Creative Cypher is an entertainment ecosystem founded by Troy Pryor.

Established as a dynamic collective of 30 Black storytellers in Chicago, Creative Cypher has grown into a global network storytellers. Its mission is to “eliminate the need for permission” by producing, consulting, and operating a diverse portfolio of media and entertainment ventures. The organization serves as a resource bank for visionaries, fostering organic collaboration among hundreds of diverse creators and providing access to industry professionals who guide and empower independent artists.

MEET THE TEAM

TROY PRYOR

FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN

Troy Osborne Pryor is a 2x Emmy-nominated, NAACP Image nominee, 4x Telly Award–winning creator, producer, and radio host who has spent nearly two decades not just working in entertainment—but reshaping it. A dynamic performer both on screen and behind the scenes, Pryor is known for his ability to connect with diverse audiences and translate stories across mediums. As a visionary strategist and storyteller, he has built a legacy rooted in access, authenticity, and bold innovation.

cindy beasley

PRESIDENT

With over a decade of experience, Cindy Beasley is a media producer, business leader, and cultural curator hailing from the south side of Chicago. As a multi-format strategist, Cindy spearheads projects for some of the city’s most inventive organizations. Cindy drives Creative Cypher’s strategic initiatives and operational direction with clarity, vision and deep industry insight. Known for her ability to build systems, empower teams and elevate emerging creative leaders, Cindy leads with a presence that makes the process equally as powerful as the product - ultimately developing sustainable infrastructure and expanding Creative Cypher’s national and global presence.

KYLE MARSHALL

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Kyle Marshall oversees the operational engine that powers Creative Cypher’s productions, film festivals and creative ventures. Kyle brings a strategic, solutions-focused approach to organizational management ensuring that all systems, workflows and internal teams operate efficiently and in alignment with Creative Cypher’s mission. He bridges vision with execution, supports cross-department coordination, and drives operational excellence across all major initiatives.

STARR GADSON

CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER

As CMO, Starr Gadson shapes the brand identity, public narrative and marketing vision for Creative Cypher. A dynamic leader in strategic communications, marketing psychology and event productions, Starr oversees all marketing, press, digital storytelling, events and brand engagement initiatives. Her leadership amplifies the company’s mission, expands audience reach and ensures Creative Cypher’s projects are positioned with excellence, cultural relevance and measurable impact.

Mike Abrantie

HEAD of CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

Mike Abrantie is an accomplished Ghanaian-American Filmmaker, EP, Visual Artist, DJ, and Philanthropist, from the Southside of Chicago, a true multi-hyphenate. He’s the Co - Founder of hybrid creative production company "Out The Box Creative Group" as well as Head of Development for the entertainment ecosystem "Creative Cypher". Having grown up on the South side of Chicago to immigrant parents, he honed in on his creative abilities early, utilizing his unique cultural worldviews as a motivational backdrop informing his creative lens. Being an international storyteller his impact can be felt with his contributions in the documentary space, award winning short films, digital series, music videos, and more.

Cambren Grimmett

HEAD of EVENT PRODUCTION

Cambren Grimmett is an event producer, strategist, and founder of The Elan Agency, a Chicago based special events and experiential production agency. She has produced conferences, festivals, brand activations, and private events for clients and partners including Neiman Marcus, Nike, Stone Island, Sir Davis, Bacardi, and emerging cultural brands.

Brandon Pope

HEAD of CYPHER NEWSROOM

Brandon Pope is an Emmy-Winning multimedia journalist, TV personality, podcaster, film critic and columnist, with experience covering a range of topics from entertainment to politics to sports. His work has been featured on numerous local and national platforms, including Entertainment Tonight, Ebony Magazine, The Root, Block Club Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times. Brandon is host of the MAKING podcast series from WBEZ and NPR. He is president of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Where he focuses on powering the next generation of journalists and storytellers.

VEEE HARRSION

HEAD of MEDIA RELATIONS

Veronica (Vee) Harrison is an award-winning journalist from Chicago’s West Side. Her work appears in publications across the entire nation, covering and highlighting Black culture and Black narratives. Harrison is a local and international change agent, an influencer setting the stage for new voices in Black media and communications. During the course of her career as a journalist, she battled social structure through the lens of a Black woman raised in Austin, Chicago’s largest, poorest community on the city’s West Side in the 1990s.

LaTaryion Perry

SENIOR CREATIVE PRODUCER

LaTaryion Perry is a sought-after model, actor, producer, stuntman and director which has been hired because of his creative brilliance to work for multiple networks and production companies such as Showtime, Comedy Central, HBO Max, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Fox and the list continues on as this 25-year-old continues to tackle the entertainment industry head on!

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