Mark Gordon VRP
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Gordon
IMDBPro: https://pro-labs.imdb.com/name/nm0330428/
Mark R. Gordon (born October 10, 1956; age 57) is an American television and film producer. He is the President of the Producers Guild of America. He’s known for Criminal Minds (2005), Grey’s Anatomy (2005), Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Source Code (2011).
Gordon was born in Newport News, Virginia. He is a graduate of the New York University Film School. He married in 1997 with Karen Villeneuve, a Canadian social entrepreneur and former model. The couple however divorced in 2003. Together they have two daughters, aged 10 and 12. On June 18, 2011, his ex-wife married Diana, Princess of Wales’s brother Charles Spencer, 9th Earl Spencer. She gave birth to his seventh child in July 2012. Mark married Sally Whitehill in December 2011.
Gordon’s first producing effort was the Off-Broadway production of The Buddy System at Circle in the Square downtown. Over the years, he has produced 68 movies since How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days (1988) and 29 TV projects (the first one’s a TV comedy series Good Time Harry (1983), created by Steve Gordon, 1938-1982), and is currently working on 32 movie projects.
Gordon owns the Mark Gordon Company, and was a partner in Mutual Film Company with Gary Levinsohn.
Representative:
Craig Jacobson
+1 310 248 3101 phone
cj@hjth.com
The Mark Gordon Company / Mark Gordon Productions
+1 310 943 6401 phone
+1 310 943 6402 fax
12200 W Olympic Blvd
Ste 250
Los Angeles, CA 90064
The Mark Gordon Company (also known as Mark Gordon Productions) has been producing Mark Gordon’s movie and TV projects since 2005. Productions include Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Source Code, and upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.
Staff:
Mark Gordon Principal / Producer
Brian Harvey SVP TV (Executive)
Nicholas Pepper Head, TV Drama (Executive)
Shara Senderoff VP, New Media (Executive)
Drew Simon Director of Development (Executive)
Sara Smith Creative Executive (Executive)
Personal Quotes:
And the older I get, the less the idea of failure has any meaning. Just because something doesn’t work, doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Up until about 10 years ago, I was very caught up in outcome. I wanted to be a member of the Big Hit Club, and then I wanted to stay a member of the Big Hit Club. So instead of enjoying, or even noticing the process, I was always racing ahead to see what would happen next.
The 2010 Produced By Conference in Los Angeles, California: At the every least, the conference should help give producers an attitude adjustment. ‘It’s how does one turn lemons into lemonade.’ Take the renewed focus on sequels and remakes. ‘It’s frankly a little depressing for everyone because most people have a passion for storytelling and don’t want to rehash the same thing over and over again.’ That’s the reality of the business right now.’ You can either say ‘This is not interesting for me’ and go play somewhere else. Or you can figure out a way to deliver what studios want while developing passion projects independently.
In the Media:
Showtime Ripped Off ‘Ray Donovan’ Concept, Screenwriter’s Lawsuit Claims
2/14/2014 | Deadline.com
http://www.deadline.com/2014/02/showtime-ray-donovan-breach-of-implied-contract-lawsuit/
Somebody wants a piece of Showtime’s Ray Donovan. Specifically that someone is one Brian Larsen, who is claiming that the premium channel lifted his idea to create the hit Hollywood-fixer series starring Liev Schreiber. Southland creator Ann Biderman is credited with coming up with Donovan and is an EP on the Mark Gordon Company show. Not so, says Larsen, though neither Binderman nor Gordon is named as a defendant. In an 11-page breach of implied contract and breach of confidence complaint filed February 13 in L.A. Superior Court (read it here), the seemingly creditless Larsen and his Radical Pictures LLC says Donovan “mimics” his 2009 fixer concept The Swissman. Touting that the series has “enriched Defendants to the tune of millions of dollars,” Larsen wants Donovan stopped via an injunction and is seeking wide ranging but unspecified damages of more than $25,000.
‘Happy Endings’ EP Set as Showrunner on NBC’s Mark Gordon Comedy ‘Fifth Wheel’ (Exclusive)
2/11/2014 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/happy-endings-ep-set-as-679215
The ensemble comedy centers on a young woman who confronts her new reality after her last single friend gets engaged. YouTube duo Heidi Niedermeyer and Elena Crevello (Shit People Say in L.A.) will pen the script and serve as supervising producers. The multicamera comedy hails from ABC Studios and The Mark Gordon Co., with Gordon and Andrea Shay, who launched the comedy division four years ago, on board to executive produce. Groff, whose credits include How I Met Your Mother and Scrubs, also will serve as showrunner on the comedy.
PGA Awards: Hawk Koch and Mark Gordon on Making a Mark for the Industry
1/17/2014 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/pga-awards-hawk-koch-mark-670765
The guild’s co-presidents talk to THR about their biggest accomplishment, how their show has changed and what’s next for the guild.
