Seriously. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. 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 . Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! I obviously knew of him, but he was a friend of Austins, so he suggested him, and he is so great on the show., John I also knew because he was in What/If. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! 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. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . Those things are leaps of faith, right? Hes not afraid to try things. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. We all miss it. Okay. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. 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. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? 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]. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. As part of our inaugural BackstageFest, longtime casting directors Theo Park ("Ted Lasso," "Master of None"), Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas ("Perry Mason," "The Comey Rule," "The. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. Instagram Icon 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. 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? Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. We went back to our theatre brains, and Laila Robins is someone I had seen over 25 years ago doing The Real Thing opposite Jeremy Irons. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. ST: The challenge too isnt necessarily one particular role. 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). He is so wonderful. 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. 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. 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 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. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. Sherry Thomas: Yep. But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. 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. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. We were really happy with the outcome of that! The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. 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. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. 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. 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. It was the biggest new role of the season. [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. 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. ST: Not at all! 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. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. 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. 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? 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. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. ST: It is a challenge when there are so many components beyond Are they a great actor? and Are they right for the part? The age had to be right so that it felt right appropriate for Diana. 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. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. We would give a little context of the tone. 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. 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. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? 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. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. 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 you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. Luca is a director whos interested in the rawness and the grounding of truth., Because of City of God, [Alice] is somebody Ive always looked at and always been really curious about, says Cuba of the actress, who plays one of protagonist Frasers mothers, both in the military. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. 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. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. 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. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. 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. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Primetime Emmy Awards. So find somebody who really is going to, give you a little bit of something to play off of, but not try to sort of make it about them, because thats not what theyre there for. 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. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. 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. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. 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. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . So, there you have it. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. This website uses cookies. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. So, I love self-tapes. And thats exciting when were able to do that. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The process when we started of course is making lists. That makes sense. But not even Thomas and Lewis knew who the character, a nice guy married to Regina Kings vigilante character, would later be revealed to be. 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. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Shes just perfect. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. 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. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. Its also an emotional drama. 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. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. I have no history with her. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. 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.. After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. So he was intrigued. What is the craziest audition story that you have? Its really wonderful to see that. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). ST: I mean I cant even Its ridiculous. A lot of casting people their choices have shifted to self-tapes and some of them only self-tapes, but for us our choice will always to be in the room with actors. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. And I also just love her as a person. 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 think its going to be really cool and really interesting. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. I dont see it. 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. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. Gohar Gazazyan, Casting Director. Two different ways? 2006 She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. The testing was very rigorous and I think production did such an amazing job with what they had to accomplish in the way that they had to accomplish it. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! 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. 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. Liz responds to actors who arent hitting the jokes but have a sense of humor, not typical sitcom, playing-to-the-audience types you might see on traditional multi-camera shows. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. How did you end up finding her for the role? As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. ST: Not for us particularly. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. 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 A lot of times in these teenage parts, you have 20-year-olds playing 15, and that wasnt the case, says Cuba, who wanted the coming-of-age roles to be occupied by fresh faces. 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. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. 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. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. Year Program Casting Network It was a surprise to us. As for the ladies favorite guest stars over the years, they bring special attention to Charles Baker (Skinny Pete), Matt Jones (Badger) and Daniel and Luis Moncada (the Cousins), but they admit that Emmy nominee Mark Margolis may be their favorite casting scoop for the show. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Facebook Icon. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. 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.
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