sherry thomas lane casting director
We all miss it. 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. Learn more about how we use cookies. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. 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. 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. To see somebody with natural comedic timing who really got the nuances of the scenes and really got the multidimensional character she wasnt just reading lines. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting Sherry Thomas - Managing Director, Global Strategic Advisory - Guy I feel like this is not in my wheelhouse, or Im not right for this at all, but wanted to come and meet you guys.. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Jonathans secretary. I hope she never sees us. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! We were really happy with the outcome of that! Ask a Casting Director: Sherry Thomas and Gohar Gazazyan of - Observer I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. He was shooting a really naturalistic portrait of this group, and so much of this was about how these kids are as themselves: How are they when theyre not doing the scene? What sets this young cast apart from many other series starring young adults is the actors age range. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. 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 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. 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. 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. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? 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. 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. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. 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. He did come in and audition and just blew everybody away., The most fun bit of casting was the fact that Mo was written as a woman. 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. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas 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. Sherry Lansing - Biography - IMDb Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. 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. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. Send it to the producers. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. 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. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. 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. And say, Lets try them for this.. 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.. 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. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. 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. 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. Its also a thriller. We can explain things like tone. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Alyssa Morris is our associate on this project and it was really, honestly the first time were working on a project where all of us are not together. A lot of it is having support. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. Its so much more fun when youre doing a musical, because people are singing and your days suddenly better, says Robert J. Ulrich. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Fuck yeah!. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Two different ways? Then he went to dinner with Regina and came back and said, Why didnt I just I feel so ashamed. Because here, on a plate, is this great actress. . Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. So, I got that part covered. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. I knew that Mary could sing. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. Sherry Thomas @SherryThomas_ST , Twitter Profile - instalker.org Its also an emotional drama. Russell Scott, Casting Director. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. And tonally, youd had to have both here. 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. Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. 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. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Sherry Thomas retweeted. 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. Alice Lee was just a discovery. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. Call Sheet Directory and Mailing Labels | Backstage Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? The process when we started of course is making lists. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. We had readings for that part. 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. 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. Thank God. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. To say I was enthused was another thing. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. Shes the real deal.. Back in 2019, Jones played. Shes just someone Ive been watching. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. 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. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious.