Thats me, Thomas says. 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. We discussed a bunch of people [for the role of Caitlins father, an Army lieutenant] and then it just felt natural for Scott and Luca to meet. 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. 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. 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. Natalie [Morales] was someone [showrunner Liz Feldman] had in mind from the beginning, but she was working on a movie. 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. THE PHIL SPECTOR BIOPIC (HBO Movie): David Mamet, Writer-Director Barry Levinson, Michael Hausman, Exec Producers Starring: Al Pacino, Helen Mirren, Jeffrey Tambor, Chiwetel Eji of or (HBO) WIDOW DETECTIVE (pilot): Carol Mendelsohn, David Hubbard, Julie Weitz, Davis Guggenheim, Exec Producers We talk about what hes looking for, and I like to ask if he has any prototypes dead or alive for the characters. But even with such a rsum, the highly sought-after casting director came across as nothing short of a grounded, down-to-earth individual when she sat down with Casting Networks via Zoom. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. 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. 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. 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. The age had to be appropriate so there would be chemistry with Linda. So, I got that part covered. 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. ST: It is a challenge when there are so many components beyond Are they a great actor? and Are they right for the part? The age had to be right so that it felt right appropriate for Diana. We really needed someone for that role who would be able to come in and immediately keep up with Linda, Christina, and James who had already gelled. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. The vampire mockumentary series was a surprise Emmys 2020 comedy series nominee, but dont look for hidden meaning behind the fun, say its writers. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. As for the ladies favorite guest stars over the years, they bring special attention to Charles Baker (Skinny Pete), Matt Jones (Badger) and Daniel and Luis Moncada (the Cousins), but they admit that Emmy nominee Mark Margolis may be their favorite casting scoop for the show. Elaine Doremus. 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. We are very passionate about not pigeonholing actors. He once told me, Youre weird too. . She is a positive, light person, and that carries into her portrayal of [dancer] Gidget. Instagram Icon It is how we really modulate a performance. So, you give each actor more of an opportunity to really get the role in some ways. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. I wrote a brief commentary of why there was only one Emily Dodson [mother of kidnapped boy]. I recently got a perm, Sherry, and its been a real challenge. Its not recent, but it is really funny. Contact To get in touch with Sherry, use the contact form below or send her an email at sherry @ sherrythomas.com (w/o spaces). And so I said, Oh my God, oh my God, Michael Rispoli is going to be in town from New York and we need to get him in. Now in the show's second season, casting directors Sherry Thomas and Russell Scott were tasked with the challenge of expanding on that world and filling out an ensemble that were able to keep up with Applegate and Cardellini. She read the whole book in like 48 hours. And then we pulled from that to go and seek out the right people for the roles. And I also just love her as a person. 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. 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! He felt just perfect for Bruce. As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Shes fantastic. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. Facebook Icon. 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. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. And thats exciting when were able to do that. Get our L.A. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. 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. So, there you have it. That was a really nice way to come back into the second season. Let me try it. If its somebody that we have known for a long time and we just say, not sure if its right, but just want to see if there is something there that connects the spirit of the actor to the spirit of the character, but its not right, then we can sort of move on and with respect because we know its not the perfect fit. 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 had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. 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? Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. Stacia Kimler, Casting . I feel like I get him. 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. But what they don't realize is that not only are they watching closely, they might . 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. 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'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. Production was able to move around a lot of stuff, he says. One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. Learn more about how we use cookies. 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. 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. Even the actor didnt know until that episodes script rolled around. Required fields are marked *. Its when I really first started, when I was having a lot of autonomy with Sharon. I dont have to deal with traffic or anything like that, but being in the room, I totally miss. Sherry Thomas, Casting Director. Casting Networks is a registered trademark of Casting Networks, LLC. So theres some benefits to both. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How did you end up finding her for the role? She was kind of in my head when I read it. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. So youll see Breaking Bad is peppered with stand-up guys doing their first drama., Join the fiery discussion of Breaking Bad in our forums, Thomas added, But really what we just love to do is great material and hire really interesting actors. 2006 It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. AD: As our readers can imagine, casting can be a very hands-on role where you are meeting dozens of new people every day. 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. Shes just someone Ive been watching. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? We got so many emails from agents asking, Where did you find these actors? Everybody was blown away, says Greenstein. It feels like thats not as much of a requirement anymore, though, and I want to help fully facilitate that change for the next generation of women. 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. In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. 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. . Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Deadline Media, Get our free, urgent prediction updates and news, 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: , Leaderboards: See All Past Prediction Accuracy Scores, Leaderboards: Best Prediction Accuracy Scores for Film, TV and Music Awards, Leaderboards: Best TV Show Predictions by Gold Derby Users, Find a User or Expert / Download Gold Derbys Free, New App. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. Primetime Emmy Awards. 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. While eager to gather a diverse troupe for Mindy Kaling and Lang Fishers series, casting directors Collin Daniel and Brett Greenstein quickly realized that until they had nailed down their series leads, there was no ensemble to assemble. . 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. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. 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. Its been a long time coming and were very proud of it., 9 Emmy nominees you didnt know were already on Netflix: Breaking Bad, Scandal, , If they do win the Emmy, they arent worried about getting kicked off the stage if their acceptance speech lasts too long. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. And it worked! There would be years where people would be like, Where did you get all these drug addicts? . Seriously. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. We were really happy with the outcome of that! And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. At some point Sherry suggested Katey Sagal. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? 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. 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. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. How did you guys bring her on? This interview has been edited and condensed. At the time [we started casting], she was working with one of my best friends on What/If, and I was hearing a lot about her and how she would sing karaoke. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. Sherry Thomas. [Tatiana is] someone we really believed in and highly recommended to Tim and the producers., [Gayle was] the only one who read, Thomas says. Sherry Lansing. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. We thought wed cast an unknown. That is such a skill, and one I wish I had. Livin' the dream. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. The thing that Luca seemed to be connecting to is a real combination of, could they do the material, but also could he engage in real dialogue with them about what it means to be their age in this moment and incorporate that into the vision that he had., Jordan didnt even have an agent. What she did to prepare for that role was incredible. Casting Networks uses cookies to analyze our traffic and to personalize content and ads. For Perry Mason (originally set to star Robert Downey Jr., who serves as executive producer with his wife, Susan), casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas discussed their suggestions for each role with director and executive producer Timothy Van Patten. Hes being very humble right now, but it took a lot of strategizing and basically producing. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018).