sherry thomas lane casting director sherry thomas lane casting director

We had lots of auditions. She gave so much more than was even on the page [in the role of Mercedes mom], Ingram says. Thats me, Thomas says. Actors often think casting directors hardly even pay attention during their auditions. 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! As a freelance writer for me at Modern Luxury, NS magazine, Sherry pitched and wrote creative . Sherry Thomas Lane is on Facebook. Its also an emotional drama. And when they feel that support, they just blossom right in front of the camera. 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. Were just gonna have a great time.. 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. The bar has been set and we set it for ourselves as creative people with high standards. After appearing in two films, Loving (1970) and Rio Lobo (1970), Sherry decided to leave the acting field. There was somebody we just couldnt hire recently that is absolutely not known for comedy. gofund.me/2fffe14f Posts Reels Videos Tagged Search Log In Sign Up Did it make your job easier or was it challenging having actors come in with a preconceived notion of what the show should be? He was pursuing editing work on the side. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day. It was really sort of a meeting of the minds and people coming together on the choices. Your email address will not be published. Among them, theyre responsible for five of the shows nominated for casting Emmys this year as well as a host of others that have received acting nominations in the past. ST: Russell worked very, very hard on that. 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. Its great to virtually meet you, Sherry, and lets kick things off right at the beginning of your career. So, I was working with Shawn Ryan and Sharon was working with David Mamet, I mean, it was like a big deal. 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. Wiley plays the rebellious Moira on Handmaids and has one Emmy win in three nominations for the role. And also, it was shot in LA, in Los Angeles, so everything is large and on a big scale. We sent the audition, and Jemaine fell in love with him: We have to have him! And the next season, they wrote an episode for him, but he couldnt do it. Hes not afraid to try things. Sometimes the nomination day is like Christmas morning, but this year we completely forgot. Her role in "Barry" came about thanks to its casting director, nine-time Emmy nominee Sherry Thomas, as well as the Hollywood satire's dedication to meta humor. So he was intrigued. Good lighting is typical, and shooting from the right angle, and just be yourself in the slate. Jonathan [Masons employer], was the first one. The parameters of that character were a tall order to fill. 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. Better Call Saul, were not even allowed to give you anything. Although the self Read More, Your email address will not be published. No, but it made me feel like just more confident. So now, if I leave at one oclock today [at time of interview] to go pick up my kids from camp, its OK. Sherry Thomas: Well, its crazy. Shes fantastic. In 1975 she joined MGM as an executive story editor. You guys cast this while everything was locked down. Christina Applegate has done amazing dramatic work on the show, but she has largely been known as a comedic actor. Instead its all of the supporting players, the day players, because you have to have great actors, the majority of who are in scenes with Christina and Linda. We had readings for that part. Casting Director Casting Department Producer IMDbPro Starmeter See rank Sharon Bialy is known for Rudy (1993), The Handmaid's Tale (2017) and Barry (2018). Sharon Bialy: I think actors often think, Oh, they only think of me for this. If we cant connect its very hard to do our jobs. I think a lot of people have made that shift in their mentality. Seriously. She was shooting a movie here in LA. Thats a fantastic pick! 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. But if it is a more substantial role with several scenes, two is fine to send to us. Shes just someone Ive been watching. "I've known and worked with Sherry in different capacities over the past 7 years. 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. It is one of our most rewarding jobs., [John McEnroe] was in the original script, and I remember nobody was dealing with it. 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. From Thomas passion for her work to her passion for her family, this has been a candid look into the person behind all the casting credits. Oscars 2023: Just How Many Oscars Will Everything, Everywhere All at Once Win? In 1974, Sherry joined Talent Associates, as an executive in charge of development. Stacia Kimler, Casting . 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. We were finding choices and some incredible singers, but it just clicked when it became Alex. Sherry Thomas: Yeah. Hes like 6-foot-5, hes got this huge fro. 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. All Rights Reserved. A naturalistic performance, I think, is what was required in The Shrink Next Door. #LucindaSyson #TheoPark #SherryThomas SharonBialy #CastingDirectorsQ&A with casting directors from several Apple TV+ series; Lucinda Syson (Foundation), Theo. Was that hard at all? Sherry Thomas is represented by the brilliant Kristin Nelson of . She is known for Breaking Bad (2008), Barry (2018) and The Handmaid's Tale (2017). Let me try it. My partner Sherry Thomas, who casts the show with me, and I have a history of colorblind casting, so we're always looking for the best actor. He was a great audition, for sure, but he also really interested Luca as a person. Sherry Thomas: But everybody was generous and kind. