Meet Elijah Gordon | Director & Producer.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elijah Gordon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elijah, what’s the end goal, career-wise?
I aspire to direct movies and produce television shows. From a young age, my older brother gave me many lessons. Two of the many lessons I’ll never forget: “1) When you’re very critical of something, pursue it. 2) When any of our family members win, we all win.” These words have guided me toward my path as a director. While nurturing a distinct vision for films and immersing myself in a new movie or show each week, I cherish collaboration above everything. Nothing fulfills me more than engaging in collaborative exchanges with actors, cinematographers, and musicians on set. Together, we explore and refine the project’s potential outcomes. As a director, my aim is to bring out the best in everyone involved. Ultimately, I aim to collaborate with both my dream partners and current collaborators. I aspire to pay homage to the great filmmakers who have inspired me, such as Martin Scorsese, Ryan Coogler, Steven Spielberg, and The Safdie Brothers, while infusing my films with the originality and style unique to Elijah Gordon.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m passionate about creating stories that consist of groups of people who have been historically disenfranchised. Instead of focusing solely on trauma, I strive to craft narratives that are universally relatable. While stories addressing racial trauma can be powerful, I don’t believe they should be the sole narrative for marginalized communities. Why is it assumed that if a show features an all-black, Hispanic, indigenous, or Asian-American cast, race must be a central theme? Can’t we have an American show similar to Seinfeld or The Office, but with a predominantly diverse cast? We should continue to create narratives where people from all walks of life can see themselves represented without being confined to stereotypes. With that being said, I additionally love to explore interpersonal dynamics with people and how that impacts their lives and decisions.

I was able to become the artist I am today through the support of a great group, including creative peers, and my own dedication to the craft. While it can be challenging, the more you continue to work on your scripts, get out there and film, release your films, and keep researching and studying movies/TV, honestly any art you want to create will become more and more manageable over time. Being able to learn this and being fortunate to make short films and an independent television pilot called ‘Kokomo’ with my peers have been what I’m proudest about and excited about. By the way, Kokomo should be out on my channel “The Mew Wrld” by June.

I want the world to know that I am a director, producer, writer, and occasional actor who ultimately wants to make movies and television. I’m committed in any way to contribute to a great piece of artistic work. I want to make my dream project come true, as well as my peers’. I believe I love film so much because it has been able to bring my family, friends, and even enemies together. I believe art ties people together in ways that a lot of life doesn’t, which is why art should forever be made!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In New York, I would start the day off exploring and walking around Central Park. I’m aware that’s a cliché answer, but there’s a reason why it is. It’s an enormous park that showcases so much of New York – its people, culture, and history. It’s a place that’s so uniquely New York to me because where else can you be in a forest-like park, with beautiful trees everywhere, and above you, you can see the skyscrapers in Midtown? I’ll give you a biased answer: nowhere.

Afterwards, we would go to Zuckers Bagels to get ourselves some delicious sandwiches from there, with my order being a flatiron. Then, I would proceed to go to the Lincoln Center AMC to watch a movie that is currently out. That’s my favorite AMC branch in the city because the theater has nods to theaters from the 60s and showcases a decent amount of indie movies while also showing mainstream movies. Finally, it offers the options of Dolby Cinema and 70 Millimeter IMAX.

While hopefully discussing a great movie we’d seen, or even how bad it was, we could either go to the MoMA afterwards to see the great new pieces of art and enjoy their relaxing outside area. If that’s not it, then we could proceed to go to Midtown Comics (though Exile Comics is my favorite) and read any comic book or graphic novel available. They have a lot of books available, and the benefit is if you’re a fast reader, you can read yourself a comic!

For dinner, my favorite place is Dim Sum Palace because the dishes and dumplings are phenomenal. The food is fresh, you can have dishes that aren’t insanely expensive, and the service is fantastic. Have you ever had a pan-fried dumpling with fresh vegetable leaks? If not, go to Dim Sum Palace. Then after that, it’s my friends’ call. If they want to watch a sports game, we can head to Legends Bar, my favorite for their staff, and how there are TVs everywhere. Finally, if they want to chill at the house and watch a show or movie, I’m always game. And of course, if they want a quick slice of pizza, I recommend Patsy’s, Nick’s if you’re in the Bronx, and if you’re downtown, Scarr’s.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shout out to my family for supporting my goals and letting me make annoying rants to them about films. I want to thank Corinne Kravetz for letting me be myself and explore the performing arts in high school, which led to me being able to continue it in college. Finally, I want to thank Myles Green for being my Leo/Bob. I can’t wait to keep making films with you!

Website: elijahgordon.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_elijah.gordon_/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijah-gordon-5888a1204/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GsRMVcAVdL33uIUXGfsEw

Image Credits
Mason Woodard. Nina-Simone Crawford.