sherry thomas lane casting director sherry thomas lane casting director

Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. 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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. But I dont think that it is ever more important than having the right person. Of course, the greatest discovery of this musical comedy is its lead, Jane Levy, best known to viewers for her comedic skills on the ABC series Suburgatory. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? 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 youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. 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? 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? 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. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. 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? It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. We put out the offer, and he was on board. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. 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. 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! We can explain things like tone. 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. 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. 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. And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. 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. Year Program Casting Network It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. 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. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. [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. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. 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. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. 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. Sharon Bialy: Right. 1 on iTunes Charts, Jussie Smollett finally appeals his conviction stemming from 2019 hate-crime hoax, Gayle King surprises Angela Bassett with her Whats Love Got to Do With It dress, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Sweetie Pies alum Tim Norman gets life sentence for planned execution of nephew, Fox News finally reveals its kryptonite: the bottom line, Unlike Andor, Mandalorian is going all in on Star Wars lore. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. 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. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. My wife is my reader and shes terrible. Livin' the dream. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. And say, Lets try them for this.. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. And thats exciting when were able to do that. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. He hadnt done anything either. 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? We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Were just gonna have a great time.. So, to be able to support her in a role like this, where she really gets to show what she can do as an actress and the layers and the levels that she has and that she is nuanced, is its exciting. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. He was playing a husband. He was kind of signing on to play the girl part., As to King (she and Abdul-Mateen II are nominated, along with costars Jovan Adepo, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons and Jean Smart), the Oscar winner and three-time Emmy winner who worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers wasnt a slam dunk precisely because shed worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers.. 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. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. Let me try it. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Instead its all of the supporting players, the day players, because you have to have great actors, the majority of who are in scenes with Christina and Linda. You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. So that bar was set very high., She had been finishing up something and was not available, Thomas says of the actress who plays E.B. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. He goes right to the edge, and it works. 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. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. sherrythomaslane Follow 284 posts 5,086 followers 587 following Sherry Thomas Lane Casting Director / Owner @ Bialy Thomas & Associates Blue collar Northampton, MA native who is Livin' the dream. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. 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. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . 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. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Id actually liken it to the audition process. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. 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. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. 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. 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. 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. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). And then there were some people that we redirected and from the day players up to our more significant roles that were prominent in the piece. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. So theres some benefits to both. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. THE PHIL SPECTOR BIOPIC (HBO Movie): David Mamet, Writer-Director Barry Levinson, Michael Hausman, Exec Producers Starring: Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor, Chiwetel Eji of or (HBO) WIDOW DETECTIVE (pilot): Carol Mendelsohn, David Hubbard, Julie Weitz, Davis Guggenheim, Exec Producers But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. 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. The process when we started of course is making lists. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. She was shooting a movie here in LA. We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. Russell Scott, Casting Director. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. Thats a fantastic pick! Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. 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. We were really happy with the outcome of that! Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. It is how we really modulate a performance. So, I got that part covered. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. ST: I mean I cant even Its ridiculous. 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. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. Okay. 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. Shes fantastic. Im fully vaxed. Boom. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Thats me, Thomas says. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. You believed everything that was coming out of her mouth., We did an open call for Kamala and I feel like [Richa Moorjani] came in pretty early on. 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. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? It has all come down to this, friends. 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. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. Even Nate said, I cant believe Im in this part. He tapped into the soul of [kidnapped sons father] Matthew Dodson., He was in that initial conversation with Tim it was just determining which role, says Thomas of Patrick. 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. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. We received a lot of calls from agents and managers who loved the show with their clients who would love to be a part of it. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. He once told me, Youre weird too. . Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! 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. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. 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. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. 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. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. 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. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. 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. And Peter [Gallagher, as Maggies husband, Mitch] obviously had been on Broadway. 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. You are known for bringing in people who are looked at one way, and then you sort of have given this whole new sort of light, this new career almost to them. 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. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. Alice Lee was just a discovery. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. 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. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. I didnt know anyone here, but was a manager at The Gap at the time and got transferred to an LA location of the store. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. 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. 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. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. DEAD TO ME - Sherry Thomas, Russell Scott, Sharon Bialy, Alyssa Morris (Associate) But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Instagram Icon Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. 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, there you have it. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. And so I said, Oh my God, oh my God, Michael Rispoli is going to be in town from New York and we need to get him in. 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). 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. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. 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. 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. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . 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. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. Seriously. You really want to buy into that environment. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development.