hurdled before production began. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. I appreciate that insight into collaborating with such a talented multi-hyphenate. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. 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. 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. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Seriously. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. 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. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Fuck yeah!. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. And thanks for sharing about the magic of working with the person who not only co-created the show, but who also produces, writes, directs, and stars in it. For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. ST: I think thats one of the reasons we love to be in the room with actors and why right now it is really hard with the world of COVID. Sign Up. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? We all miss it. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. So, I love self-tapes. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. Because they're not "pro-life". My wife is my reader and shes terrible. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. 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. Thats me, Thomas says. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. 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. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. 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? Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. I mean, its just, its incredible. A lot of it is having support. 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. 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. We would give a little context of the tone. 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. What is the craziest audition story that you have? 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. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? We checked in on her, and the challenging part was convincing producers to take a chance on an actor that youre very familiar with but they might not be. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. I dont see it. 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. 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. Back in 2019, Jones played. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. I truly love doing hair and have always told people that if I somehow just sh-t the bed and was no longer able to be in casting, I would do hair instead. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. 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. 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. And say, Lets try them for this.. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. 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. 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. For 'The. Sherry Thomas retweeted. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. 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. 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. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. We thought wed cast an unknown. She needed the right role to be able to show that shes not just someone whos gorgeous, and Mississippi allows her to do that., Elarica [as dancer Autumn Night] has a very openhearted vulnerability that comes forward when you just look in her eyes, says Ingram. Jonathans secretary. Instagram Icon Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. 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. 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. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. We put out the offer, and he was on board. And thats exciting when were able to do that. So he was intrigued. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. 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. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. [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. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. The theater is located at 38 Commerce Street between Barrow and Bedford Streets in the West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City.The Cherry Lane Theatre contains a 179-seat main stage and a 60-seat studio. You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Lets try it. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. Two different ways? Michael was one of those extraordinarily talented people who did not make it onto the show, but I kept in mind and saw him in stage productions and For the Record. Send it to the producers. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. Sherry Thomas. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. 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. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. 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. 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. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! But now that the show has cooked its last batch of blue meth and said goodbye to the Albuquerque sunset, Bialy and Thomas finally heard their names called on nominations morning, along with Kiira Arai, in the Best Drama Casting category. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. 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. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. So, I got that part covered. After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. Those things are leaps of faith, right? Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. No. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. 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. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Shes fantastic. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. 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. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. 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.. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. 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. You do a dark show and they go, lets get the girls to do the dark show. At the time [we started casting], she was working with one of my best friends on What/If, and I was hearing a lot about her and how she would sing karaoke. ST: The challenge too isnt necessarily one particular role. 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. 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. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. ST: I mean I cant even Its ridiculous. He fell in love with doing the show. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. Thank God. Were just gonna have a great time.. I hope she never sees us. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. Among them, theyre responsible for five of the shows nominated for casting Emmys this year as well as a host of others that have received acting nominations in the past. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. 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. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. 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. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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. 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. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. Okay. 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 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. Im in LA. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. 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. Year Program Casting Network Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. He felt just perfect for Bruce. 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.. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before.
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