For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. I hope she never sees us. The others laugh a little. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. Let me try it. 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. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. 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 Thomas have been mysteriously overlooked by the TV Academy year after year. 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. Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. Sharon Bialy: I think theres going to be a hybrid. Were just gonna have a great time.. Two different ways? Casting Networks acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land throughout Australia. Its not recent, but it is really funny. 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. Her role in "Barry" came about thanks to its casting director, nine-time Emmy nominee Sherry Thomas, as well as the Hollywood satire's dedication to meta humor. 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So, I get an idea for the cadence and tone of the role, which I add to what I already have about it on paper. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. Thats why you guys are so successful and all the shows you do, which are fantastic. We actually hit the limit of how many emails Gmail can accept in a day. After Kaling posted the open call on her social media and more than 13,000 submissions poured in, the duo discovered Toronto-based, then-17-year-old Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sherry Thomas: Good reader whos not too close to the camera and not trying to audition for themselves. Its going to be hard for us because we love to be in the room with them. 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. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? 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 Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. Then he was totally game to be in the last episode in front of the camera., After co-creator and executive producer Mindy Kaling tweeted an open casting call for series lead Devi Vishwakumar, the casting directors discovered newcomer Ramakrishnan. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. Facebook Icon. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . We dont get the opportunity to give immediate feedback and really do the other part of our title which is direct. 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. In a COVID and post-COVID world do you think youre job will permanently change? I feel like I get him. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. And were really fing funny! Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. AD: The biggest addition of the second season was the character of Michelle, who is played by Natalie Morales. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. 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. Fuck yeah!. Learn how your comment data is processed. You really want to buy into that environment. 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. . But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. We were like, Wait, did we just see somebody who literally has zero acting experience and was that great? says Brett Greenstein. 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]. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. 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. How did you come to realize that casting was the job for you? We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. She and Bialy relied on their stable of talent from decades in the profession. I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. He fell in love with doing the show. 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. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. AD: What character in the second season proved to be the most challenging? 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.. 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.. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. It all kind of comes together. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. 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. ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . [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. But now that the show has cooked its last batch of blue meth and said goodbye to the Albuquerque sunset, Bialy and Thomas finally heard their names called on nominations morning, along with Kiira Arai, in the Best Drama Casting category. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Casting just felt right for me. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. 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 She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. Once the lead was in place, the other puzzle pieces of this ethnically and neuro-diverse cast started to land. This interview has been edited and condensed. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. 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. Get our L.A. 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. So find somebody who really is going to, give you a little bit of something to play off of, but not try to sort of make it about them, because thats not what theyre there for. Part of our journey is the process of learning about the actor, says Bialy. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. Year Program Casting Network Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. Why Netflix is dabbling in livestreaming. 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. Im fully vaxed. Boom. 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. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. It has all come down to this, friends. 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. Were they names you wanted from the beginning, and did you go out of your way to reunite Katey and Christina Applegate? ST: Not at all! 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. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. In person its almost distracting how gorgeous she is, says Ingram. 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. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. 2006 The Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. We sent the audition, and Jemaine fell in love with him: We have to have him! And the next season, they wrote an episode for him, but he couldnt do it. 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. We put out the offer, and he was on board. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! Id actually liken it to the audition process. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. To say I was enthused was another thing. Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. 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. [Niccos] brilliant, says Hopkins. And he even said, coming in, I dont really know why Im here. Its really wonderful to see that. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. I started exploring acting once I got to LA and met a casting director named Victoria Burrows, who kind of took me under her wing. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. 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. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. And, speaking from first hand experience, they are the best people to audition for. Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. John Ennis is a character actor weve known for a long time and he was amazing as the exterminator. Twitter Icon Thats what it is all about. Thats me, Thomas says. I dont think it took an hour for every creative to say, Shes perfect. , The most exciting thing is taking that actor everybody sees one way and flipping expectations, Bialy says. 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. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. 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]. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. 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. How did you end up finding her for the role? And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. Luckily he did. Shes just perfect. 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. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. 2023 Oscar Predictions Who Are the Oscar Voters? A lot of it is having support. 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. We will never, ever be an office that is strictly self-taped. We had readings for that part. I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Thomas says, Damon tried to give me a hint: He should be a little unusual. My associate, Elizabeth, who knows the comics very well, she guessed it.. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . So theres some benefits to both. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. 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. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 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. RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? 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. Hes not afraid to try things. Q&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo Park (Ted Lasso) and Sherry Thomas and Sharon Bialy (The Shrink Next Door).