Since June 2010, Mark Gordon and Hawk Koch have served as co-presidents of the Producers Guild of America. (Hawk took a leave of absence in 2012 to serve a one-year term as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.) With their tenure as head of the trade group that represents the interests of film and TV producers ending this summer, they took a moment to look back at the growth of the guild, which is approaching 6,000 members.
ABC Orders Mark Gordon-Produced Pilot ‘Clementine’
1/16/2014 | The Wrap
http://www.thewrap.com/abc-orders-mark-gordon-produced-pilot-clementine/
Drama project revolves around a habitual criminal who’s hounded by zealots who fear that she possesses supernatural abilities
ABC is getting deeper into the Mark Gordon business.
The network has ordered a pilot for the drama “Clementine,” which “Grey’s Anatomy” producer Gordon is executive producing.
The pilot, from 2004 “The Manchurian Candidate” writer Dean Georgaris, revolves around a habitual criminal who digs into the mystery of her origins after she becomes the target of a group of zealots who fear she possesses latent supernatural abilities that she will one day harness for either profound good or monstrous evil.
The Mark Gordon Co. is attached to executive produce. Nicholas Pepper and Ilene Staple are also executive producing.
Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg, Mark Gordon to Remake ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ for Fox
12/12/2013 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ridley-scott-simon-kinberg-remake-665493
The studio has picked up the screen rights to the classic Agatha Christie murder-mystery book Murder on the Orient Express that was made into a 1974 Oscar-nominated hit, and has set powerhouse producers Ridley Scott, Simon Kinberg and Mark Gordon to produce, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
… Gordon just announced he was developing a new Narnia movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair.
Jason Isaacs, Mark Gordon Sell Private Eye Drama to ABC (Exclusive)
10/30/2013 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jason-isaacs-mark-gordon-sell-651812
The drama project is being developed for Isaacs, a Golden Globe nominee, with Stephen Chin on board to write it. The former Awake star was integral in the development and sale of the ABC Studios project and will serve as a producer working closely with The Mark Gordon Company, which has an overall deal at ABC. Gordon and Nick Pepper will serve as executive producers.
The sale marks the ninth for Gordon this season, with a diverse development slate that includes four comedies (Fifth Wheel, Clothing Optional, After Party and Benched) and four dramas (Conviction, Clementine, Untitled Price & MIllard and Untitled Tom Donaghy). His series portfolio includes ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Showtime’s Ray Donovan, among others.
Mark Gordon, ‘Shit People Say in L.A.’ Duo Set Up Comedy at NBC
10/11/2013 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mark-gordon-shit-people-say-647345
Mark Gordon has set up his latest project this development season.
The prolific producer (Grey’s Anatomy, Ray Donovan) has set up comedy Fifth Wheel at NBC, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The comedy hails from viral video “Shit People Say in L.A.” duo Heidi Niedermeyer and Elena Crevello and is described as a 20-something ensemble show about a girl learning to deal with being the only single person in her group of friends.
Niedermeyer and Crevello will pen the script, with Gordon and Andrea Shay exec producing for ABC Studios-based The Mark Gordon Co.
The duo, via their YouTube channel, The Trashy Class, has made a series of viral sketch videos including “The Ghost of KCRW” and “Shit People Say In L.A.,” the latter of which has more than 2 million streams. In a 2012 LAist interview, the duo explained that they met in high school at a summer theater camp and remained friends while studying in New York, often performing off-Broadway and in improv clubs. Niedermeyer has appeared on Rules of Engagement and multiple College Humor videos.
For Gordon, this marks his seventh sale this development season, joining family drama Conviction, from Aaron Stockard (ABC); a detective drama from Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard (ABC); an adult ensemble comedy, The After Party (ABC); and Fox’s Clothing Optional, the latter two from writer Scott King.
Hawk Koch Resumes Duties as PGA President Alongside Mark Gordon
8/5/2013 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hawk-koch-resumes-duties-as-599627
The PGA recently announced that all six major studios have signed on to implement the Producers Mark certification, indicated by the letters “p.g.a.” following a motion picture’s “Produced By” credit. The Producers Mark is the result of a long campaign led by Gordon and Koch to develop and launch a vetting process that clearly certifies who did the majority of the producing work on a film while also establishing an authentic seal of approval.
Mark Gordon, ABC Studios Prep Time-Travel Drama
3/26/2013 | The Hollywood Reporter
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/mark-gordon-abc-studios-prep-430970
Mark Gordon is heading into the future.
