The Gryphn – Actor. Filmmaker. Storyteller.
“You don’t need everyone to believe in you — just the ones who see your worth and give you a shot.”
Text: VIONNE Magazine | Photography: Michael Truckenbrodt | Actor: The Gryphn
There’s a calm intensity that surrounds The Gryphn — a presence honed by decades of devotion to the stage, shaped by a filmmaker’s eye, and driven by the heart of a storyteller.
Since the age of four, he’s been in love with performance. “I played Superman in preschool,” he recalls. “The applause, the connection — that was my first taste of recognition.” By 14, he had already received a qualification in acting from Trinity College London, followed by formal training at South Africa’s National School of the Arts. What began as childhood play soon turned into a lifelong commitment to his craft.
But The Gryphn’s journey didn’t stop at theatre. His love for cinema led him to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Film in South Africa, and later a Master’s in Germany — opening new doors and forging collaborations with acclaimed creatives such as Christian Zipfel, an alumnus of the Internationale Filmschule Köln GmbH and Filmuniversität Babelsberg, who is currently working on a joint project with The Gryphn, BAFTA nominee Evgeny Kalachikin, and an Academy Award-winning director.
This principle has become the heartbeat of his work — seeking not fame, but impact. Whether he's behind the lens or in front of it, storytelling remains the focus. “Inspiration drives me,” he says. “I want my work to spark something in the audience — to make them reflect, and ideally, grow.”
Raised in South Africa and now based in Europe, The Gryphn weaves global experiences into his narratives. But at the core, it always comes back to the human experience. “We’re not as different as we think,” he notes. “Each story deserves time, care, and the respect of being told properly.”
Theatre vs. Film – Two Stages, One Soul
As someone deeply rooted in both live performance and cinema, The Gryphn understands the nuances of each medium.
“Theatre gives you one shot. Film lets you refine,” he explains. “On stage, you give your all in that moment. On camera, you sculpt the message — take after take — until it resonates.”
Both platforms serve a purpose. But both require the same level of truth.
Sound & Vision
Outside the world of film and acting, The Gryphn also explores music — most recently releasing an album that blends atmospheric textures with introspective themes. While the cover image is a borrowed visual, its placement beside a photograph of nature he captured years ago reflects his evolving aesthetic — quiet, thoughtful, and deeply personal.
“The natural world is beautiful in its untainted state. Why not use the lens to showcase it?”
Together, the imagery and sound form an emotional dialogue — a visual and sonic trailer of the inner world he’s crafted.
What’s Next for The Gryphn?
He’s not telling — not yet.
“Like a trailer only gives you a taste, I want people to stay tuned and watch what I do next,” he says with a smile. “I can't share everything. Because then, what would be the point of coming to see the film?”
The Gryphn:
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