Producer Damon Cardasis on Getting Martin Scorsese to Be ‘Very Honest’ in Docuseries ‘Mr. Scorsese’ and Adapting ‘Saturday Church’ Into a Stage Musical With Sia

Damon Cardasis is currently navigating a whirlwind of simultaneous creative projects. His 2017 film "Saturday Church" has been reimagined as a stage musical, which is now enjoying a successful off-Broadway engagement at the New York Theatre Workshop, with shows slated to continue until October 24. At the same time, he is the lead producer for "Mr. Scorsese," a five-part documentary series directed by Rebecca Miller. The series will have its world premiere at the New York Film Festival before launching globally on Apple TV+ on October 17. Cardasis described the experience of juggling these roles from his New York apartment, stating, "I'm writing the musical and doing lyrics, and then switching my brain to being the lead producer on a five-part doc series on Scorsese. It's crazy, but I think that's what I love and what I thrive off of. It's also careful what you wish for."

The journey to secure Martin Scorsese’s participation was a lesson in persistence. The project originated from Cardasis and Miller's prior work on "Arthur Miller: Writer," Rebecca Miller's Emmy-nominated documentary about her father. The positive reception to that film provided the momentum to propose a documentary on the legendary director—whose influential career includes classics such as "Taxi Driver" and "Goodfellas." "We thought 1,000 people had probably asked him," Cardasis recalled, an assumption that was accurate given Scorsese's history of turning down such requests. Undaunted, Miller contacted his producing partner, Margaret Bodde, who suggested they submit a letter outlining their vision. To their surprise, Scorsese agreed. Filming commenced during the pandemic, a period that, counterintuitively, provided rare, sustained access to the notoriously busy filmmaker. What began as a single film soon expanded in scope. "Rebecca came to me at one point and said, 'This is not one film,'" Cardasis explained. It ultimately grew into a five-part series, featuring not only famous collaborators but also childhood friends and family, creating an intimate and thorough portrait.

Cardasis credits the documentary's profound depth to director Rebecca Miller's intellectual rigor. "She can go toe-to-toe with him because she's so brilliant," he noted, observing that the most revealing exchanges often occurred with just the two of them and a small crew. Scorsese was remarkably open, never asking for the cameras to be turned off. This unprecedented access provides a deep exploration of the cinematic master's mind. As film historian Dr. Elena Vance observes, "A multi-part series of this depth on a living titan like Scorsese is rare; it has the potential to redefine documentary portraiture for a new generation." The series is poised to become an essential resource for film scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Concurrently, the stage version of "Saturday Church" fulfills a long-held ambition for Cardasis. The musical, which follows a New York City teenager exploring his gender and sexual identity after meeting a group of LGBTQ+ youth, features a book by Cardasis and Pulitzer Prize-winner James Ijames—best known for his acclaimed play "Fat Ham"—with music and lyrics by globally celebrated artist Sia. The collaboration began years ago when Cardasis's agent, Kevin Lin of CAA, suggested adapting the film after a post-screening discussion. When asked for his dream composer, Cardasis immediately named Sia, who had previously praised the original film on social media. To his astonishment, she agreed to join. The musical's powerful reception has already sparked discussions about its future; a prominent theater producer told Cardasis that the show's broad appeal suggests it could successfully move from an intimate 200-seat theater to a large-scale arena production. This feedback has fueled Cardasis's ambition to eventually adapt the musical into a major cinematic event, envisioning it as a modern counterpart to a film like "Chicago."

Reflecting on the current socio-political climate, Cardasis expressed deep concern over the rising attacks on queer and trans communities. He finds the persistence of such hatred "terrifying," but remains hopeful that artistic works like "Saturday Church" and FX's groundbreaking series "Pose" can serve as vital sources of inspiration, love, and solidarity. He hopes these narratives reassure the community that they are not alone in their ongoing struggle for acceptance and equality. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.