Toothpicks and blue jeans. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. 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. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. Casting just felt right for me. While eager to gather a diverse troupe for Mindy Kaling and Lang Fishers series, casting directors Collin Daniel and Brett Greenstein quickly realized that until they had nailed down their series leads, there was no ensemble to assemble. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. 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. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Sharon Bialy - IMDb Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. 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. 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. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. 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. And sometimes the sides are fake. Seriously. 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.. Thats what it is all about. 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. 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. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? 2006 Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Sherry Thomas - Awards - IMDb The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. 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. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? She was shooting a movie here in LA. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. 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. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. And thats exciting when were able to do that. These casting directors pull back the curtain on the process And Peter [Gallagher, as Maggies husband, Mitch] obviously had been on Broadway. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Luckily he did. It was the biggest new role of the season. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. 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. 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. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. 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. . How did you end up finding her for the role? In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. 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. The cast of Gotham. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. And I also just love her as a person. 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 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. 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. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Sherry Thomas - IMDb More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys Casting Directors Help Achieve Diversity in Hollywood - Variety Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. It is how we really modulate a performance. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. 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. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. I would own my own version of a Drybar. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. Thank God. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas Explain The Art of Casting Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? ST: Not at all! 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. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. She works constantly in New York, but she was this undiscovered gem to the rest of the world, and now everybody knows who she is., To populate Luca Guadagninos vision of an American Army base in coastal Italy, casting director Carmen Cuba knew she had to build her cast out from the kids at the center of the story. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. And say, Lets try them for this.. He is fantastic. 'Dead to Me' Casting Directors Sherry Thomas and - Awardsdaily He hadnt done anything either. 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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. Walking Dead's Casting Director On Finding Heroes, Villains & Zombies 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. 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. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. 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 were really happy with the outcome of that! Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. 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? I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. We were able to find actors like Ericka Kreutz who played Shandys mother, and you had Adora Bricher who played Shandy who is amazing as the dark, dark little girl. Shes fantastic. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. I think within that the process will change a bit. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! And whats exciting for us in casting, and it keeps us 23 years later together excited about things is to try new things, and to see an actor as a whole. 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. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. 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. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? We are very, very excited for season three. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. How to Get Cast on a TV Series via Self-Tape | Backstage 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. The process when we started of course is making lists. 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. What are some self-tape tips that you have? We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Yahya took a leap of faith. Hes not afraid to try things. 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. 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. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. 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. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? 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. 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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. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. 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. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Its also an emotional drama. Twitter Icon Cherry Lane Theatre - Wikipedia Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. ST: Not for us particularly. 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 . Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. The theater is located at 38 Commerce Street between Barrow and Bedford Streets in the West Village neighborhood of Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City.The Cherry Lane Theatre contains a 179-seat main stage and a 60-seat studio. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. All rights reserved. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. 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. And it happens. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. 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). 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. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. Russell Scott, Casting Director. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. 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. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, .