They Won’t Be Cast Aside

Business person, creative, negotiator, researcher, department bridge…the people who cast our films and TV shows are all these and more. Having spent years as a casting director for such projects as Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and The Handmaid’s Tale, Sherry Thomas calls casting a “[expletive] great career, and it allows you to use so many different parts of your brain.”

She is working to make sure it continues to be a rewarding career for herself and for future creatives who enter the profession. Thomas and fellow casting director Allison Jones (Barbie, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Office) are part of the committee negotiating on behalf of the more than 700 casting directors, associate casting directors, and casting assistants represented by Teamsters Local 399 and Local 817, which are currently in negotiations for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The two award-winning casting directors are featured guests on the latest episode of WGAW’s 3rd & Fairfax podcast.

Speaking with host Andra Whipple, Jones and Thomas talk about their entries into the profession, review career highlights, and give some perspective on what their jobs entail. Jones recounts how the film and television industry has changed over the course of her storied career, to the disadvantage of people across the profession. After digging out a pay stub from an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that she cast in 1989, Jones came to a demoralizing realization. The weekly amount inflation adjusted was more than what it is currently.

“I really did make less per week now on something I just finished than in 1989,” Jones says.

“The thing about casting is we really love being there,” adds Thomas. “I always say this to my agent: we’re not being pigs. We need to be treated fairly when the companies profit.”

Thomas cites the camaraderie and solidarity they and other entertainment union members experienced on the picket lines during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. A similar bond unites the Teamsters casting directors as they seek a fair deal.

“When we are faced with challenges, we come together. We are more united than we have ever been,” Thomas says. “Casting directors are talking to one another. We are creating camaraderie, and we are definitely more powerful when we are united.”

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Check out the full podcast episode.