Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. 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 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. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. Hes daring. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. He felt just perfect for Bruce. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. We can explain things like tone. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. Sherry Thomas Lane (@sherrythomaslane) - Instagram We discussed a bunch of people [for the role of Caitlins father, an Army lieutenant] and then it just felt natural for Scott and Luca to meet. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. She needed the right role to be able to show that shes not just someone whos gorgeous, and Mississippi allows her to do that., Elarica [as dancer Autumn Night] has a very openhearted vulnerability that comes forward when you just look in her eyes, says Ingram. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. 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. 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. This interview has been edited and condensed. 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. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. 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. A lot of it is having support. Jeremy O. Harris was cast in a small role in FXs What We Do in the Shadows. Co-showrunner Jemaine Clement then wrote an episode just for him. In Season 1, says Keller, Harvey Guilln, who costars as Guillermo, familiar to one of the vampires, starts talking to this other familiar at a party, and it was a very nondescript part. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. So, theres time to do a little bit of research and we tried to educate people as much as possible that this was based on the podcast based on a true story. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? ST: Not at all! His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. 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. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. And thanks for sharing about the magic of working with the person who not only co-created the show, but who also produces, writes, directs, and stars in it. 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. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. She was kind of in my head when I read it. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. AD: I imagine one of the more interesting challenges of that character is finding someone who can believably portray someone who has both dated Ana (Diana-Maria Riva) and Judy. 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. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. Learn how your comment data is processed. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 2006 Now in the shows 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. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. Learn more about how we use cookies. AD: One of the reasons the show has become so popular is because of the way it straddles this really thin line between comedy and drama in ways we rarely see on television. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting 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. 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. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. Thats me, Thomas says. 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. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. 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. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas 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. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. We are very, very excited for season three. I feel like I get him. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. 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. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. That makes sense. 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. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. 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. AppleTV+ Casting Director Panel with Lucinda Syson, Theo Park, Sherry Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. 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Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Sharon Bialy - IMDb Im fully vaxed. Boom. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. She had been around and doing guest star work, but to get a series regular gig was a big step for her., Poorna has for most of her career been a dramatic actress, and she was like, I never get to come in on comedies because nobody thinks Im funny, says Greenstein about the role of Devis mother for Jagannathan. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. So, you have to just be mindful of the process or the questions and anticipate what theyre going to ask, the producers or the director. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . 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. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. And tonally, youd had to have both here. You learn what you want to change moving forward. 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. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. 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. My wife is my reader and shes terrible. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. Because they're not "pro-life". RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? Bialy/Thomas & Associates - Casting Director | Backstage And thats part of our job is to continue education. It was a surprise to us. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. 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. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. 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. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. 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. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. 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. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. Sherry Lansing - Biography - IMDb 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. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage Sherry Lansing. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. Contact | Sherry Thomas But Thomas and Scott have been able to channel their passion into rounding out the ensemble of the second season with big name guest stars from Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal to utilizing some of the best character actors working today. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. We have to experience the duality of his life, and that heartbreak, and the choices he makes., I remember in the audition process, the actors had to say to Mississippi how they could take care of her abusive boyfriend, Ingram recalls. We put out the offer, and he was on board. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. 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. We can be a force of nature in our career and still want to spend more than an hour and a half with our newborn baby. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. And were really fing funny! Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. Year Program Casting Network Sherry Thomas: Yeah. But oddly enough, on this show, because on others, we have done producer callbacks over Zoom, we didnt do any. 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. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Those things are leaps of faith, right? At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. Lets try it. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. Artios Awards: Casting Directors for 'The Boys,' 'Pose,' 'Watchmen We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Thats what it is all about. They tell the story of when they had to call Margolis in New York and ask him to put himself on tape, despite the fact that his character had no lines. Deadline Media, Get our free, urgent prediction updates and news, 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: , Leaderboards: See All Past Prediction Accuracy Scores, Leaderboards: Best Prediction Accuracy Scores for Film, TV and Music Awards, Leaderboards: Best TV Show Predictions by Gold Derby Users, Find a User or Expert / Download Gold Derbys Free, New App. Yahya took a leap of faith. Stacia Kimler, Casting . Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. With Tyler as Diamond, when you see him experience that, you dont question whether or not thats his truth., We all loved [Harriett] from the beginning. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas Explain The Art of Casting And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Name one of your favorite television shows and its a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. 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 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? 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 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.
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