sherry thomas lane casting director

With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. 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. Sometimes the casting session is slammed, and you have several actors in the waiting room. 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. 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. But if you feel like you want to give it a shot. Mindy did, probably, because she had her on The Mindy Project. I think Mindy had said she ran into him at a Vanity Fair party and said something to him. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. Natalies name came up at the very beginning, and she is someone who Liz liked but we were originally told she wasnt available. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. 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. [Tim] talks about the spirit and the soul of the actor marrying with the spirit and the soul of the character, says Thomas. 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. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. I get told all the time that I remind people of Melissa McCarthy. We have been very lucky on this show. Please enter your username or email address to reset your password. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Hes a very soulful actor and person, and his craft is unbelievable. But then she had also read with us on Danny McBrides Vice Principles. We make several-page lists of actors who might be a good fit. All rights reserved. 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? Casting Director. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Backstage provides its members with the best tools to grow their careers in the performing arts. He is so wonderful. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. 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. And I also just love her as a person. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. If its a co-star role and its one scene, a few lines, two takes. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). Sherry Thomas: Fortunately, I feel like everybody did a little bit of research, which was interesting. After first meeting the Massachusetts native a Masshole as she calls it you may feel as if youve known her for much longer. TV casting directors receiving multiple nominations include Alexa L. Fogel (The Politician, . And it worked! ST: Our goal will always be to safely get back in the room with actors. 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.. 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. Luca was intrigued [by Alice] and it seemed like a great match. When you guys watch a self-tape, how long do you spend on it until you move on. We were so touched that people were really moved by the show and actually watched it. Sharon Bialy: Sometimes well know somebody really well and have them read and literally in two lines, Im like, thats it, shes the one. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? What are some self-tape tips that you have? It was the soul of the actor and what [showrunner Bruce Miller] was looking for.. 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. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? Of course she would have a crush on him. Darren was somebody who had this quality that was a little mysterious, obviously very handsome and surprisingly funny., We never really expected there to be a love triangle, because in the pilot Devi and Ben are just so nasty and mean toward each other. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. You really need to find actors who can do all of those things which can be challenging. Our job is to hopefully bring her people that she doesnt know yet. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. His instinct was that she was the perfect fit for the part, and he didnt give up. Were lucky., I was a giant fan of Janes for many, many years, from Suburgatory, Robert J. Ulrich says of the lead actress whose Zoey can see and hear what others are feeling via fantasy musical numbers. 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. And especially for kids, dont try that hard in the slate to be liked and all of that, its just, Hey, Im Lance Carter, Im five foot 10. 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. This website uses cookies. 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. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. 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. He fell in love with doing the show. Its hard to pick just a handful of credits that cover the breadth and depth of Sherry Thomas casting rsum. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. Oscars 2023 Voting Begins Dear Oscar, Hear My Plea, Why Steven Spielberg Deserves to Win His Third Best Directing Oscar. 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. 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. 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. For the full interview, check out the video below or on YouTube. And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. 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? For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House She was kind of in my head when I read it. We can explain things like tone. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaids Tale may first come to mind. We really kind of leave it up to the actor. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. 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 . And thanks for sharing about the magic of working with the person who not only co-created the show, but who also produces, writes, directs, and stars in it. As long as the work doesnt suffer, why cant we also participate in the lives of our kids? 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.. Year Program Casting Network But who to play the enigmatic Dr. Manhattan? 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. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. So, I love self-tapes. There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Stacia Kimler, Casting . Im always thrilled when stunt casting works, because people immediately feel a sense of connection by knowing somebody from the past, he says. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Sherry Thomas retweeted. Its also an emotional drama. 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. My mom passed away when I was young, but she used to be a very successful hairdresser back east. You can see a number of actors for an audition before that one person comes in, and everything just clicks. One of the limited series biggest secrets spoiler alert: If you havent seen Watchmen, skip down several paragraphs was that perhaps the most iconic character from the comic would indeed appear in the show, set years after the source material. And, Id imagine, completely challenging. You also have to believe that that actor is capable of things you havent seen them do before. Shes just someone Ive been watching. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. 