Center Stage

On this episode of Center Stage with Mark Gordon, filmmaker and journalist Roc Morin talks about Meduza, a powerful project that explores war, identity, and the strange overlap between performance and reality. Mark Gordon and Roc Morin discuss the origins of the film, the emotional and creative challenges behind it, and what drew Morin to this story in the first place. The result is a compelling c...

On this episode of Center Stage with Mark Gordon, filmmaker Christine La Monte discusses her new documentary Ai Weiwei’s Turandot, which follows artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he makes his operatic directorial debut at the Rome Opera House. Known for his fearless art and political engagement, Ai Weiwei reimagines Puccini’s classic opera Turandot as a reflection of today’s world, where freedom, i...

Filmmaker Yvonne Russo joins Center Stage with Mark Gordon to discuss Viva Verdi!, a powerful documentary that celebrates composer Giuseppe Verdi’s home for aging musicians and the enduring power of music, mentorship, and creativity. 🎬 Viva Verdi! is currently screening across the U.S., including Laemmle Theatres, Lincoln Center, and Sarasota Opera House. 🎧 Hosted by Mark Gordon 🎙️ Produced by C...

"One ride changes everything…" Filmmaker Michael Pierro joins Center Stage to talk about Self Driver, a dark thriller where a cab driver’s morals are tested in the dead of night. Self Driver is currently available for streaming https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/self-driver Share your thoughts in the comments: Would you trust a self-driving car with your life?

Filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito joins Mark Gordon Center Stage to discuss her new documentary Shari & Lamb Chop, exploring the life, career, and lasting legacy of beloved ventriloquist Shari Lewis and her iconic sock puppet sidekick.

In this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon sat down with provocative indie filmmaker Gregg Araki to talk about his cult classic Nowhere. Released in 1997 as the final chapter of his so-called “Teen Apocalypse Trilogy,” Nowhere is a bold, kaleidoscopic ride through the chaos of L.A. youth culture—complete with alien abductions, surreal encounters, and razor-sharp social commentary. In our convers...

In 1978, Christina Crawford shook Hollywood to its core with the publication of Mommie Dearest, a raw and unflinching memoir detailing the abuse she endured at the hands of her adoptive mother, screen legend Joan Crawford. The book became an instant sensation, igniting a firestorm of debate and inspiring a cult-favorite film that would etch the phrase “No wire hangers!” into pop culture history. T...

In this episode, Mark Gordon talks with acclaimed filmmaker John Kastner about his gripping documentary Life with Murder. The film unpacks the devastating real-life story of the Jenkins family in Chatham, Ontario, whose world was shattered when 18-year-old Jennifer Jenkins was found shot to death in their home. Her brother, Mason, quickly became the prime suspect—and was ultimately convicted of he...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon sat down with filmmakers Mark H. Rapaport and Kimball Farley to talk about their offbeat and unforgettable new film, Hippo. Quirky, funny, and deeply unsettling, Hippo offers a surreal yet sharply observed portrait of an American family teetering on the edge of dysfunction. In our conversation, Rapaport and Farley pull back the curtain on their creative...

When it comes to Alfred Hitchcock, most biographies center on the master of suspense himself—his genius, his control, his darkness. But in his latest book, Hitchcock’s Blondes, bestselling author Laurence Leamer flips the lens, focusing instead on the women who helped shape the director’s legacy from the other side of the camera. In this captivating interview for Mark Gordon Center Stage, Leamer t...

On this episode of Center Stage, I sit down with filmmakers Lee Roy Kunz and Cru Ennis to explore their provocative and spine-chilling horror film, Deliver Us. Set in a secluded convent, the story begins when a nun claims she is experiencing an immaculate conception, triggering alarm bells at the Vatican. As a team of priests is dispatched to investigate, they uncover more than just mystery—they s...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon dives into the depths with filmmaker Max Erlenwein to discuss his pulse-pounding thriller The Dive. Set against the eerie, isolated backdrop of the open sea, the film tells the gripping story of two sisters on a freediving trip that turns into a desperate fight for survival after a catastrophic underwater accident. In our conversation, Erlenwein shares...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon sits down with film producer Michael Pollack to discuss Fields of Gold, a fascinating documentary that unearths the extraordinary life and legacy of agribusiness pioneer A.E. Staley. At the turn of the 20th century, Staley revolutionized the corn and soybean industries, turning his namesake company into a powerhouse that helped shape modern agriculture....

