Podcast Summary: The Determined Society with Shawn French

Episode: Jay Huguley: Causing Trouble in “Death on the Brandywine”
Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Shawn French
Guest: Jay Huguley

Episode Overview

In this engaging and heartfelt conversation, Shawn French sits down with accomplished actor Jay Huguley to discuss his latest film, Death on the Brandywine, his craft as an actor, the realities of Hollywood, and the deeper questions around pursuing a creative life. The episode mixes humor, practical advice, and honest reflections—providing listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made, what drives a professional actor, and how to handle risk and rejection in both career and life. Jay and Shawn’s rapport sets the stage for a candid, inspiring, and relatable discussion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. About "Death on the Brandywine"

• Premise:
  • The film unfolds at the eve of a major political campaign announcement, turning into a confined murder mystery when a crime occurs and the party is locked down (“A lot like the show Clue.” [00:15])
  • While politics are a backdrop, “Whatever happened doesn’t have a whole lot to do with politics and has more to do with personal relationships. Everyone’s a suspect.” – Jay [00:32, 10:49]
• Production:
  • Filmed entirely in Wilmington, Delaware, which was a new and refreshing experience for Jay [02:09]
  • The film's pace is brisk and energetic, strongly set by director Nick Wilkinson [11:54]
• Cast:
  • Jay gives special praise to a castmate known from “Scandal,” highlighting her depth and professionalism [00:40, 09:19]

Notable Quote:

“It becomes pretty clear early on that whatever happened doesn’t have a whole lot to do with politics and has more to do with personal relationships…” – Jay [10:49]

2. On Playing “Trouble” and Character Work

• Jay’s role:
  • Plays Ry Riley, a “trouble” character, the “ne’er-do-well son who may or may not be involved.”
  • He loves playing characters who disrupt equilibrium:

    “It's fun for an actor to play a character who's trouble and who has a secret and who kind of messes up the whole equilibrium of the story.” [02:53]

• Acting Approach:
  • Enjoys playing roles totally different from himself, but keeps work and life separate ("Never been one of those actors who brings their work home" [04:50])
  • Only once did a role (“Rabbit Hole”) linger emotionally after hours—he addressed it through grounding activities like ocean swims and talking to friends [05:10, 05:51]
  • Advocates for non-method acting: “If I play someone who's drunk… I've never felt like I had to go out and really get drunk or show up drunk.” [06:52]

Memorable Moment:

“My parents would not have tolerated Ry Riley for five minutes.” – Jay [03:50]

3. Maintaining Balance: Grounding and Disconnecting

• Discussions on how to “leave the briefcase at the mailbox”—finding ways to disconnect after emotionally taxing work, a challenge in both acting and interviewing. [07:33-08:56]
• Emphasizes the importance of routines for presence with family and personal well-being.

4. The Timeliness of the Film & Cultural Relevance

• Jay and Shawn discuss the film’s resonance with today’s sociopolitical climate, noting its topical relevance despite being focused more on family and interpersonal conflict than direct political commentary. [10:17]

5. The Craft and Career of Acting

• Jay’s Advice to Young Actors:

  • Acting isn’t a “linear career”—no easy promotions, you constantly start over.
  • “Get very good at the acting part of the job… that is a commodity that they all need.” – Jay [13:22]
  • “You’re not going to hold on to your youth... not your fame... but if you’re a good actor... they’re gonna need you.” [13:22]

• Importance of Community:

  • Recommends finding an acting class or community; cites ongoing participation in classes at “Workspace Hollywood.” [16:08]
  • Community offers camaraderie, feedback, encouragement.