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Three if theres one in there that you just want to give it a shot. Its not recent, but it is really funny. You were also nominated for your work on the third season of The Handmaids Tale. 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. The Cherry Lane Theatre is the oldest continuously running off-Broadway theater in New York City. Sharon Bialy: There are always challenges, but this season there were a couple of roles that caused some particular challenges. Sherry Lansing. 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. Producer: Indecent Proposal. 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. . It was the biggest new role of the season. Sherry Thomas: I think it is a little bit of both. 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. 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. 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. He was the heart of the show the first season., Andrew is absolutely hilarious. These are edited excerpts from that conversation. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Sherry Thomas: They called him, pitched him and Sharon says, huh. Thomas adds that they sometimes develop relationships with actors, calling them in time and again for reads. What is the craziest audition story that you have? 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. So, I knew Id have a paycheck once I arrived and took my two weeks vacation to make the trip over and get settled. Aug. 21, 2020 2 PM PT. As a casting director, the joy is in discovering talent, says Ulrich. 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. As continuing shows, all three series have established universes and tones, says Thomas. 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. 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. 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. For Lady Sherlock series publicity inquiries (media coverage, review copies, and interviews), please contact Tara O'Connor at Penguin Random House Unsurprisingly, the series' casting directors are Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas, who have each been nominated for seven Emmy Awards for casting. 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. 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. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Id read about her ability, Ulrich says of the Oscar winner, a prolific singer-songwriter. For Season 2 of Handmaids, we were surprised with Sydney Sweeney [as Eden]. And thats part of our job is to continue education. (photo: Mark Seliger/FOX) Welcome to tvDownload's " Ask a Casting Director ," a new series in which we talk to the men and women . Sherry Thomas: Yeah, it was. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Year Program Casting Network In this case, its Jane, only in the fact that the public did not know that she was a singer. She has been nominated for eight Emmys (The Handmaid's Tale, Barry, Breaking Bad) and 19 CSA nominations. It might help for other projects more so than this, just to get a sense of it when youre in the room with us. Bruce and Lizzie were thrilled with him. 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 dont think it took an hour for every creative to say, Shes perfect. , The most exciting thing is taking that actor everybody sees one way and flipping expectations, Bialy says. It was really about getting Devi and her mother cast, as they are the heart of the story, says Greenstein. Sherry Thomas: If a reader is really distracting, its not about the reader, its about the actor. 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? They tell the story of when they had to call Margolis in New York and ask him to put himself on tape, despite the fact that his character had no lines. He is so wonderful. 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). And thats exciting when were able to do that. Jonathans secretary. 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. It sounds like you didnt look back after the job found you. Listen, come to my office and Ill do your hair youll be fine. Instagram Icon 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. And I think that people know her in one lane and it was very exciting. 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 . What kind of challenges are there for a show like that where you are three seasons in already? There were large party scenes, and large office scenes, and so you had to be very, very careful. Back in 2019, Jones played. Russell Scott, Casting Director. Thomas says of the then-not-so-well-known Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, I kind of always knew Yahya was it. Well, Russell was able to work with production to make it happen, adds Thomas. 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. Find out if Bialy and Thomas can win their very first Emmy for Breaking Bad when the Creative Arts Emmys are announced August 16. It felt like he was going to be her enemy the whole time, Greenstein says of Lewisons character, Ben Gross. 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. WEBN Reporter Ali Inglese sat down with "Breaking Bad" Casting Directors Sharon Bialy and Sherry Thomas. Thats what I did back in 2012 after my second daughter was born. You are known for bringing in people who are looked at one way, and then you sort of have given this whole new sort of light, this new career almost to them.