Q&A With Clifford Joshua Young, Daryn Jnr “Daryn’s Gym”

The mocumentary comedy, Daryn’s Gym, from writer-director, Brett Michael Innes. Daryn’s Gym was released nationwide on 1 December 2021.

SAMDB got the chance to do a Q&A with Clifford Joshua Young, who plays Daryn Jnr. in Daryn’s Gym.

What was it like playing Daryn, in Daryn’s Gym?

It was a dream. I got a chance to discover things about myself I had forgotten and perhaps neglected to admire myself for going through and overcoming. It was a chance to take those moments of perseverance and turn it into a piece of art so relatable and true, a big part of my purpose is to bring joy. Darryn helped me live in joy and rediscover strength. It was a beautiful moment in my life. full circle in some senses. It was also just a lot of fun, I got to work with the best people I’ve admired and been inspired by. jumping into Daryns world was a much needed escape from my own.

You’ve said Daryn’s Gym is a dream come true. Had you always wanted to get into acting?

I have always wanted to be an actor and always have. As far back as I can remember. infact one of my first leading roles was in Goldilocks and the three bears as Goldie herself/himself. I’m not sure if it was my first but it definitely sticks out the most in my head. i think the girl meant to do the piece was scared on the day of performance and I kinda jumped in to save the day. I think from there it was clear about my destiny, That and my mom and granny have two very similar stories about my mom dreaming about me in pink ballet shoes. So I’d say yes, the predetermined destiny stories and the feeling of home when doing my craft would answer the question…

What genres would be your favour to be a part of?

Honestly I would say all genres. I’ve always assumed that I had a flair for the more dramatic roles, but the more I learn about the art of subtle and honest comedy the more the world opens up and you find comedy in everything. Because people tend to see me as more of a comedic actor I try to push against that grain. But truth be told, if the story is good and I can be incredable for it, I’m there!

Can you tell us little about Daryn?

Darryn the kindest guy you know, his guy guy your mom wants you to marry and the one she’d force you to take to your prom. He’s a kid that’s still very much finding out who he wants to be. his strong, sincere and driven by love. Through this he discovers parts of himself he didn’t know he had, strengths he kept hidden because he never wants to be the bad guy.

He’s everything that’s right with the world, funny, vulnerable and full of hope. He’s the heart of a very encredable ensamble and he’s just the guy you want to take home and make a sarmi for.his all the best Parts of Cliffford Joshua Young as my director would say.

How much of yourself could you bring to the character?

All of me in some ways. I used so many personal stories and adversities to really get into the crux of what Daryn was feeling and what he was going to do to overcome it. I had this idea of what Brett, my director , wanted from me and who I thought I was in his eyes. but i had to work from a place of knowing and feeling and honesty. one always wants to bring these tools, but with Daryn I had to learn that I had these tools with me all the time. they were not things I had to manifest through fictional/ hypothetical situations. they were real moments i had to relive. and through that we found daren and his truth. so a lot of myself. daryn and i helped one another i would say.

Share a little about your process to become Daryn?

A Lot of my process involves understanding the character at hand, with Daryn I was lucky in the sense that he was written with me in mind. so to push myself to another level of understanding i did some odd jobs for a gym close to my home. I underplayed my confidence with certain people in my family to gauge their reactions. I worked a lot with the relationships that Daryn was going to have in the film and what kind of people they were to him. This film was about heart more than it was about the action around it so a lot of the work was intrespection and dinamics of the relationships Daryn holds dear.

Could you share a little about what’s next for you?

Well from here, I believe I’ve proven not only that I can be a leading man, but also that I can do one hell of a great job, doing it. I’m putting my best foot forward and going to be fighting so that South Africa and the rest of the world get to see more of it. so that means auditioning, killing it and hopefully doing some writing of my own.

I’m here to work hard and from that have incredable art to show. I’ve been doing this for a while and I’m ready to be seen and work with more of the best.

Any advice for other young actors?

Perseverance is something you’re going to have to learn and patience is something you’re going to have to practice.

Sometimes for some it is going to look easy, for you maybe not that much. dont compare yourself, you know what you know as an actor/performer or artist and if you cant see yourselfelf doing anything else, it’s going to be hard, but don’t! 

Things always get better! Promise

Read more about Drayn’s Gym

Watch Daryn’s Gym on eVOD

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb