Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. 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. I dont know if theres a generic answer that fits every person when it comes to managing work/life balance, though. 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. 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! We checked in on her, and the challenging part was convincing producers to take a chance on an actor that youre very familiar with but they might not be. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . Legitimately dead? We had no idea that was the plan. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. Weve read her over the years and have been a fan of hers, says Daniel of the role Moorjani eventually landed, as the cousin who initially inspires envy in Devi. Sherry Thomas (I) Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sherry Thomas was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? So, I didnt necessarily find casting it found me. Thats a fantastic pick! Natalie Morales, left, joined the cast of Dead to Me in Season 2 as the love interest for Linda Cardellini. We didnt want someone who would be instantly recognizable to the world. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. 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. We knew her, but I wouldnt say that a lot of people knew her, Greenstein adds. Seriously. Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. To say I was enthused was another thing. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. All Rights Reserved. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! 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. All rights reserved. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. 1 on iTunes Charts, Jussie Smollett finally appeals his conviction stemming from 2019 hate-crime hoax, Gayle King surprises Angela Bassett with her Whats Love Got to Do With It dress, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Sweetie Pies alum Tim Norman gets life sentence for planned execution of nephew, Fox News finally reveals its kryptonite: the bottom line, Unlike Andor, Mandalorian is going all in on Star Wars lore. It was a surprise to us. Shifting gears again, I have a true get-to-know-you question. Livin' the dream. Im fully vaxed. Boom. That makes sense. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Learn how your comment data is processed. You do a drama and they say you can only do drama. 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 . Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. 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. 14.1k Followers, 269 Following, 782 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Sharon Bialy (@sharonbialy) For the vampire mockuseries What We Do in the Shadows, nominees Gayle Keller, Jenny Lewis and Sara Kay find themselves looking for actors who dont look like typical actors. 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]. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. RT: I looked for her name before I even looked for ours. How did you guys bring her on? ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. 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 created a book this big between her read with casting and her read with Bruce, of her story as the character. But filling the role of a Sherman Oaks-grown teenager of South Asian heritage proved harder than expected. 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. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up ST: I think this year is so off kilter. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. Casting Director. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. Elaine Doremus. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. 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. I think we all miss being in the room with actors and I think a lot of the actors miss it as well, because theres something that you just get from being in the room with someone and the ability to play. 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. Sherry Thomas retweeted. She came in and was so natural, so funny. It was the biggest casting search weve ever done in our career, says Daniel. Instagram Icon Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. With Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd attached to it, if I went in for an audition, Id automatically think, this was like a more comedic sort of thing. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. Thats what it is all about. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. We had readings for that part. 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. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. 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. It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? Sherry Thomas: Ive been a longtime fan of Casey. 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). So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. And I have now grown to see what a great dramatic actor he is, in the role of Zoeys brother, says Ulrich. 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. Russell Scott, Casting Director. And as a casting director, it feeds my soul to get to go through the whole collaborative process of finding that person who just pops in a role. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. 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. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. He hadnt done anything either. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. And at that time, there were not vaccination mandates in place. Sherry Lansing. 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. 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.. 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. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. 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. Someone was really good when they read for Better Call Saul, a drama, but theres something there. Craig Fincannon (Location Casting Director) 2010 Nominee Artios Award: Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Television Series - Drama Breaking Bad (2008) Shared with: Sharon Bialy. But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? You dont have to try to crack jokes and just be yourself. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. If its a co-star role and its one scene, a few lines, two takes. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. Primetime Emmy Awards. So, I love self-tapes. Shes just perfect. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. I had the highest hopes and no idea that he could sing as well as he could sing. I really hope the industry is changing to be better in that area, especially for women who want to work and also be moms. 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. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. So, you have to just be mindful of the process or the questions and anticipate what theyre going to ask, the producers or the director. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. But he also, as himself, has a real confidence and a unique and very modern feel, which I think really lends itself to Fraser. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. We can explain things like tone. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. Our approach to that is a direct line of communication. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. And it happens. Its a natural human thing to think of somebody in one way. 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.