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. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. This interview has been edited and condensed. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. We had read her for The Handmaids Tale one season, and we had read her for an independent movie that was a really deep and layered character. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. And if an actor does the wrong choice and they come in the room, you can easily give them direction and play with it and get them more relaxed and support them. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. I hope she never sees us. 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. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Im fully vaxed. Boom. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. New to Casting Networks? 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. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? 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. You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! You guys cast this while everything was locked down. Your email address will not be published. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about 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. 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. Instagram Icon In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. 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. 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. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. The process when we started of course is making lists. 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. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. And say, Lets try them for this.. Gohar Gazazyan, Casting Director. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. 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.. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. Thats a fantastic pick! So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. 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. He is fantastic. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. I have no history with her. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Wow. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. 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. 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. So, I love self-tapes. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Jonathans secretary. Russell Scott, Casting Director. 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. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. 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 In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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? 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. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. 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. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Id actually liken it to the audition process. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. She came in and was so natural, so funny. 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. Her role in "Barry" came about thanks to its casting director, nine-time Emmy nominee Sherry Thomas, as well as the Hollywood satire's dedication to meta humor. 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. 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. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. 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. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. Back in 2019, Jones played. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. We are very, very excited for season three. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. One of the limited series biggest secrets spoiler alert: If you havent seen Watchmen, skip down several paragraphs was that perhaps the most iconic character from the comic would indeed appear in the show, set years after the source material. Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. Its also a thriller. 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. Facebook Icon. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 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. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. I feel like I get him. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. Sharon Bialy: And it was the hardest thing in the world to not be hysterical, laughing when she wrote, I meant Michael Imperioli. And then we had to go through the audition and Im biting my lip so that I laugh. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. Was that hard at all? As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. It was a surprise to us. 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 . Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. Slowly they realized that Maitreyi and Jaren have this really great chemistry, so it naturally evolved into this love triangle, which was really fun to see., Finding stars for a show that centers entirely on musical numbers is not the daunting task one imagines especially if you were the casting director of Glee and have an enormous roster of singing actors at your disposal. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. 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. So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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? A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. 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. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Yahya took a leap of faith. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. 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. He was pursuing editing work on the side. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast 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. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. Press Esc to cancel. 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 would own my own version of a Drybar. You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. But, just like any other season, we got the scripts and then talked with [co-creator/star] Bill [Hader] and [co-creator/showrunner] Alec [Berg] to hear what they were identifying within the new characters. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? 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. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. 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. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. We ended up moving the schedule around a little bit for her through communication with her reps and our production team. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. From Thomas passion for her work to her passion for her family, this has been a candid look into the person behind all the casting credits. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. 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. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. 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. Send it to the producers. ST: Not for us particularly. Its all so seamless, though, that you cant see any of those divisions in his performance. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. ST: Vice versa for Linda Cardellini, who has typically been known for drama to come in and wow everyone with her great sense of timing and comedic skills without ever making it too big. 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. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. 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 . Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. 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. 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. ST: I think this year is so off kilter.
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