sherry thomas lane casting director sherry thomas lane casting director

Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. We had readings for that part. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. And then we pulled from that to go and seek out the right people for the roles. ST: I think thats one of the reasons we love to be in the room with actors and why right now it is really hard with the world of COVID. I have no history with her. 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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . Casting Director. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. 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. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas Cat Elliott August 2, 2022 It's hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas' casting rsum. Burrows eventually recommended Thomas for her first paying job in the industry, working as an assistant to the location casting director the person charged with hiring extras for movie and TV . So, I got that part covered. Sherry Lansing. John Lithgow, for E.B. This cast is definitely a combination of people who Luca knew hed have to shepherd along. Of Seamn, whose outwardly confident Caitlin struggles with gender identity, Cuba adds, But its funny, because we thought this going in, and then Jordan turned out to somehow be a savant and know how to do everything, even though shed had no experience., I have auditioned [Scott] over the years for various things. She came in for Mo [Zoeys neighbor, played by gender-fluid actor Alex Newell], and everybody remembered her when we were casting [Zoeys sister-in-law] Emily, says Ulrich. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. Hes not afraid to try things. It is how we really modulate a performance. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas - casting directors HBO: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 2: Cindy Tolan - casting director Amazon: Russian Doll: Season 1: Christine Kromer - casting director Netflix: Veep: Season 7: Dorian Frankel and Sibby Kirchgessner - casting directors HBO: 2020s. 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. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. Speaking with Awards Daily, the 2020 Emmy nominees walked us through the challenges of the second season from chasing down Natalie Morales as the second seasons biggest addition to a number of high-profile cameos. No. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. So he was intrigued. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? 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. Back in 2019, Jones played. 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. And thats part of our job is to continue education. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. New to Casting Networks? To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . 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. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Shes fantastic. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. 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. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). It's a game A Tale of Two Cities One City: The BAFTA voters chose to give just one award to Everything, Everywhere All 2023 Golden Reel Award Sound Editorial Winners Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing Feature Dialogue / ADR The Banshees of 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. And from there, we would have further discussion or conversation. 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. Sherry Thomas. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! 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. And thats exciting when were able to do that. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. 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. And one of the first things that we did together as Bialy/Thomas was The Unit with Shawn Ryan and David Mamet and Eric Haney. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. Michael was one of those extraordinarily talented people who did not make it onto the show, but I kept in mind and saw him in stage productions and For the Record. He goes right to the edge, and it works. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. 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. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) Thank God. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. Now, I would never assume that Melissa McCarthy would be so interested in my life that she would say yes to playing me in a series about it. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. 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. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. Awards. Were just gonna have a great time.. Weve read her over the years and have been a fan of hers, says Daniel of the role Moorjani eventually landed, as the cousin who initially inspires envy in Devi. You do a dark show and they go, lets get the girls to do the dark show. 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.. 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. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. She was kind of in my head when I read it. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. 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. It was the biggest new role of the season. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. Even Nate said, I cant believe Im in this part. He tapped into the soul of [kidnapped sons father] Matthew Dodson., He was in that initial conversation with Tim it was just determining which role, says Thomas of Patrick. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. Like with Colins office mates; they have like one line here and there and Jemaine said, I need them all back. You dont see loyalty like that a lot.. 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. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. Sherry Thomas retweeted. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. 2006 Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? 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. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Daisy Jones & the Six becomes the first fictional band to hit No. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . Shes just perfect. 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. He felt just perfect for Bruce. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. 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. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. And it happens. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. Casting director Sherry Thomas (The Righteous Gemstones, Better Call Saul) explains if she has any tells when auditioning actors and how she wants them to fe. 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. 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. 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. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. So theres some benefits to both. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. Year Program Casting Network Luckily he did. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. 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. 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. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. 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. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. And Peter [Gallagher, as Maggies husband, Mitch] obviously had been on Broadway. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. A lot of it is having support. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. 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. 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? Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. 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. They have to be funny and in the moment with so few lines, and that is such a hard thing to do. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. 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. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Shes the real deal.. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. The Shield was my favorite show at the time, and its still in my top five. 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. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. 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. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? Lets try it. RS: We worked through a lot of hard work and cooperation between our production and the movie because she is someone who really understood the tone of the show. Jonathans secretary. 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. 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 Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. Learn more about how we use cookies. 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. 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. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. 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. We put out the offer, and he was on board. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. 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. 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. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. Hes daring. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. 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). He fell in love with doing the show. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. He was playing a husband. He was kind of signing on to play the girl part., As to King (she and Abdul-Mateen II are nominated, along with costars Jovan Adepo, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons and Jean Smart), the Oscar winner and three-time Emmy winner who worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers wasnt a slam dunk precisely because shed worked on Lindelofs The Leftovers.. For 'The. 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. 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. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. . And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. 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: 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. The others laugh a little. It feels like thats not as much of a requirement anymore, though, and I want to help fully facilitate that change for the next generation of women. You really want to buy into that environment. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Bialy says, For Better Call Saul, we have an inside joke in the office that theyre a Vince-Peter type of an actor [co-showrunners Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould]. It seems that reboots are a dime a dozen these days. 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. All Rights Reserved. Its really wonderful to see that. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. 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. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. ST: Not for us particularly. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. Primetime Emmy Awards. 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. Women of that level and age arent coming in to read at that point in their careers, so we kept combing through this huge list. 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. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. And sometimes the sides are fake. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. 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. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. 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. And it worked! 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. Required fields are marked *. 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. The external is not whats important to him. The main cast may seem only six actors deep, but to the casting directors, the world was expansive. 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