sherry thomas lane casting director

By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. 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. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. The storylines and arcs are massive, and youre also in a period piece, so it was important to make sure that each actor [remained] defined within their own self, even if the character wasnt around all the time, says Thomas. 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 Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. Learn more about how we use cookies. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. The process when we started of course is making lists. Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. I hope she never sees us. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. Sherry Lansing. Sharon Bialy: Right. 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. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Im not just saying that because hes my boss Im saying that because Ive had the privilege of watching the dailies [raw, unedited footage shot during a filming day] for Barry and have gotten to see his work from all angles. 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. John Lithgow, for E.B. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. Russell Scott: The show is a comedy, but tonally it is pretty tricky because its also a mystery. 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. 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. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? I dont see it. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. Instagram Icon Casting just felt right for me. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Jonathans secretary. 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. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. So, there you have it. All rights reserved. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. 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. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. 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? We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. 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. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. 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. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. Gohar Gazazyan, Casting Director. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. Im in LA. He is so wonderful. Its really wonderful to see that. Sherry Thomas retweeted. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. So theres some benefits to both. Russell Scott, Casting Director. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. Seriously. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? 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. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. 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. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. I would own my own version of a Drybar. Her emotional depth and ability, in the scene, to always find the deepest but most surprising way to play it, is amazing and then to be able to sing on top of it. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? Those things are leaps of faith, right? Send it to the producers. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. You learn what you want to change moving forward. I appreciate that insight into collaborating with such a talented multi-hyphenate. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. And tonally, youd had to have both here. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. 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. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Year Program Casting Network You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. 2006 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. 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. Hes daring. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. 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. For 'The. So he was intrigued. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. 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. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. New to Casting Networks? Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. 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. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. Sharon Bialy: I think thats the exciting thing about casting, and Ill speak for my partner. 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. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. 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. Luckily he did. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. 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. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. 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. And were really fing funny! The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. 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 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. 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? Literally, we were all just howling because she just got it., We needed a Jake from Sixteen Candles, someone brooding and obviously swoon-worthy and somebody that Devis going to have a mad crush on, Greenstein says of the protagonists love interest, Paxton Hall-Yoshida. Producer: Indecent Proposal. 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. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Lets try it. You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I think within that the process will change a bit. 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. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. 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. 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. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. You do a dark show and they go, lets get the girls to do the dark show. 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. Were just gonna have a great time.. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. This story first appeared in a January stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious. 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? Im fully vaxed. Boom. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. While leaving no stone unturned in his search for the perfect San Francisco enclave, Ulrich ended up with more than a few recognizable names of both stage and screen in key roles. 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. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? 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. 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. 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. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Two different ways? And people. , Keller says, They said they wanted boring. Like if you were to go to a town meeting to talk about zoning.. Okay. Your email address will not be published. Type above and press Enter to search. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. Oh my God, this is completely the wrong actor that was in my head., And everybody was so nice and so lovely because hes a wonderful actor. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. RS: It was a very extensive search. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. 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]. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. 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. AD: Except for Emmy voters for whatever frustrating reason. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Toothpicks and blue jeans. And say, Lets try them for this.. The others laugh a little. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. One of their latest shows, the wonderful The Shrink Next Door, just finished its run on Apple+ and the pair took some time out of their busy schedule to talk about casting the show, their thoughts and advice on self-tapes and much more! 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. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. And it worked! 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. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. 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. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. ST: I mean I cant even Its ridiculous. We thought wed cast an unknown. Sign Up. Its a visceral feeling, says Ingram, when you see an actor who you really know should be in a role., [Brandee] really had the strength and the forcefulness and chutzpah that [lead dancer] Mercedes needs, Hopkins says. 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. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. How did you end up finding her for the role? But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. We checked in on her, and the challenging part was convincing producers to take a chance on an actor that youre very familiar with but they might not be. Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. She then added, To be perfectly honest with you, I think that were all in the reality that there are several other huge nominees in there, and so were blessed and honored to be there. Id imagine that at this point, after collaborating with Hader since the first season of Barry, you all are very familiar with how you work together. 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. We are very, very excited for season three. All Rights Reserved. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. 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.. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. 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. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. The thing that Luca seemed to be connecting to is a real combination of, could they do the material, but also could he engage in real dialogue with them about what it means to be their age in this moment and incorporate that into the vision that he had., Jordan didnt even have an agent. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. 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. It has all come down to this, friends. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? One day, Damon said, Hey, theres this guy, Yahya! I went, Yeah. 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. To say I was enthused was another thing. 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. 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. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. He fell in love with doing the show. 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. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? 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. 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. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. The Robert Downey Jr. -produced HBO series Perry Mason -which places the famed criminal defense lawyer played by Matthew Rhys in the era he debuted in literature, the 1930s-features a stellar cast. You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. Its not recent, but it is really funny. ST: We hadnt discussed the idea in general, probably because of the previous relationship with Christina, and we didnt want to pull anybody out of 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. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? Casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have worked on "Better Call Saul" and "The Walking Dead," say: "You tell where casting directors are making the effort. 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. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. This website uses cookies. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. Among them, theyre responsible for five of the shows nominated for casting Emmys this year as well as a host of others that have received acting nominations in the past. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. Get our L.A. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas.

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