Logan Shroyer on the Future of “This Is Us,” His New Normal and More

The last time we got the chance to talk to Logan Shroyer was back in 2018. After so much time has passed and with all the changes affecting the world, it’s nice to catch up with an old friend and see how he is doing.

DAMAN: Hi Logan, awesome to have you with us again. How are you?
Logan Shroyer: I’m pretty good. I’m doing my best to stay sane and productive.

DA: Are you still in self-quarantine?
LS: For the most part I’m still self-quarantining, yes. I’ve seen my family recently—I don’t live with them—and I’ve seen a few close friends, which has been amazing. I’m very conscious of who I’m around, though. Luckily, I’m not in contact with anyone at risk or immunocompromised.

DA: How are you holding up amid the pandemic? What were some of the hardest moments during this time for you?
LS: The days that have hit me the hardest are the days when there’s nothing going on and the days when I’m overwhelmed with everything going on in the world. I’m diligent about being informed and taking action, but I’ve learned to take time away from it all. Otherwise I’m not very effective and miserable.

DA: How do you keep a positive mind and keep yourself busy at home?
LS: I stay positive by praying and reading scripture. It’s really important for me to take that time with God daily. And to keep myself busy I’ve been studying acting and directing with my teacher Stuart Rogers. He transferred all of his classes onto Zoom and the new format has brought a lot of new discoveries for us in the studio.

DA: So, what will Logan Shroyer’s “new normal” look like?
LS: My “new normal” will probably be close to the same as my “old normal.” I’ll be washing my hands more and keeping my distance when I’m feeling sick, but other than that life will eventually move on. I’m hoping we take preventative measures for viruses like this in the future.

DA: Now that restrictions are easing, do you have anything going on or planned for the near future?
LS: There is the possibility of new work, but I don’t see much happening until next year. I’m playing it all by ear.

DA: What will a TV series set look like in the future?
LS: Unfortunately, I think craft service will be very different if not completely removed from productions in the future. There’s a high chance it will take longer to film the same content, which will end up costing more money and likely negatively impact the industry. Beyond that, I don’t really know.

DA: Moving on to “This Is Us,” when do you think will we see the show returning with a new season?
LS: I don’t know. I can say with extreme confidence that it will come; we just don’t know when.

DA: What can fans of the show expect from this season?
LS: More tears, more laughs, more love. You know us.

DA: In all the years you played as Kevin in “This Is Us,” what do you think about the character and his arc?
LS: There’s something special about playing someone so misunderstood and flawed. Over time. we get to see what he’s going through internally, but for the most part, while I’m playing him, he keeps his cards close to his chest. That’s what I find interesting. There’s conflict between how he feels and how he acts. There’s tension between how people perceive him and how he wants to be perceived. Over the years we’ve seen how that’s changed.

DA: If there’s a thing that you can change about Kevin, what would that be?
LS: I wish for Kevin’s sake that he would open up to his mom as a teenager. It’s heartbreaking that he lost his dad and he still doesn’t connect with his mom.

DA: Some of our readers may not know this about you, but you often direct short movies. Do you have any plan to make a full-length movie sometime in the future?
LS: We’ll see how things go. There a few things in the works, but I’m in no rush.

DA: How do you create these movies of yours? Are they based on impromptu ideas or is there a more methodical process behind them?
LS: “The Relic” was very impromptu and more of an experiment, if anything. But I’ve been much more diligent and precise with the new stuff I’m working on.

DA: What are your plans for the rest of the year?
LS: What comes will come. In the mean time, I plan on living my life and improving my craft the best ways I can right now.

DA: Tell us about your alternative rock band, Liquid Glass.
LS: That was a fun cover band I was in—in high school. I haven’t thought about it in a long time. Actually, it’s funny you bring it up. I miss my band mates.

DA: This may sound cliché, what where do you see yourself in five years in this “new normal” era?
LS: God willing, I’ll be doing what I’m doing now, only better. I’ve had a lot of time to think lately, like most people, and a good portion of that time has been spent self-reflecting. I think in five years’ time I’ll be better for it.

PHOTOGRAPHER IAN PHILLIPS
STYLING KIMBERLY GOODNIGHT
GROOMING DUSTY STARKS AT THEONLY.AGENCY
U.S.-BASED CREATIVE DIRECTOR MITCHELL NGUYEN MCCORMACK