sherry thomas lane casting director
Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. 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. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. She created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? To say I was enthused was another thing. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 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. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Sauls Rhea Seehorn was one they called in many times before she booked the key Kim Wexler role. 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 at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. And it worked! 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. 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 . In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. Russell Scott, Casting Director. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. Hes not afraid to try things. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. Its also a thriller. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. Its OK because now youll get great volume when you blow dry it. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. Stacia Kimler, Casting . 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. We have been very lucky on this show. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. Lets try it. ST: Not at all! Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. 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. He goes right to the edge, and it works. 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. 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? Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. If you have one weak link, it becomes obvious. According to Ashley Ingram, who also served as casting director on the show, an added challenge of populating the struggling Mississippi Delta strip joint was the desire for authenticity over recognizability. 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). Id actually liken it to the audition process. But honestly, I had no idea how well Jane could sing., I knew she could sing because she had been on Broadway, and she just brought such a fun element to the show, says Ulrich of the Gilmore Girls and Parenthood vet, who made her Broadway debut in a 2009 revival of the musical comedy Guys and Dolls; Graham plays Zoeys boss. 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. AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. Sharon Bialy - IMDb 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Bialy/Thomas & Associates - Casting Director | Backstage 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. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? This website uses cookies. Learn how your comment data is processed. We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. 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. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. Sherry Thomas: Yep. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. And also sometimes not having all the producers in the room gives the actor, even on a zoom call back with us, we can play with them more and theyre not trying to please everybody, theyre just concentrating on the work. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. 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 says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. 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. So, I love self-tapes. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas 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. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Im fully vaxed. Boom. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. 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. 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. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. That has been nice because so many of these shows are aged for younger women. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Every time we had a conversation or auditioned actresses that werent a perfect fit, Russell would get on the phone and see if her availability changed. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. Kids is the movie that made me recognize that this was something I could do, and the first movie I did on my own as a casting director was a movie called Bully, which was by the same director as Kids [Larry Clark]. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. 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. New to Casting Networks? . And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. 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. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. What is the craziest audition story that you have? Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. 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. And sometimes the sides are fake. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. 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. 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. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. Walking Dead's Casting Director On Finding Heroes, Villains & Zombies I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! 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 How did you guys bring her on? Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? 'Breaking Bad' casting directors Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas 'very We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. I started exploring acting once I got to LA and met a casting director named Victoria Burrows, who kind of took me under her wing. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . ST: Not for us particularly. 'Perry Mason' Casting Directors Reveal the Casting - Daily Actor I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. I dont think it took an hour for every creative to say, Shes perfect. , The most exciting thing is taking that actor everybody sees one way and flipping expectations, Bialy says. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. 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. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. 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. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Sherry Thomas @SherryThomas_ST , Twitter Profile - instalker.org The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. Sherry Lansing - Biography - IMDb 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. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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. Its really wonderful to see that. 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. The actors dont care that they come in 10 times and didnt get the part, because they know that one time with us they will., Once you have Matthew Rhys, you want to make sure whoever is opposite isnt wiped off the screen, says Bialy of their lead. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. 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. BIALY / THOMAS CASTING - The Casting Society of America SB: It will change, but we are hoping once this is over to be able to go back to that mixture of in-person and self-tapes. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. 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. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) 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. 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've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . 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. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. 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. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. 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. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. 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? So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Victoria Thomas, who is nominated this year for casting both Insecure (with Matthew Maisto) and Watchmen (with Megan Lewis), said the latter had unusual secrecy concerns: There were dummy sides or fake names on a breakdown. 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 In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? I dont see it. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. 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. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. Luckily he did. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. 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. It is how we really modulate a performance. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. 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. 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 . AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. 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. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting He once told me, Youre weird too. . Sharon Bialy is on Instagram 782 posts on their profile 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. . Toothpicks and blue jeans. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. 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. Okay. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. Hes coming in this week. . When we circled back, I remember looking at the date and I was like, Holy shit, I think shes available. , Theres an assuredness to Sister Alice that the audience has to buy because she believes [her evangelism] so strongly, Bialy says. I knew that Mary could sing. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. Were lucky., I was a giant fan of Janes for many, many years, from Suburgatory, Robert J. Ulrich says of the lead actress whose Zoey can see and hear what others are feeling via fantasy musical numbers. Its good to be (Regina) King: The Oscar winner might win her fourth Emmy for her portrayal of Angela Aybar/Sister Night in Watchmen., The Doctor is in: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was a surprise choice to play Dr. Manhattan in HBOs Watchmen..
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sherry thomas lane casting director