I think actors dont think it happens, and it does. 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. . The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. Michael Ordoa covers film and television for the Los Angeles Times. Thomas called Sweeney wise and mature beyond her years. New to Casting Networks? Casting just felt right for me. We had readings for that part. 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. 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. What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? Thomas says, His agent called me: Oh my God, Vicky, we just learned who he was! and they screamed. Liz Feldman has a great knowledge of actors and comedic actors. Casting Director. We really relied on people that we have cultivated relationships with over a period of time as casting directors do. The Walking Dead, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Barry and many, many more, they are one of the top casting offices out there. Through conversation and through hearing about what the role is about in detail and where it will go, the list gets smaller and smaller. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Like everyone else on the planet we love her. 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. 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. 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. Five seasoned entertainment journalists predict the shows and performances the Television Academy will honor with Emmys; do you agree with their picks? Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Sherry Thomas: And the show director, Jesse Peretz, just really kind of took everybody and, everybody shines. 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. Every time we had a conversation or auditioned actresses that werent a perfect fit, Russell would get on the phone and see if her availability changed. Those things are leaps of faith, right? Press Esc to cancel. I mean, I was still completely nervous, but I felt more comfortable in that sort of nervousness. Learn more about how we use cookies. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. John Lithgow, for E.B. 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. If life begins at conception, why aren't Republicans making sure that the men who cause pregnancies take any responsibility? Lets try it. 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. 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. By Vinnie Mancuso 12/30/15 10:00am. How do you like the way casting is right now? Its definitely a world that were extremely interested in.. It was fun to be able to draw on somebody that I had thought was so talented for so long.. Sometimes Clement will become inspired by the actors. And our associate, Alyssa Morris, did the same with the smaller roles. 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. Our job is to connect with people to bring out the best performance. But Luca is very connected to the human side of actors, so I think he connected with her., Chlo [as Frasers other mother] is someone I have loved from the beginning. Primetime Emmy Awards. And I write on something next to me, I had Michael Imperioli in my head. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House If its somebody who were like, Ive never seen them audition for us before. Learn how your comment data is processed. Pros from five of the years newest dramas and comedies including 'Perry Mason' and 'We Are Who We Are' also reveal the surprising obstacles they hurdled before production began. Luca was definitely familiar with his music [as Kid Cudi] and loves it. But I dont believe she had ever been a series regular before. Follow Gold Derby onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,Tumblr,iTunesandYouTube, Gold Derby is a part of Penske Media Corporation. But going into the second season, the world knows the show, and we dont have to explain what it is. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. And tonally, youd had to have both here. Weve always requested self-tapes and explored actors from all over the world. 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 think in this particular project that Georgia [Pritchetts] writing was incredible, and the tone was on the page, but still it helped. ST: Not at all! I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. To say I was enthused was another thing. 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. When Breaking Bad started, we really rebelled and kept looking for stand-up actors. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. Awards. Personnel: Sharon Bialy, Casting Director. What can you tell us about the process of assembling the cast for its long-awaited third season? Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. At the time, there wasnt really a choice you had to prove yourself at work by being at your desk. 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. Its going to be hard for us because we love to be in the room with them. Was that something you were both conscious of when originally casting him? I was doing a virtual Pilates class when I got a text from Christina that said, Congrats lady! Im pretty sure Im the loudest, so I think whoevers the loudest wins, joked Thomas. In the meantime, make your predictions for Best Drama Series below the interview using our easy drag-and-drop menu. After a 2007 surgery that required general anesthesia, Steenburgen, who plays Zoeys mother, Maggie, began hearing original music in her head. Everybody knows he is a wonderful actor. Theyre opposite sides of a coin., Skyler has an exuberance that is hard to describe, Ingram says. It was the biggest new role of the season. 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. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 2020 Emmys are closer than you think. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. 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. A lot of it is having support. Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. 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. Im in LA. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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]. But Id love to work with her, so let me just say shed be my choice. 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. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. RS: A lot of times those small roles are the hardest to cast. 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. Im fully vaxed. Boom. So weve always cast in a broad, worldly way. ST: Not for us particularly. 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. I love it you all sound like youre very close casting partners! 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. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. Burrows eventually recommended Thomas for her first paying job in the industry, working as an assistant to the location casting director the person charged with hiring extras for movie and TV . Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Theres a lot of complexity to the role and we needed someone funny. Sorry I had to jump in because he is very humble! Name one of your favorite television shows and its a sure bet that Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas were the casting directors for at least one of them. 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. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. The process when we started of course is making lists. This weekend, we'll hear from three more guilds: the ACE (Eddie Awards), the ASC, and the WGA. I knew that Mary could sing. You really want to buy into that environment. All of the shows we do from The Walking Dead to Better Call Saul to The Righteous Gemstones are all over the country. AD: This wasnt your only nomination this year. So theres some benefits to both. 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.
