And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. 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. 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. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. 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. 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. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? The driving force was that this world felt real, [that] we could see these people living here, Ingram says. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. 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. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. How did you end up finding her for the role? Awards. 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. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. Okay. 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. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. 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.. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Toothpicks and blue jeans. Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. 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. So theres some benefits to both. 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. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. 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. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. Victoria Thomas, who is nominated this year for casting both Insecure (with Matthew Maisto) and Watchmen (with Megan Lewis), said the latter had unusual secrecy concerns: There were dummy sides or fake names on a breakdown. So he was intrigued. Russell Scott, 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. 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. 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. 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. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. It has this sense of urgency that I love and the tangible aspect of running a business, but then theres also the creative side of it. I think within that the process will change a bit. And thats exciting when were able to do that. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. Sharon Bialy: Right. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Its great for the world to see his story; something that youre certainly seeing more and more television, which is wonderful, but that you dont see every day., When putting together an ensemble in which one star cannot shine brighter than the others, theres a key to getting it right: You need strong people all around, people who can match each other talentwise, says casting director Billy Hopkins. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. 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 . Over the course of my daughters lives my oldest is going to be 12 in September and my youngest is 10 Ive probably forgotten to pick them up from school about 20 times. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Year Program Casting Network 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. ST: The challenge too isnt necessarily one particular role. Shes just perfect. 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. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. Yahya took a leap of faith. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Jonathans secretary. Its just a wonderful place to be to be able to cast these amazing actresses from Frances Conroy to Katey Sagal to Valerie Mahaffey. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. 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. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. Was that hard at all? Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. It was the biggest new role of the season. It was a surprise to us. Its not recent, but it is really funny. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. 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 learn what you want to change moving forward. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. Instagram Icon 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. We were able to find actors like Ericka Kreutz who played Shandys mother, and you had Adora Bricher who played Shandy who is amazing as the dark, dark little girl. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. We had lots of auditions. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. 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. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) And then there were some people that we redirected and from the day players up to our more significant roles that were prominent in the piece. Luckily he did. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. 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. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. Its really wonderful to see that. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. 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. 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. We needed him to feel younger than the other boys, other than Jack. Livin' the dream. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. 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. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. Then, I go through my notes and consider actors that I love, as well as some new actors. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. 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 Send it to the producers. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. Scott says Dead to Me is a comedy, but its very down to earth. She had a feeling I was going to end up in casting, but I wasnt so sure at the time. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. Shes just someone Ive been watching. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. 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. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? 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. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. Facebook Icon. 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. From our perspective though we are still always trying to surprise the producers. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. When we started out, I was her associate for about two years, and then we became partners. 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.. So, to be able to support her in a role like this, where she really gets to show what she can do as an actress and the layers and the levels that she has and that she is nuanced, is its exciting. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Sherry Thomas: Yep. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? 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]. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? 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. He is fantastic. 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. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? But I dont think that it is ever more important than having the right person. Of course, the greatest discovery of this musical comedy is its lead, Jane Levy, best known to viewers for her comedic skills on the ABC series Suburgatory. 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? After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. This website uses cookies. Will Dominion-Fox News lawsuit be different? Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. If you have one weak link, it becomes obvious. According to Ashley Ingram, who also served as casting director on the show, an added challenge of populating the struggling Mississippi Delta strip joint was the desire for authenticity over recognizability. I dont see it. 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 I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. Hes daring. The process when we started of course is making lists. Hes often the heavy for this, he was a father who had a lost son., We cast Chris in Gotham but have known him for years, says Thomas. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. I get on the phone with agents, and the casting process goes on from there. 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. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. And it worked! In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. We were really happy with the outcome of that! ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. You believed everything that was coming out of her mouth., We did an open call for Kamala and I feel like [Richa Moorjani] came in pretty early on. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. And thats part of our job is to continue education. It has all come down to this, friends. 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. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. 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. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Instead its all of the supporting players, the day players, because you have to have great actors, the majority of who are in scenes with Christina and Linda. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. [Laughs] Sharon always says that she spends a lot of money to get her hair done for special events like the Emmys, only to ultimately wind up at my house so I can fix 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. Seriously. Its an amazing collaboration, and the work is very gratifying and just so much fun. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? 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]. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. 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. Casting Director. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. They met and he loved him, and that was that., There is no shortage of star wattage in the dark origin story of the legendary defense lawyer, but there is an art to combining such talent. Thats a fantastic pick! But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. 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.. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Those things are leaps of faith, right? Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. Because they're not "pro-life". And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? 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. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. We had readings for that part. 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. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. 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. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. 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. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. 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. I want to get a sense of who they are, and how they handle text, and what they bring to the table in terms of choices, well watch it the whole way through because were educating ourselves. 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. To say I was enthused was another thing. 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. I brought in this guy from New York, hes actually a playwright, his name is Jeremy O. Harris. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. 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. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. Finding actors that can understand the unique tone of the show, one that balances gut-wrenching trauma with unexpected comedy, is an intricate task. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. I truly love doing hair and have always told people that if I somehow just sh-t the bed and was no longer able to be in casting, I would do hair instead. Showing all 1 wins and 28 nominations. 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. Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. But even with such a rsum, the highly sought-after casting director came across as nothing short of a grounded, down-to-earth individual when she sat down with Casting Networks via Zoom. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women .

Norwalk High School Sports, Articles S