ACH Spotlight: Sneak The Poet — Documenting Fatherhood
Sneak the Poet is a Tulsa-born, multi-talented artist who writes poems, records songs, and dedicates his time to what he loves most: film-making.
Sneak discovered his love for writing and acting at a young age. Cast in plays during elementary and middle school, he went on to win a State Championship prize in poetry. He acted in productions at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, experiences that cemented his passion for theater and film early on. “I used to write plays for my church,” Sneak shared. “I really started in church. I would direct, act, and write for the Children’s Church.”
It was during his time at the University of Tulsa that Sneak shifted his focus from acting to directing. However, those early experiences as an actor continue to serve him well. “I know how to communicate with my actors. I can speak their language and have the insight to dissect a story. Still, I prefer being behind the camera,” he explained. “I think it’s just a control thing. You have more control over the final product.”
Sneak likened being a director to being a clockmaker: “You can envision all the little mechanics and things that make the whole thing run.”
Whether he’s directing music videos, short films, or documentaries, Sneak wants to be involved in every aspect of production. He has been developing his latest projects through a residency hosted by a collaboration between A Creative House and Tulsa Creative Engine.
“Being in LA is a dream come true,” Sneak said. It’s a city he’d longed to move to since he was younger. After college, he left Tulsa for Seattle, intending it to be a pit stop on the way to Los Angeles. “Seattle was supposed to be temporary,” he said, “but life had other plans.” He eventually returned to Tulsa, where he invested his time in making films and music.
Now, many years later, Sneak has finally made it to the City of Angels for this residency. He feels he arrived at just the right time in his career. “I think I’m mature, focused, and sincere enough with my craft to handle this opportunity.”
In LA, Sneak split his time between developing his photography practice—capturing the vibrant life of the city’s streets—and working on a larger film project.
As a father himself, Sneak began work on a documentary interviewing fathers of color, focusing on Black fatherhood. “I want to tear down the stigma surrounding Black dads while also building a manual for new fathers stepping into this role,” he said.
Through a church he attended in LA, Sneak connected with fathers from various walks of life. “I talked to single dads with three kids, dads whose kids live in another country, and dads who are happily married, with their baby sitting right next to us during the interview,” he recounted.
When we spoke, he had just completed his 10th interview and had plans to do many more. I asked him which piece of advice had resonated with him most during the project. Sneak shared the story of one father who broke down during the interview and said: “No matter what the situation is in fatherhood, you’ve got to be present.”
As a dad and working artist, Sneak’s life is a balancing act between art, family, and faith. “I’m walking that thin line between the projects I want to work on and knowing that family and God come first,” he said.
Both family and faith play a significant role in Sneak’s creative life. “I think all creativity—all art—comes from a higher place. I’m just a vessel, and I let God use me as an instrument.”
While God is vital to his process, Sneak doesn’t shy away from secular work. He joked about a music video he directed before arriving in LA: “It’s definitely not something you’d want to play in a church.”
Though LA has been an incredible experience for him—after all, it’s the film capital of the world—Sneak believes you can make movies anywhere. “I’m just a guy with a camera, an idea, a vision, and the equipment,” he said. “I don’t feel like an Oklahoma filmmaker. I feel like I’m an American filmmaker.”
Keep an eye out for this American filmmaker and his powerful work.