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 think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. RS: It was a very extensive search. DEAD TO ME - Sherry Thomas, Russell Scott, Sharon Bialy, Alyssa Morris (Associate) Oscars 2023: Preview and Predictions + Contest! 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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. 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. 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. 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. She then added, To be perfectly honest with you, I think that were all in the reality that there are several other huge nominees in there, and so were blessed and honored to be there. 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. 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. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast ST: We hadnt discussed the idea in general, probably because of the previous relationship with Christina, and we didnt want to pull anybody out of it. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. Now, here comes my favorite question to ask, Sherry. He goes right to the edge, and it works. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. 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. When youre chasing after an actor with a name, you need them to trust you. 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. He doesnt necessarily work with people twice in a row, so we didnt immediately go to Regina, says Thomas. Heres what to know, From Chris Rock to the SAG Awards. And I said, Yeah, I think its going to be really cool and really interesting. 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. He felt just perfect for Bruce. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe. Sherry was born in Chicago and pursued an acting career after graduating from Northwestern University. Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. We wanted the fans to believe this, too, like, Oh my God, hes so cute. Sign up for emails from Casting Networks News. Back in 2019, Jones played. Top Gun: Maverick, Banshees of Inisherin, All Quiet on the Western Front Win at MPSE. Im not just saying that because hes my boss Im saying that because Ive had the privilege of watching the dailies [raw, unedited footage shot during a filming day] for Barry and have gotten to see his work from all angles. Wow. RS: With Katey, we wanted someone who is very special because there is a lot to unpack there with Lindas mother being in prison. She gets it. 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. And my sister has had her own salon for about 35 years now its called the Hairspace Salon in Easthampton, Massachusetts. 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. 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. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. Sherry Thomas: Theres an energy. 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? And sometimes the sides are fake. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. We would give a little context of the tone. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. Fuck yeah!. Its a visceral feeling, says Ingram, when you see an actor who you really know should be in a role., [Brandee] really had the strength and the forcefulness and chutzpah that [lead dancer] Mercedes needs, Hopkins says. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. And I think you can do that because you have more time, youre at home. She was shooting a movie here in LA. Awards. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. 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. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. 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. 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. 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. For 'The. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). Id actually liken it to the audition process. Join Facebook to connect with Sherry Thomas Lane and others you may know. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. Livin' the dream. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? No, but it made me feel like just more confident. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. Do you guys prefer two takes on the self-tape? Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. 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. 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. It all kind of comes together. 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. In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. Awards Daily: What was it like jumping back into Dead to Me after the first season became such a breakout hit? And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. In some hypothetical situation in which you had to choose a different career, what would your profession be? 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). Thats how we kept bringing up Natalie Morales. Interview: Jeremy Davis on Playing Olaf in Frozen, Costume Mishaps and Making the Role His Own, Interview: Casting Director Kim Coleman on Five Days at Memorial, Self-Tape Tips and Portraying Real People, Interview: David Christopher Wells on His Role in To Kill a Mockingbird, Being an Understudy and Getting His MFA, Interview: Clifton Collins Jr. and Molly Parker on Jockey, Research and Bad Auditions, Ted Lasso Star Phil Dunster on How He Got the Role of Jamie Tartt, Theres No Such Thing As Chemistry In Acting. Lets try it. When you read that someone is meant to be beautiful, what does Luca think beautiful is? says Cuba. We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. You might look at the character of Lil Murda and think you know this person, but you dont. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. We also share information about your use of our website with our social media and web analytics partners. Seriously. I forgot to mention Casey Wilson. 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. Sign up to get must-read entertainment headlines and audition advice delivered to your inbox every weekday. I think we got to try. And she says, You feel really passionately about it. He is fantastic. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. Twitter Icon Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Those interested in learning more about the stacked list of TV and film titles on her rsum can find them listed on IMDb. 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. 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. 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. And it happens. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. I think she had auditioned for Rocky Horror Picture Show several years before, so I knew she could sing. Often times we are reading more people for those roles than anything else. 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. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. 2023 Casting Networks, LLC. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development.

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