We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Troy Pryor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Troy , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Betting on myself was the biggest risk. People will tell you why things won’t work and give you reasons to stop. In many cases, those fears are rooting in some truth and it can be just enough to take you off course. You have to know who you are and why you are on your path to remain focused on the goal. You have to take the risk on yourself because the regret for not doing that is far too great.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
ABOUT TROY
Troy Osborne Pryor is a media producer and host with the superpower of connecting with wide audiences. Pryor’s directorial debut was on TV One’s Change Agents and his collaborations have led to award-winning content on multiple platforms. Pryor is the founder of Creative Cypher, a portfolio of media brands & investments. He is the founder of the XL Film Festival, Vice President of SAG-AFTRA Chicago, & an advisor to an array of organizations.
A Chicago native, Troy prides himself in being an affluent connector, working with and for the BIPOC creators to amplify their voices. With his extensive experience in theater and film, he quickly discovered the need to connect undiscovered diverse talent to mainstream media platforms. Troy began to create an ecosystem of talent through his entertainment brand Creative Cypher.
A proud alumni and linebacker of University of Illinois (2007), Troy 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.
As a Chicago Scholars 35 Under 35, Ariel Investments/WVON 40 Game Changer, Black Enterprise TCX Fellow, and ADColor nominated Innovator of the Year, Pryor has a tenacity for innovation and big-picture, strategic thinking. Still very much grounded in the values of his church family, he continues to spend his time ministering, mentoring, and coaching as he strives daily to reach his full potential.
BOARDS & TEAMS
OBAMA Foundation
MBK Alliance Team
SAG-AFTRA Chicago
Vice President
Soho House Global Inclusivity
Board Member
Black Arts and Culture Alliance
Board Member
Definition Theater
Artistic Advisory Board
Black Harvest Film Festival
Co-Chair
Chicago Alliance of Film Festivals
Advisory Board
Chicago International Film Festival
Advisor
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
LISTEN. Artists have led society for generations. We should listen and empower more arts in school because it trains your mind to be creative problem solvers.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
Absolutely, but not having that early access forced me to become far more resourceful than my counterparts.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.troypryor.com
- Instagram: @troyopryor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-pryor-9371466/