Gohar Gazazyan, Casting Director. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. 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. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. This website uses cookies. 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. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. 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. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. So he was intrigued. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. 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. 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. We were really happy with the outcome of that! Im not saying he is like Fraser, because that was never our feeling. Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. 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? In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. 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. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. Shes fantastic. Im getting goosebumps right now just thinking about it. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. 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. 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. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. Stacia Kimler, Casting . The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. 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. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. And before we wrap, can you share your secret for managing work/life balance? A lot of it is having support. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. Casting a Casting Director: How Allison Jones Ended Up in Front of the I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. 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. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. 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. Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. Shes just someone Ive been watching. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. 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. 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.. Hes coming in this week. . Casting Director. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. So, I got that part covered. And then they would audition and then we would present the people that we really felt were the most right for it. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. 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. You really want to buy into that environment. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) 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. 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. Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Im in LA. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. But what they dont realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might actually be looking straight into the actors souls. 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. Sherry Thomas: Yep. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. Alphonse is truly an incredibly skilled actor, Ingram says. You have this sort of visceral, gut reaction when its right, and thats how it was for me with casting. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. When you work in television and when you work with really great material, you do get excited for this time of year. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. 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. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). 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. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. 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. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. Get to Know the Casting Director: Sherry Thomas, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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? By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! 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. 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. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. You can see so many more people for a role, because you can take chances because you dont have to slot people in to 15-minute time periods with the producers. 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). Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. 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. Its interesting, because I think what happens to actors often happens to casting directors, Bialy explained. Its about finding complex and compelling actors that can bring nuance even to comedy. Name one of your favorite television shows and it's a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Toothpicks and blue jeans. 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. 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. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. Sherry Thomas Lane (@sherrythomaslane) - Instagram I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. 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. 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 Shes just perfect. 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: The challenge too isnt necessarily one particular role. 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. All of a sudden were like, Guys, shouldnt we make sure he wants to do this? recalls Collin Daniel of the role that was part narrator, part Voice of God, and all affectionate snark. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. Skylar is obviously a name, but hes also just a real standout, an extraordinary singer and actor., Michael Thomas Grant, who plays [rival coworker] Leif, I knew from The Glee Project, says the casting director. 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. . My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. 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. Being in the room with actors is so exciting, especially when youre discovering talent. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. 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. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! I love her performances and everything she does, and Luca felt the same way., Jack has a lot of experience in movies and TV, so he had a flexibility as far as craft goes, Cuba says. Sauls Rhea Seehorn was one they called in many times before she booked the key Kim Wexler role. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. 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. From our perspective though we are still always trying to surprise the producers. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. 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. 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. Shes amazing with hair, and I have a love for it, too. So that bar was set very high., She had been finishing up something and was not available, Thomas says of the actress who plays E.B. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? Were just gonna have a great time.. This is my first experience with Luca, so the process involved me figuring out how he defines a lot of the things in the script. 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. We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. Thank God. For Austin Winsbergs musical extravaganza, Ulrich was asked to put together a cast that could sing, dance and pretend none of it is really happening. 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! ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. 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 what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sometimes our job is basically that of a casting director/producer. No. 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]. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Producer: Indecent Proposal. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast 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.