Inteview By | Eric Thompson
Journalist @ Enspirers News Network.
Omar Parker has spent the last decade building a reputation as one of the most creative voices on the internet. With millions of followers across platforms, several YouTube play buttons, and official selections at both Cannes and Sundance under his belt, he’s now making the leap into feature filmmaking. His debut project, The Prince, the Sister & the Serpent, is a dark fantasy epic based on a little-known myth from ancient Greek lore. The story of Cadmus, the Phoenician prince who went searching for his sister and unwittingly helped found the city of Thebes.
A blend of horror, adventure, comedy, and mythology, the film promises to be one of the most genre-bending indie debuts of the year. We sat down with Parker to talk about the myth that inspired him, his background, and what life has been like abroad while prepping for this ambitious project.
1. What drew you to the Cadmus myth?
Honestly, it was the fact that almost no one I know had ever heard of it—at least not in the States. When you look at mythology in pop culture, it’s usually the big, familiar stories, The Iliad, The Odyssey, Clash of the Titans, the kind of stuff that’s already been done really well with A-list talent. With a lesser-known myth like Cadmus, there’s a lot more freedom. You’re not competing with five existing versions of the same story. You get to really make it your own. And when I realized this myth included Phoenicians, serpents, oracles, and ancient gods, it just felt cinematic right away.
2. You’re incredibly accomplished for only being 27. Millions of social media followers, Cannes and Sundance official selections, you have a plaque at the Texas Theatre, and now your first directorial feature debut. Was there anything in your background that really helped get you here?
Yeah, I’d say my education played a huge role. My parents really invested in it. They homeschooled me for a while, sent me to a private Catholic school called St. Mary’s Academy, and made sure I was doing SAT prep and extracurriculars early on. It wasn’t always fun at the time, but looking back, they gave me every tool I needed to succeed. I think that early structure helped me become the kind of person who sets big goals and actually follows through.
3. St. Mary’s Academy? Are you Catholic? Very cool.
Yeah, I was raised Catholic. I’m definitely not the most devout member of my family, but if I had to check a box, that’s the one I’d check. My mom’s side is Lebanese Christian, and my dad’s side is Irish, so you can imagine what that was like. That’s part of why visiting the Vatican and Malta this summer felt so personal. They weren’t just stops on a map; they felt like pilgrimages in a way. Really grounding experiences.
4. You mention your travels. What has it been like to be out of the States all summer? Favorite and least favorite part?
It’s been wild, in the best way. Travel really broadens your perspective, you get to see how other people live, experience different ways of thinking, eating, even just being. I think my favorite thing so far has been the food. Especially in Greece. The fruits, the vegetables, the fresh-squeezed orange juice, it all just tastes better. You can feel how local and fresh it is. Least favorite? Definitely the airlines. Flying in Europe is like taking a bus. Smaller planes, no AC half the time, they barely clean anything, and for some reason they love making you take a bus to your plane parked 200 yards away. That part’s been… less inspiring. But overall? I’ve loved it. It’s been a transformative summer.
5. I’ve seen your wife in a lot of your travel content. How did you two meet?
We actually met in college. I was a junior, she was a sophomore. I was her TA for a television production class and we just started talking. One thing led to another and we’ve been together ever since. We just celebrated our three-year wedding anniversary, and this October will mark eight years as a couple. Our first date was Blade Runner 2049, so you could say film and TV have always been part of our story. She’s been an amazing partner through all of this, especially with the travel and the prep for the film. Couldn’t do it without her.
Thanks so much to Omar Parker for taking the time to speak with us. We’ll be keeping a close eye on The Prince, the Sister & the Serpent in the coming months as production ramps up, and we can’t wait to see what this bold new director brings to the screen.
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