The Spiritual Advisor: A Documentary About Death Row's Radical Reverend

Producer James Chase Sanchez regularly receives pitches from individuals who believe their stories deserve documentary treatment. However, when Reverend Jeff Hood—a spiritual advisor who provides guidance to death row inmates—contacted him via Facebook, the proposal warranted serious consideration. "He reached out through a direct message to inquire about our interest in creating a documentary about his work," explains Sanchez of Texas-based Pound of Snow Productions. "While many people approach us claiming their work merits documentary coverage, Jeff's situation was different. He genuinely believes in the importance of his mission and wants to share that perspective with audiences."

This initial contact led to the creation of The Spiritual Advisor, a short documentary produced in collaboration with Rolling Stone Films and Documentary+ that chronicles Hood's five-day journey from Arkansas to McAlester, Oklahoma. The film documents his efforts to prevent the execution of Emmanuel Littlejohn, a death row inmate whose case raised questions about guilt. Despite the state Pardon and Parole Board's clemency recommendation, Governor Kevin Stitt had not yet issued a stay for Littlejohn's scheduled September 26, 2024 execution. The documentary captures Hood's advocacy efforts, including appeals to local government officials, organizing protests, and providing comfort to the condemned man's family. The 23-minute film presents an intense examination of one man's commitment to a challenging calling.

From Baptist Minister to Death Row Advocate

The documentary, directed by Sanchez's partner Joel Fendelman and now available on Rolling Stone's YouTube platform and Documentary+, was produced alongside a March 2025 feature article about Hood titled The Last Face Death Row Inmates See. Hood gained national attention following his presence at the execution of Kenneth Smith, an Alabama death row prisoner who became the first individual executed using nitrogen gas. Hood remained with Smith throughout the untested procedure, despite the potential risk to his own safety if the gas had leaked. While Hood emerged physically unharmed, he was profoundly affected by witnessing the prolonged death of someone he considered a friend.

Sanchez and Fendelman previously collaborated with Hood on the 2018 documentary Man on Fire, which examined the story of Charles Moore, a Texas pastor who self-immolated in 2014 as a protest against racism. Hood appeared in that film, advocating that the pastor's death should not be dismissed as meaningless. "I found Jeff to be quite puzzling initially; he struck me as particularly radical within the Texas context," Sanchez reflects. "He challenges conventional thinking. I admit to feeling somewhat intimidated by Jeff at first, but eventually came to appreciate and admire his distinctive personality and presence."

Filming in Shades of Gray

While the filmmakers maintained contact with Hood, they began noticing his increased visibility on social media platforms, particularly his discussions about Smith's execution. They were already considering reaching out when Hood's message arrived. Despite their previous work with Hood, the documentary team had limited knowledge about capital punishment practices. "Like most people, the death penalty was something that existed in the abstract for me," Fendelman observes. "Spending those five days in Oklahoma with Jeff leading up to the execution proved profoundly moving. I continue to contemplate the fundamental questions Jeff raises about whether society has the right to take a life."

The decision to film in black and white reflected this moral complexity. "The visual approach emphasizes various shades of gray," Sanchez explains, "because the subject matter isn't as clearly defined as state authorities would have the public believe."

A Radical Transformation

During production, Sanchez and Fendelman gained insight into Hood's personal history and spiritual evolution. They learned about his upbringing in a highly religious Georgia household and his ordination as a Southern Baptist minister at age 22. A pivotal moment came when his mentor revealed his homosexuality, fundamentally altering Hood's worldview. "I describe it as the moment when the queer Jesus saved my soul," Hood explained. "Something within me underwent a complete transformation. It felt like a true salvation—from narrow-minded thinking and the tendency to categorize people according to my own limited understanding of who they should be."

This transformation redirected Hood toward progressive activism, including advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, the Black Lives Matter movement, and ultimately, his work as a spiritual advisor to death row inmates. He began counseling condemned prisoners in 2011 and formally became a spiritual advisor in 2022, following a Supreme Court ruling that permitted such individuals to accompany inmates into the execution chamber.