sherry thomas lane casting director

So, there you have it. 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. But what the self-taping does is give so many more people opportunities because we can see 25 actors for a role. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. 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. 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. Kay says, I met with [showrunners Jemaine Clement and Paul Simms] in the beginning, and they were like, You know, just bring us good faces. New to Casting Networks? 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 Were just gonna have a great time.. 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. 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. As an art form, acting is often viewed as a personal endeavor. We thought wed cast an unknown. Hes daring. [Showrunner Damon Lindelof] is pretty specific about what he wants, but if he cant really explain it, hell know it when he sees it. We can explain things like tone. Hes not afraid to try things. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. For Dead to Mes second season, Scott said the main task was finding the new love interest for Linda Cardellinis character. Stars Sharon Bialy Theo Park Lucinda Syson See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Photos Add photo Top cast And he even was like, Im not right for this, but Im here. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? Thanks, and Ill add that working from home with your kids during the pandemic really shows you what youve been missing out on. Interview: Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas on 'The We were able to find actors like Ericka Kreutz who played Shandys mother, and you had Adora Bricher who played Shandy who is amazing as the dark, dark little girl. And I said, Yeah, I really feel like it could be really cool, and okay, great. It is how we really modulate a performance. I dont want to make it sound so righteous, but I think it was just a good, interesting, and different way to go. If someone made a series about your life story, which actor would you cast to play the role of Sherry Thomas? One thing I love about casting this show is that its not just a lot of offers. For 'The. Weve been bringing him in and casting him for some time, so he was somebody right from the start. And were really fing funny! You always want to work with people who inspire you and who you can learn from, and Bill is one of those people. Was that hard at all? 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. Weve been able to give multiple women over a certain age really complex material. 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. RS: It was a very extensive search. 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. Id actually liken it to the audition process. Its not recent, but it is really funny. We had to make sure all of the players were lined up, and from there, it was a lot of immediate yess. Did you specify that in the breakdowns or did you have to redirect people? Were just gonna shove everybody out of the way! 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. Okay. Sherry Thomas - Director of Creative Services - LinkedIn 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.. Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? ST: I dont think any character was as challenging as Natalies. Sharon and I have been business partners for 25 years, and were very inserted in each others lives at this point. Defying past portrayals of female friendship on television, Dead To Me enamoredaudiences with its unexpected casting choices of Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini. 2023 Oscar Nominee: Director Santiago Mitre on Why the Message Behind Argentina, 1985 Remains More Relevant Than Ever, 2023 Oscar Nominee Fire of Love: How Editors and Co-Writers Erin CasperandJocelyne Chaput Crafted the Krafft Love Story, Double Oscar Nominee & Producer Shane Boris Talks What Fire of Love & Navalny Have in Common, Inaugural Television Publicity Executives Committee (TPEC) Submissions Are Now Open, Amazons Daisy Jones and the Six is the First Great Limited Series of 2023, Melissa Rauch On Presiding Over a New Night Court Era, 'The Morning Show' Director Mimi Leder on Why Cable is Better for Female Characters. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for. She was channeling her own mother, is what she told us. So theres some benefits to both. I think Chris Meloni brought so much value to that role. I knew him from The Glee Project and I just think he is one of the most extraordinary talents around. 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. [Laughs] I love them, as well as my husband, and we all have fun together. ST: I think this year is so off kilter. 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. He is fantastic. 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. . We put out the offer, and he was on board. RS: We went through that entire process and read a lot of people. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. casting director Casts for Film, TV, Theatre, New Media California About Sharon Bialy Sharon Bialy is an award winning Casting Director for television, film and theater. 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. Its also a thriller. 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. Artios Awards: Casting Directors for 'The Boys,' 'Pose,' 'Watchmen So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. 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. Sharon Bialy: And it was the hardest thing in the world to not be hysterical, laughing when she wrote, I meant Michael Imperioli. And then we had to go through the audition and Im biting my lip so that I laugh. She had to go to some places and the work was beautiful. AD: I imagine one of the more interesting challenges of that character is finding someone who can believably portray someone who has both dated Ana (Diana-Maria Riva) and Judy. Elarica leads more with vulnerability, and Brandee leads more with strength. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. 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. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. It all kind of comes together. Casting directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have worked on "Better Call Saul" and "The Walking Dead," say: "You tell where casting directors are making the effort. 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. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. Casting Directors Help Achieve Diversity in Hollywood - Variety 'Perry Mason' Casting Directors Reveal the Casting - Daily Actor I can tell you that after 22 years of covering the Oscars that they are mostly meaningless. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. Two different ways? RT: Can we just put Rhea Seehorn in here? ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. He was pursuing editing work on the side. 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. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. NORTHAMPTON When she was growing up in Florence, Sherry Thomas I think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. Learn more about how we use cookies. Do you think you guys will rely on that still? 'Breaking Bad' casting directors Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas 'very 2006 She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. And thats exciting when were able to do that. With self-tapes and zoom callbacks. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. We are very, very excited for season three. And if an actor does the wrong choice and they come in the room, you can easily give them direction and play with it and get them more relaxed and support them. Everything was requested self-tapes, so we would discuss ideas with them for the series regulars, our main players in the piece. