Keith “Sneak” Daniels has always had a burning passion for film. From watching Spike Lee movies late into the night as a young kid to developing a deep admiration for the epic vision of Akira Kurosawa, Daniels has been continually inspired by the magic of storytelling through film.
A Tulsa native, Daniels followed his high school education at Booker T. Washington with a college career at The University of Tulsa where he majored in theatre and minored in film studies. At first, Daniels was convinced that the actor’s path was his to take. During his junior year, however, Daniels’ mindset shifted. “I began to feel the limitations of acting and discovered that I wanted to put myself in a position to hire Black actors and work with Black creatives,” he said. This decision inspired Daniels to try his hand at directing and writing to create productions that were uniquely his.
Creativity abounds
After graduating in 2015, Daniels moved to Seattle and practiced his craft by producing a few low-budget independent films. “It was a part of my learning process,” Daniels said. He returned home in 2019 and began documenting Tulsa’s hip-hop scene. This connection led to his participation in the production of Fire in Little Africa, a project to commemorate the 1921 race massacre in Tulsa’s Greenwood neighborhood.
The collective of Black artists working on the project — 50, to be exact — eventually signed with Motown records. “I got to participate on the music side and the documentary side,” Daniels remarked. “It’s been featured in 10 film festivals so far and is still going strong. My involvement in Fire in Little Africa gave me the ability to secure funding for my own projects. I ended up raising $40,000 for my latest film, Enlighten.”
Enlighten recently completed the post-production phase and is now being entered into film festivals. Daniels was the writer, director and producer of the film, which involves a married couple on the brink of divorce. “They reach a state of enlightenment that reawakens their relationship … while preparing for a zombie invasion,” Daniels said. The story combines multiple genres — horror, drama, romance — but mainly centers around the conflict between the husband and wife. Daniels was able to cast incredible actors based out of Atlanta for his project. Want to see it for yourself? Enlighten will be showing at Bare Bones International Independent Film & Music Festival April 29th at 5:05 pm at Roxy Theater in Muskogee, OK.
Now, Daniels is working on an educational and entertaining documentary. Currently in the pre-production phase, Fighting More than Fires will focus on the history of Tulsa’s Black firefighters. The documentary seeks to trace the history that began in 1956 with Tulsa’s original six Black firefighters up to those who serve and protect their community in the present. Daniels will follow a handful of firefighters and document a day in their lives. “My goal is to raise anywhere from $100,000 to $200,000 for this project,” said Daniels, who hopes to begin filming in summer 2024. Daniels has also connected with the first Black female firefighter of the Tulsa Fire Department, Cledella Evans-Stearns, who joined the department in 2001, to be a part of his project.
Room to improve
Dissatisfaction with their work seems to be the fate of many artists who take their craft seriously. However, Daniels sees this as more of a blessing than a curse. It indicates that he is willing to improve wherever he can. “I take immense pride in my creations, but I see the mistakes. I see the imperfections, and I know where I could improve,” he said. “I accept that I am talented and that there is still so much I don’t know.”
Daniels’ advice for students hoping to try their hand at filmmaking is crucial: “Make friends and make films for each other, even if it’s for nothing. You have to start somewhere, and it might not be perfect or even good, but if you keep practicing you will see your work increase in quality.”
Additionally, Daniels expressed the importance of creating art that involves emotional connection. “If you’re bringing an entire crew together to make a film, let it be something that sparks inspiration. Those are the films that go far.”
Most importantly, Daniels urges burgeoning filmmakers to keep shooting. “Shoot anything, bad or good, as much as you can,” he said, “As you get more confident, select your shots better. Make sure your project vision is clear, and find ways to involve your community. Allow your creations to spark inspiration.”
Father, expressionist, creative: Daniels contains multitudes. He maintains that no matter what, he is always learning and growing, allowing himself to evolve: “I’m still discovering new ways to express myself and be creative in film and writing. I am a student of the craft.”
Do you have a creative vision for moviemaking? Join the Department of Film Studies to hone in on your abilities. You never know where it could take you!