Today we’d like to introduce you to Troy Pryor.
Hi Troy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m very grateful to come from a family deeply rooted in the Church. This not only prepared me to be on stage, it showed me how to lead, but more importantly gave me a sense of purpose. No matter what I do, I understand there’s a greater purpose for it all. The other massive component of my foundation is sports. I played four sports in high school, played in other leagues, and the chess team. I then played two sports at the University of Illinois; linebacker for the Illini and broke the start deadlifting record as a teenager for the Powerlifting team. Sports taught me discipline, focus, time management, how to work with diverse people, and how to learn on the fly. Injuries took their toll and I’ve had to learn how to walk three times but fighting through that adversity mixed with everything else gave me the skills that I use today.
I was blessed with the opportunity to join the entertainment industry as a talent in voiceover, on camera, and stage. I actually got my start in ATL as an extra on a Tyler Perry project. Eventually, I knew that I could make a greater impact by evolving as an executive. Over the past nine years, I’ve focused on creating models and programs to support BIPOC creatives and I’m grateful to see the impact. Now I’ve pivoted to focus most of my energy towards my career as an Executive Producer and speaker while leveraging the Creative Cypher ecosystem that I’ve built.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was and still has great challenges. I’ve had to learn so much about this game on my own and there are certainly times when I wish I had a mentor starting out. However, I’m grateful for the experiences because it’s forced me to become extremely resourceful, observant, and precise. Having to overcome the strikes against you can be tough. As a person of color, there are the obvious challenges that we will continue to combat. As an emerging artist, you can also be ostracized for not having a “real job”. Many folks don’t even take you seriously until they see you on the screen or in some type of superficial way. It can be like talking to a brick wall when explaining your goals and that can drain you. Eventually, you have to trust your instincts and understand there will always be people that don’t get it. Just stay focused. Then of course, there is the challenge of perfecting your craft itself. One of the things I miss about sports was the support system that helped prevent distractions. Folks knew the priority, so there was honest effort from the system to eliminate things that could slow you down. There is a difference between support and a support system. Suport can be a pat on the back , positive words, or even money sometimes. A support system means all of the moving parts are working together and aligned to ensure the main goal is achieved. It’s vitally important to have or build that system to be sustainable.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My official title may range from Executive producer, media producer to consultant. I’m an advocate for connecting diverse talent to mainstream media platforms through my entertainment brand Creative Cypher. My superpower is my ability to connect people and connect with people. This could be from a stage or 1 on 1. I’m often tapped to broker relationships, deals, and help ensure ideas become reality. It’s been amazing to see so many creatives benefit from the models we’ve built, gain exposure from the platforms, and produce viable content distributed in a variety of ways.
I was the youngest person ever to be elected to SAG-AFTRA Chicago’s Board of Directors and was a mentor for President Barack Obama’s White House project, A Call to Arts with SAG-AFTRA. After that, I was requested to join a multitude of boards and councils which gave me access that I was in turn able to leverage when helping others grow. I can recall memorizing union contracts to learn how to better protect myself as a talent, then using that same info to help ensure projects were fair for performers. Now with my brand Creative Cypher and our Film XLerator program expanding from Chicago to ATL, I’m excited for the future. The XLerator has become a dope way to discover new talent and create content pipeline for platforms.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I used to co-chair the New Media committee for SAG-AFTRA Chicago, so we knew digital would take over. There will be more and more of this. More streaming, more short-form content, and mobile tools. VR is going to be huge as well. We may actually enter the Matrix.
Contact Info:
- Website: TroyPryor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troyopryor/
