sherry thomas lane casting director

Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. 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. We can explain things like tone. She was shooting a movie here in LA. Casting Yvonne Strahovskis mother, we needed someone who could be formidable. 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. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. Every time we had a conversation or auditioned actresses that werent a perfect fit, Russell would get on the phone and see if her availability changed. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. 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. Press Esc to cancel. 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. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. 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 hope she never sees us. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. However, theres a great deal of team Read More, Two in five Australians between the ages of 16 and 85 experience a mental disorder at some time in Read More, From college basketball tournaments to St. Pattys Day, the new month is synonymous with more than a few events. Read More, I believe there is some anxiety in the air over the expectations for commercial self tapes. I think within that the process will change a bit. All Rights Reserved. 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. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. 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. Every actor that comes in, even if they dont get the job, we keep a lot of notes . Well often write notes like, Remember for BCS because theres a naturalistic approach to the acting on the show; its not showy at all. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. 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. 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. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. 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. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? And I also just love her as a person. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. Instagram Icon Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. We thought wed cast an unknown. Alice Lee was just a discovery. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. 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. 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. And then, Sherry, you redirected me to do something. Wow. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. 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. Having her name value in that role grounded the whole office., For Skylars role, we auditioned lots and lots of great people, says Ulrich of the co-worker character with romantic potential. 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. I would own my own version of a Drybar. How did you end up finding her for the role? My wife is my reader and shes terrible. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). He is so wonderful. 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. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. Producer: Indecent Proposal. Then there are recent series like Vanessa Bayers I Love That for You and Danny McBrides The Righteous Gemstones. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. 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. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. At that point, I feel like Ive got it I know who the character is. 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 my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. So he was intrigued. But it really feels good to be recognized by our peers. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. Let me try it. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. He goes right to the edge, and it works. Learn more about how we use cookies. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. 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. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. . RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. ST: Not for us particularly. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. I knew that Mary could sing. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. 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. Elaine Doremus. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. Stacia Kimler, Casting . For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! So theres some benefits to both. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. Keep reading for a window into everything from how she works including her Emmy-nominated casting of Barrys third season to what shed be doing if her chosen profession werent an option. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. Unless it is really not Theres a couple things going into play. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. 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. 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.. 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. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. 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. 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. Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! sherrythomaslane Follow 284 posts 5,086 followers 587 following Sherry Thomas Lane Casting Director / Owner @ Bialy Thomas & Associates Blue collar Northampton, MA native who is Livin' the dream. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. We rely so heavily on the loudness, and the shoutiness, and the calling out ideas and really kind of collaborating in that way. 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. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. Mercedes is the one who draws all the crowds into The Pynk, so you have to have someone that has this magnetism about them., Oh, what can you say? Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. In the case of Lawrence Gilliard, that role was. 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. . 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. I mean, its just, its incredible. 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. 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 . Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. And Peter [Gallagher, as Maggies husband, Mitch] obviously had been on Broadway. 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. Bradley Whitford @BradleyWhitford 10 months ago. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. 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. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. So, we really didnt do any producer sessions over Zoom. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. With larger roles, you have time to build an arc, but with something so small, the challenge is how to make it memorable. This interview has been edited and condensed. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. 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? We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. 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. Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. Photo Credit: Deanna Baldwin Boyd, courtesy of Sherry Thomas. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. 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. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. 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. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. All Rights Reserved. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. Russell Scott, Casting Director. 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. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. Okay. AD: I imagine one of the more interesting challenges of that character is finding someone who can believably portray someone who has both dated Ana (Diana-Maria Riva) and Judy. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. We started talking with her agent, and they basically said to make sure this was the direction we wanted to go in because if Katey found out she would certainly want to do it. 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. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. Its also an emotional drama.