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. 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. Shes just someone Ive been watching. Look, I think Bill Hader is in a category all his own. When we got the initial call we looked at each other, and were like Isnt he dead? Sherry Thomas: Yep. And I also just love her as a person. Sherry Lansing - Biography - IMDb And so, were sitting in the session, and he walks in and everybody says, hi. Hes a wonderful actor. 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. 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 Envelope spoke with some of TVs top casting directors about their part in helping stories get told and actors get Emmy nominated. 2021 Nominee Primetime Emmy: Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series . And tonally, youd had to have both here. Moderated by Mara Webster, In Creative Company. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). This interview has been edited and condensed. She came in and was so natural, so funny. Robin Bartlett, we have cast many times and she is, kind of in my brain, there was nobody else for it. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. She cites the scenes with Mark Proksch as energy vampire Colin Robinson in his workplace. Once I opened that door, though, there was no going back. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. We wanted to see her because we were such huge fans from all the things that shes done, especially The Night Of. Those things are leaps of faith, right? We had read her for The Handmaids Tale one season, and we had read her for an independent movie that was a really deep and layered character. That openheartedness that Gidget needed to have, Skyler innately has., J. And Sherry was like, Shes so smart. Co-Owner Bialy Thomas & Assoc. Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. 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. 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. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. I have no history with her. So, theres support at every turn, but balancing a family and a career isnt easy. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. I mean, that had to have been completely It was all brand new. 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.. And it isnt so much that we only do dramas, we love comedies. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Murdoch has survived scandal after scandal. 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. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. Russell Scott, Casting Director. Sharon Bialy: I mean, I watch the whole thing. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. 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. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. The others laugh a little. 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. sherrythomaslane Follow 284 posts 5,086 followers 587 following Sherry Thomas Lane Casting Director / Owner @ Bialy Thomas & Associates Blue collar Northampton, MA native who is Livin' the dream. And say, Lets try them for this.. He was tied to a play in New York., Jemaine does that so much, says Kay. 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.. AD: The second season also featured two major guest stars in Frances Conroy and Katey Sagal. Big titles like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid's Tale may first come to mind. And one of the first things that we did together as Bialy/Thomas was The Unit with Shawn Ryan and David Mamet and Eric Haney. 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. 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 mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. He put himself on tape, and Tim really responded to his audition [for the beat-cop role].. 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. Watch our video interviews with top awards contenders: directors, producers, below-the-line artisans and , Watch our lively predictions slugfests with Experts and Editors. 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. Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas Explain The Art of Casting And thats part of our job is to continue education. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. 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. We had lots of auditions. But Cornell Womack, hes a pro, we know him. Quickly send your headshot and resume to hundreds of casting directors, agents, and managers. 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. 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We really kind of leave it up to the actor. But in a series that tonally feels more like an independent feature, not just any teenagers would do. Once we started to figure out that it was Jordan [Kristine Seamn], Ben was a perfect match. These casting directors pull back the curtain on the process After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. So, even though they might be doing under five lines, theyve got to be able to hold their own. 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. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up And I think were all waiting for the moment in time where we can be together again, for sure. BIALY / THOMAS CASTING - The Casting Society of America It was the biggest new role of the season. That helps give me the essence of what Bill has in mind, and then as I get him going, hell just start going into the characters dialogue in a voice that reflects how he hears it in his head. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. A lot have to be able to do comedy, drama, all of it.. Let me try it. Samira Wiley plays Moira in The Handmaids Tale, a performance that has brought her a third supporting actress Emmy nomination. Alice Lee was just a discovery. The second it became Alex, I ran with it, pushed it, said its a way to really enlighten the world. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. Sharon Bialy & Sherry Thomas Q&A: 'Breaking Bad' casting 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. Sharon Bialy: What a nice way to start the day. And then there were some people that we redirected and from the day players up to our more significant roles that were prominent in the piece. Sherry Thomas Lane (@sherrythomaslane) - Instagram 2023 Gold Derby Media, LLC. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series He just had a great rawness and innocence., As Sams older brother Craig, Corey had not had any experience. 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. More at IMDbPro Contact info Agent info Resume Add to list Nominated for 9 Primetime Emmys 1 win & 41 nominations total Photos Known for Rudy 7.5 Casting Director 1993 The Handmaid's Tale 8.4 Survivor Users Leaderboard Coming Soon! 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! From our perspective though we are still always trying to surprise the producers. Matthew Dodsons father is not a role he typically plays. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Hes often the heavy for this, he was a father who had a lost son., We cast Chris in Gotham but have known him for years, says Thomas. 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. The cast of Gotham. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. She even officiated when my husband and I were married. 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The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. Sharon Bialy: Also, because sometimes youre only getting a couple of pages, so you have to guess and when youre in the room, we can give you context.