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon sits down with award-winning filmmaker Yuval Adler to talk about his latest psychological thriller, Sympathy for the Devil. Starring Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman, the film kicks off with a chilling yet straightforward premise: a man is forced at gunpoint to drive a mysterious passenger, but what unfolds is a tense, mind-bending journey where nothing i...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon sits down with writer-director Franklin Ritch to discuss his thought-provoking and emotionally resonant sci-fi thriller The Artifice Girl. The film tells the story of a team of investigators who develop a highly advanced AI designed to lure and trap online predators, only to discover that their creation may be far more self-aware than they ever imagined...

Stephen Woolley has never shied away from provocative stories or complex characters. The award-winning producer behind The Crying Game and Interview with the Vampire has built a career on bringing bold, emotionally charged narratives to the screen. In 2005, Woolley came Center Stage with Mark Gordon to discuss his latest project at the time—Stoned, a film that dives into the turbulent life and mys...

Known for his sharp edge and darker thrills in films like Piranha 3D, Sorority Row, and the Saw franchise entries Jigsaw and Spiral, screenwriter and director Josh Stolberg made an unexpected pivot in 2011 with Conception—a romantic comedy that trades gore for giggles and explores the emotional, awkward, and often hilarious journey of making a baby. In this interview, Stolberg stops by the studio...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon talks with health advocate and filmmaker Joe Cross, the driving force behind the inspiring documentary Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead. In the film, Cross takes us on a deeply personal journey—from battling a debilitating autoimmune disease and obesity to reclaiming his health through the simple yet powerful act of juicing. Armed with a video camera, a juicer,...

Few entertainers wear as many hats—or voices—as Harry Shearer. Emmy-winning actor, writer, musician, and master of political satire, Shearer has carved out a one-of-a-kind career spanning decades of comedy, commentary, and cultural critique. Known to millions as the voice behind some of The Simpsons’ most iconic characters, and to cult film fans as the bassist of This is Spinal Tap, Shearer’s tale...

Behind the Camera with Mel Stuart: From Willy Wonka to Wattstax Mel Stuart may not be a household name, but his work has left an indelible mark on generations of film lovers. In this rare and insightful interview, the legendary director reflects on his time bringing Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory to life—sharing stories about Gene Wilder’s iconic performance, the challenges of turning a whims...

What starts as a thrill-seeking road trip quickly descends into a chilling nightmare in The Houses October Built, the found footage horror film that blurs the line between documentary realism and pure terror. Filmmakers Zack Andrews and Bobby Roe take audiences deep into the world of underground haunted houses—where the fear is real, and the danger might be too. In this episode, we go Center Stage...

On this episode of Center Stage, Mark Gordon revisits a conversation with the remarkably gifted Hope Davis—an actress whose intelligence, emotional depth, and quiet strength have made her one of the most consistently compelling performers of her generation. In 1996, she was gaining attention for her standout role in the indie gem The Daytrippers, a film that showcased her natural ability to ground...

Just days before Life of Pi would go on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Original Score, I had the chance to sit down with legendary re-recording mixer Doug Hemphill—one of the quiet forces behind the film’s immersive sonic landscape. From his early days working with Francis Ford Coppola on Apocalypse Now to capturing the surreal sound of tigers and storms in Life of Pi...

On this episode of Center Stage, I’m joined by spiritual seeker, teacher, and filmmaker Raghu Markus to discuss his deeply moving documentary Brilliant Disguise: The Samadhi of K.C. Tewari. In the late 1960s, Raghu embarked on a journey to India, driven by a yearning for something beyond the material world—a deeper truth and a spiritual awakening. What he found was not only a path, but a profound...

Jim Bernfield talks about making the documentary Me To Play which follows Dan Moran and Chris Jones, New York actors who live with Parkinson’s disease — a disease that affects all the elements essential to their craft. They get together to do a one-night performance of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame, which may be the performance of a lifetime.