We were looking to document the dominant urge for self-expression and identity formation that is such an integral part of the college experience. While looking at Stanford Spoken Word Collective pieces, we came across Tucker Bryant’s “Oreo” and felt it was a poignant voice for the journey we were trying to capture.
In filming we watched him perform “Oreo” for different audiences; inner city youth, Stanford students, and his fellow poets. Everyone loves his poetry and strongly connects with his message. The poetry doesn’t stop when he’s off stage — he’s a poet in casual conversation as well, which made for entertaining interviews. He’s also a great performer. We often had to do multiple takes of stylized shots and poem deliveries, and each time he delivered the same intensity and genuineness — which made for fantastic footage.
Video courtesy of Noam Rosenthal and Shaine Meulmester
