We recently connected with Jhett Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Jhett, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started acting in high school when I was a junior and my mom convinced me to try out for the Sound of Music. I ended up getting the role of Frederick, one of the children in the production. That was one of the best experiences of my life as it opened up my world to acting, and not just acting, but the whole production side as well. I felt so fulfilled on many levels, like I had never felt before. I then did li’l Abner as my next production my senior year and then I was off to college. I got to college as a freshman and my first week there were auditions for the their first play, Little Shop of Horrors. I tried out and got the lead as Seymour. After that production I had this ultimate burning desire to really take on acting and really knowing that’s what I wanted to do. I took my first trip to LA during Christmas break and the moment I drove into LA, I had this feeling of this is where I needed to be. I moved to LA after my first year of college. I got to LA and I didn’t realize what a baby I was to this world. I spend the next 8 years in LA, The best thing to this day that happened to me in those 8 years is I found my Acting Coach, my Mentor, Brad Heller who I didn’t realize it at the time, but he would be the one teaching me the craft of acting and all that comes with it! I spend 8 years in LA learning about who I was as a person in this world but I never gave my craft the chance it needed. I couldn’t. I didn’t know any better and I was not ready. I was trying to really figure out who Jhett is and that is what took place for the next 20 years of my life. I spent 8 years in LA and then I left for 13 years. I found me! What was still in me and part of me was acting. I got ahold of Brad whom I probably had not seen for 18 years, and there he was, remembered me and I started my first group lesson with him. Three and a half years later here I am back in the city I love, coaching with Brad, one group lesson a week, and one private lesson a week. It’s the consistency of Brad, that he has taught me and given me in the last three and a half years that has helped me bring the craft of acting alive. By his example he has helped me learn the beautiful craft of acting. You know your doing something right, when no matter what you are working on with your craft, the feeling inside it just so right! So what I have learned is you really can’t do anything until you really know who you are, and when you know who you are, you will find that craft you love and will do anything and everything you can to nourish it. The feeling that comes from that, nothing can beat it and nothing and nobody can take it away from you!

Jhett, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an actor and I am a working actor, paid or unpaid as I love the craft of acting as it gives me the feeling of what I need to be doing for myself and gives me a chance to be an example for others as well. I learn everyday with this craft in the industry, in life, in all I do! Thats what’s so beautiful to me about being an actor, I get to be surrounded by so many human beings which I think we have lost touch with. That human connection is something we all yearn for and all need, and with acting, it forces that and gives you that connection with all walks of life. One of my drives is to keep that human connection strong with whom ever I come in contact with and acting fulfills that on every level!

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes! Creating more human to human connection. More face to face connection. We’ve lost that with technology or I should say we have lost how to manage the technology we use and the human connection we need.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino! There are 10 Scrolls in the book to make habits out of in your life and those 10 scrolls have spoken to me more than anything in my life and they are my road map for the rest my life.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jhettlayne

Image Credits

Christine Lozano Photography
Axel Hebert
Bonfire Tales Film
Matan Mallinger