Notable Quote:

“As soon as you can, get into a community of some kind of other actors… you want comrades, for sure.” – Jay [16:56]

6. Sacrifice and Missing Out

• The hidden cost of a creative career—missing weddings, birthdays, and important family events due to the pace and demands of the field [17:33-18:26]
• Reflections on generational differences in parental presence, perspective gained over time. [19:03]

7. Parental Support and Its Impact

• Jay’s Father: Was always present for every performance, even if he didn’t understand the craft. His unwavering support was crucial:

  “He showed up for every single play I was ever in. He sat in the front row. He was proud of me… had my dad even flinched, said, nah, the acting thing, I might have switched gears.” [19:57]

8. Handling Naysayers, Rejection, and the Noise

• Critical to “cut out all the noise” and only listen to a trusted few:

  “Pick three people that you completely trust…” [22:08]

• Rejection is a daily reality for actors. Jay’s approach:

  “You have two ways to go. You can quit, or you can jump back in and work harder… If you really want this thing, you’ve got to work really, really hard and not give up.” [23:25]

• Discussing outside skepticism and the “little podcast” putdowns:

  “Anyone who says or refers to your little podcast is not pursuing what they want to do.” [27:44]

• Advocacy for politely confronting disrespect and not letting slights linger:

  “Never let it go. Politely confront it… I’m not gonna let a dumb joke slide.” [25:09, 26:35]

9. Mentorship and Artistic Growth

• Influential Teacher: Milton Katsellas, who insisted Jay bring more of himself to the stage and drop “politeness” in his art. [32:04]
  • Helped Jay shed self-doubt and apologetic tendencies as a performer.

10. Preparation, Patience, and the Actor’s Process

• Breaks down the process of building a character “bit by bit, scene by scene.”
• Stresses the need for patience and loving the chase, not just the end goals:

  “You got to have… patience… you have to put in the work.” [37:24-38:42]

• On performance day: “Once you've done all the work, then you kind of have to throw it out and grab it by the reins.” [38:42]

11. “Landman” and Working with Taylor Sheridan

• Jay shares brief, NDA-compliant insights on working on the new season of “Landman” and with Demi Moore. Speaks very highly of Taylor Sheridan’s talent and empathy for actors as a former performer himself. [40:04-41:35]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Acting:

  “It's fun to play someone who's totally contrary to… who I am. My parents would not have tolerated Ry Riley for five minutes, you know, but it's really cool.” – Jay [03:50]

• On Process:

  “You want to keep doing this thing that you love doing, so you've got to figure out a way to have your feet on the ground.” – Jay [06:52]

• On Community:

  “As soon as you can get into a community… you want comrades, for sure.” – Jay [16:56]

• On Naysayers:

  “Never let it go. Politely confront it... I'm not gonna let a dumb joke slide.” – Jay [25:09]

• On Preparation:

  “You act the part of someone who is not that way long enough… playing a character of an actor even before the audition.” – Jay [35:00]

• On Sheridan:

  “He cares so much about the product. He is like Orson Welles to me. I mean, he's just one of the most talented guys to come around in a long time…” – Jay [40:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–02:12 — “Death on the Brandywine” set-up, cast, filming location
• 02:53–04:59 — Jay on playing trouble and character work
• 05:10–06:52 — Bringing roles home, grounding, non-method acting
• 09:19–10:49 — Cast insight, personal dynamics vs. politics in the film
• 11:54–12:24 — Pacing on set, director Nick Wilkinson’s influence
• 13:22–16:56 — Acting career advice, importance of craft and community
• 17:33–19:41 — Sacrifice, missing life events for career
• 19:57–22:08 — Father’s influence, role of support
• 22:08–25:09 — Handling criticism, shutting out negative opinions
• 26:35–27:44 — Adjusting response to skepticism, using it as fuel
• 32:04–34:41 — Mentorship, influential teacher Milton Katsellas
• 35:00–38:42 — Character preparation and embracing patience
• 40:04–41:58 — Landman, working with Taylor Sheridan and Demi Moore

Final Thoughts

Jay Huguley offers insight not just into his work on screen, but into the emotional and psychological resilience that sustains a creative career. The conversation blends stories of setbacks with actionable advice, demonstrating that patience, community, and determination are essential no matter your craft.

If you’re a fan of smart, suspenseful drama or just looking for inspiration on how to stay true—and stay determined—while facing the noise and challenges, this episode delivers.