Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. 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 Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. 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. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. Sharon Bialy: Right. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. ST: Not for us particularly. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. These casting directors pull back the curtain on the process Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. Facebook Icon. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? RS: It was a very extensive search. Required fields are marked *. He hadnt done anything either. How do you like the way casting is right now? Because they're not "pro-life". Elaine Doremus. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? 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. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. You really want to buy into that environment. And sometimes the sides are fake. Two different ways? 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. 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. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. And thats part of our job is to continue education. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. He was shooting a really naturalistic portrait of this group, and so much of this was about how these kids are as themselves: How are they when theyre not doing the scene? What sets this young cast apart from many other series starring young adults is the actors age range. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Learn how your comment data is processed. AppleTV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. 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Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. Sharon Bialy: Also, because sometimes youre only getting a couple of pages, so you have to guess and when youre in the room, we can give you context. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? We had readings for that part. 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. To say I was enthused was another thing. So, I love self-tapes. And were really fing funny! Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. ST: Not at all! 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. 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. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Twitter Icon She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. 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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. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. Yahya took a leap of faith. 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. 'Breaking Bad' casting directors Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas 'very Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Was that hard at all? I would own my own version of a Drybar. 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. 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. Of course she would have a crush on him. Darren was somebody who had this quality that was a little mysterious, obviously very handsome and surprisingly funny., We never really expected there to be a love triangle, because in the pilot Devi and Ben are just so nasty and mean toward each other. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. 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. 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. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. 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. We can be a force of nature in our career and still want to spend more than an hour and a half with our newborn baby. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. 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. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. How to Get Cast on a TV Series via Self-Tape | Backstage 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. Get ready with our TV viewers guide, Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, The Buzzmeter: Our experts predict the 2020 Emmy winners - and so can you, The secret to What We Do in the Shadows success? Ask a Casting Director: Sherry Thomas and Gohar Gazazyan of - Observer WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. But Thomas and Scott have been able to channel their passion into rounding out the ensemble of the second season with big name guest stars from Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal to utilizing some of the best character actors working today. 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. Casting Directors Help Achieve Diversity in Hollywood - Variety Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. All Rights Reserved. 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. John Lithgow, for E.B. Now, I would never assume that Melissa McCarthy would be so interested in my life that she would say yes to playing me in a series about it. 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]. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. I hope she never sees us. 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. I feel like I get him. That has been nice because so many of these shows are aged for younger women. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! Your email address will not be published. Luckily he did. You learn what you want to change moving forward. Apple TV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. 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. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. What are some self-tape tips that you have? I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. 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. 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! Im fully vaxed. Boom. Liz Feldman, Christina Applegate, Jessica Elbaum, and all of our producers fell in love with working with him and figuring out a complex way to bring him back. She gets it. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? Its also an emotional drama. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. When people used to ask us, I used to say, Oh, our reward is working with Vince Gilligan every day, which we continue to do and thats still true, Bialy told Gold Derby during our recent webchat (watch below). No, but it made me feel like just more confident. I want to get a sense of who they are, and how they handle text, and what they bring to the table in terms of choices, well watch it the whole way through because were educating ourselves. How did you guys bring her on? So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. You dont have to drive an hour and a half to two hours for an audition when youre getting the pages two or three days before. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. 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. 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. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. Kay says, I met with [showrunners Jemaine Clement and Paul Simms] in the beginning, and they were like, You know, just bring us good faces. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Despite the mega success of "Breaking Bad" at the Emmys -- including three acting wins for Bryan Cranston, a pair for Aaron Paul and one for Anna Gunn -- casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry . I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. The others laugh a little. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Id imagine that at this point, after collaborating with Hader since the first season of Barry, you all are very familiar with how you work together. I dont see it. The process when we started of course is making lists. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? 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. 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. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. 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. Hes not afraid to try things. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. 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. 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. 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. 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 . Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. 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 our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. He felt just perfect for Bruce. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. Shes just perfect. We have been very lucky on this show. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. Stacia Kimler, Casting . In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. 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. . For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House Livin' the dream. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. 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.. Producer: Indecent Proposal. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that 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. 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. Primetime Emmy Awards. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. I think within that the process will change a bit. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. 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. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Lets try it. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. 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. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. 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. 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 But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. 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? 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. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. Russell Scott, Casting Director. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot.
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