Through his overall deal at ABC Studios, The Mark Gordon Company has forged a joint venture with Sonar Entertainment to produce Fix It Men, a drama created by John Glenn. Under the terms of the deal, ABC Studios will tackle distribution in North America while Sonar does so for the rest of the world.
Mark Gordon Signs New Deal With ABC Studios, Inks First-Look Pact With Disney
4/7/2011 | Deadline.com
http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/mark-gordon-signs-new-deal-with-abc-studios-inks-first-look-pact-with-disney/
Mark Gordon has renewed his deal with ABC Studios, where he has been for 10 years. Additionally, he has inked a first-look pact with Walt Disney Studios. The four-year Disney deal covers overhead for Gordon’s banner, Mark Gordon Company, on the film and TV side. “I’m so incredibly fortunate to have such a long and successful relationship with ABC Studios,” said Gordon. “I’m especially pleased we were able to expand our partnership into film with a first-look deal with Walt Disney Studios.” Despite Gordon’s long tenure at ABC Studios, I hear he also fielded offers from other studios, and it came down to the wire between ABC Studios and Sony Pictures TV.
Gordon currently has five series on the air for ABC Studios: ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, CBS’ Criminal Minds and Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, as well as Lifetime’s Army Wives. Gordon is currently producing ABC/ABC Studios’ drama pilot Identity, starring Angela Bassett. “Mark is a tremendous talent with a great track record,” said Paul Lee, president of ABC Entertainment Group.
Gordon’s most recent film projects include the just-released Duncan Jones sci-fi thriller Source Code, Roland Emmerich’s 2012, and The Messenger. “Mark is a high-quality producer, and we are very happy to have him as a partner at The Walt Disney Studios,” said Sean Bailey, president, Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production. Gordon’s next film release will be The Details, with Tobey Maguire and Laura Linney, which will be distributed by The Weinstein Company in the fall. Next up for the ICM-repped producer is Desperados, starring Isla Fischer and directed by Betty Thomas for Universal.
Producer Mark Gordon Uses N-Word Twice At TV Pilot Table Read: Lifetime Notifies ABC Studios “This Needs To Be Dealt With”
8/11/2011 | Deadline.com
http://www.deadline.com/2010/08/producer-mark-gordon-uses-n-word-twice-at-tv-pilot-table-read-lifetime-notifies-abc-studios-this-needs-to-be-dealt-with/
EXCLUSIVE: I’ve learned that Lifetime formally notified Disney’s ABC Studios that prominent TV and film producer Mark Gordon six weeks ago used the word “nigger” twice during a table read of the pilot for the Army Wives spinoff. He did it in front of cast and crew — including two African-American actresses, pilot lead Gabrielle Union and Army Wives series regular Wendy Davis. “Lifetime took all appropriate steps and notified the studio that this is a situation that needs to be dealt with,” an executive tells me.
‘HE HAS HOLLYWOOD TO RUN’
6/29/2006 | Daily Press – Newport News, Va.
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/dailypress/doc/343383910.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun%2029,%202006&author=Mary%20McNamara%20/%20Los%20Angeles%20Times&pub=Daily%20Press&edition=&startpage=&desc=%27HE%20HAS%20HOLLYWOOD%20TO%20RUN%27%20[Corrected%2006/30/06]
Abstract:
Maybe the best way to describe what Mark Gordon does is “multi- linguist.” Gordon can speak Studio Head but also Screenwriter, he can call shots with the director but also cut to the bottom line with the investor types. Director Roland Emmerich first worked with Gordon on “The Patriot,” and he was impressed with the way Gordon developed the script, so when he had an idea for a post-apocalyptic movie, which turned into “The Day After Tomorrow,” he took it to Gordon.
“I wanted to learn how to be a filmmaker, but unlike everyone else, I really didn’t want to be a director.” After graduating, he came out to Los Angeles, where he did what you do, which is work production assistant jobs. Then a friend convinced him to come back to New York to help produce his play, called “The Buddy System.” He got the financing, worked as the production assistant and even ran the teleprompter. “I had to load it, carry it and run it,” he says. “And that thing was heavy.” The play got terrible reviews, but when the director suggested ending the run, Gordon bristled. He took out an ad in the New York Times suggesting that the critics didn’t know what they were talking about and offering free tickets for two nights to whoever showed up and promised to tell at least two friends about the play. “The Buddy System” ran for one more week and closed. But Gordon was a producer, and that ad hangs on a wall in the offices of the Mark Gordon Co.
Photos (color); Mark Gordon’s successes “Grey’s Anatomy” on NBC Mel Gibson in “The Patriot” “Broken Arrow,” with John Travolta and [Christian Slater] “Saving Private Ryan,” starring Tom Hanks Photo (b&w) Daily Press file Mark Gordon was interviewed by the Daily Press in 1981 while he was visiting the Peninsula on a break from producing in New York.