Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . I dont see it. She came in for Mo [Zoeys neighbor, played by gender-fluid actor Alex Newell], and everybody remembered her when we were casting [Zoeys sister-in-law] Emily, says Ulrich. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Let me try it. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. 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. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . ST: Not for us particularly. Jonathans secretary. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. That helps give me the essence of what Bill has in mind, and then as I get him going, hell just start going into the characters dialogue in a voice that reflects how he hears it in his head. Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. My wife is my reader and shes terrible. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. Seriously. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. ST: Not at all! Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. It's a game A Tale of Two Cities One City: The BAFTA voters chose to give just one award to Everything, Everywhere All 2023 Golden Reel Award Sound Editorial Winners Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Feature Dialogue / ADR The Banshees of 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. We sent the audition, and Jemaine fell in love with him: We have to have him! And the next season, they wrote an episode for him, but he couldnt do it. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. Alice Lee was just a discovery. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! We really needed someone for that role who would be able to come in and immediately keep up with Linda, Christina, and James who had already gelled. 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. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. 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. 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. After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . 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. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry 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. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. 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. 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. And then, Sherry, you redirected me to do something. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. And thats part of our job is to continue education. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. This website uses cookies. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. 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. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. 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. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? 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. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. 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. 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. That was a very, very challenging role, Thomas says of the eager young econowife character who comes to learn just how divorced love and marriage are in the Gilead dystopia. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. I think within that the process will change a bit. 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. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. Casting Director. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. She gets it. Sherry Thomas: Yep. Send it to the producers. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. 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. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! 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. Because they're not "pro-life". I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! 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. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. We all miss it. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. How did you end up finding her for the role? She even officiated when my husband and I were married. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. All Rights Reserved. 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 knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Exclusive: AMCs Emmy episode submissions for Breaking Bad & Mad Men, Even though Breaking Bad is over, Bialy and Thomas are still involved in that universe thanks to their casting of the spin-off series Better Call Saul. However, Bialy warns us, I cant tell you anything about Better Call Saul. Were sworn to secrecy! Theyre also keeping busy casting Halt and Catch Fire, which just ended its first season on AMC, Foxs upcoming comic-book series Gotham and TVs biggest ratings hit The Walking Dead., Hey, whats with all the dark shows on their resumes? 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. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. Hes not afraid to try things. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Her role in "Barry" came about thanks to its casting director, nine-time Emmy nominee Sherry Thomas, as well as the Hollywood satire's dedication to meta humor. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. There was something she found the strength in that character, the fearlessness in her eyes., We werent identifying what roles would be people of color, adds her colleague Sherry Thomas. Q&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo Park (Ted Lasso) and Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy (The Shrink Next Door). It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. 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.. 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. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. ST: The challenge too isnt necessarily one particular role. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. Shes fantastic. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. Elaine Doremus. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. 2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind Argentina, 1985 Remains More Relevant Than Ever, 2023 Oscar Nominee Fire of Love: How Editors and Co-Writers Erin CasperandJocelyne Chaput Crafted the Krafft Love Story, Double Oscar Nominee & Producer Shane Boris Talks What Fire of Love & Navalny Have in Common, Inaugural Television Publicity Executives Committee (TPEC) Submissions Are Now Open, Amazons Daisy Jones and the Six is the First Great Limited Series of 2023, Melissa Rauch On Presiding Over a New Night Court Era, 'The Morning Show' Director Mimi Leder on Why Cable is Better for Female Characters. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. Thats me, Thomas says. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. 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 . 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? The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Producer: Indecent Proposal. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. 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. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. 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. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. 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. 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. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. We put out the offer, and he was on board. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. 2006 After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. But even with such a rsum, the highly sought-after casting director came across as nothing short of a grounded, down-to-earth individual when she sat down with Casting Networks via Zoom. Im in LA. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. 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. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Lets try it. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Like with Colins office mates; they have like one line here and there and Jemaine said, I need them all back. You dont see loyalty like that a lot.. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. 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. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. 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. 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. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. He once told me, Youre weird too. . I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. 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. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. So theres some benefits to both. For 'The. 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. Hes daring. Type above and press Enter to search. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. 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. We were really happy with the outcome of that! But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 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! One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. If you have one weak link, it becomes obvious. According to Ashley Ingram, who also served as casting director on the show, an added challenge of populating the struggling Mississippi Delta strip joint was the desire for authenticity over recognizability. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? Sign Up. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . We started talking with her agent, and they basically said to make sure this was the direction we wanted to go in because if Katey found out she would certainly want to do it. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. Its really wonderful to see that. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. 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. Shes just someone Ive been watching. He hadnt done anything either. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. And it worked! 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 . And it happens. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. Required fields are marked *. So he was intrigued. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys 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. Those things are leaps of faith, right? Twitter Icon Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. Facebook Icon. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? So, I get an idea for the cadence and tone of the role, which I add to what I already have about it on paper. 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. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. 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? So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. How did you guys bring her on? 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. 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. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. So, you have to just be mindful of the process or the questions and anticipate what theyre going to ask, the producers or the director. 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. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. Kids is the movie that made me recognize that this was something I could do, and the first movie I did on my own as a casting director was a movie called Bully, which was by the same director as Kids [Larry Clark]. Yahya took a leap of faith. Shes just perfect. 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 cast of Gotham. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. 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. [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. The actors dont care that they come in 10 times and didnt get the part, because they know that one time with us they will., Once you have Matthew Rhys, you want to make sure whoever is opposite isnt wiped off the screen, says Bialy of their lead. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. 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. Thank God. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. 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. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House 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. 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. She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas.