Meet Jon Le Vert | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Le Vert and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In my experience, taking smart, timely risks was essential. However, it really helps to know what you want several years down the road. Like, I just knocked on the door of the talent agency that repped me in Chicago and it let to a Netflix role within 18 months. Most would advise against that approach towards getting an agent or rep, but the risk paid off. Traveling out of the country or even moving out of your hometown are risks worth taking- even if only for a few months- the perspective shift and lessons learned can pay huge dividends for years to come.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve known since I was young that I wanted to be an artist. Specifically knowing that I had what it took to be great if I really went for it. But it wasn’t simple of course- I had yearslong issues w/ self esteem and acceptance for a variety of reasons, mostly around my peers. My mom was a briefly stage mom & ‘managed’ my older brothers and I as my oldest brother Ben starred in Steve Harvey’s sitcom (Me and the Boys), my brother Matt had a solid role in a Bruce Willis film (Mercury Rising). I was always shy and f’ed up my auditions- but there were signs of potential I’d imagine.

I was told I was gifted, but had issues focusing in school, often bored and getting myself into minor trouble. I figured if I were so gifted, why couldn’t I just pay attention?! School was easy until it wasn’t – and perfect grades slid as I never developed solid study habits… shoutout to ADHD lol. I never had that issue with creating & storytelling, though- it was addictive. An antidote to my inattentiveness, I guess.

It started on paper, with sketches, drawings & short stories that I’d write on any printer paper I could find. Then empty notebooks. I’d fill pages and pages with drawings for hours and hours. At home, in school, around friends, when alone. I loved it. Having also had moderate anxiety bred from family dysfunction, creating would alleviate my fears- it was a way to escape a harsher reality into my own. So I’d say it became self-reinforcing.

I was never popular in school- I had a few friends here and there. Again I knew I had the mind for great things but feared being mediocre until figured until I found a differnt way to create thru YouTube & online content. It gave me a small audience, usually strangers leaving harsh comments, but it gradually increased to a few hundred, then a few thousand followers. This lead me to filmmaking & music production in high school, when I kinda found my stride, started to make a name for myself at school… even started to feel a sense of esteem and pride about my work. It was liberating, a lil intimidating- but I loved it. I didn’t want to do anything else.

At the insistence of my Mom (lol) I reluctantly went to college… glad I did in retrospect. It’s a dope art school called Columbia College Chicago (in Chicago of course) to study filmmaking and realized to my surprise that I was a bit ahead of my classmates- by this point I had a YouTube web series going viral (views in the millions) and further honed my skills. I finally found a friend group- I was starting to find myself.

I found a talent rep in Chicago my junior year of college (shoutout to Shirley Hamilton!) and within 18 months was guest-starring in a Netflix Original called “Daybreak” (2019). Loved the cast & crew and greatly appreciate them for giving me the opportunity- it was life-changing in many ways, and the money was decent. I began to realize that my personal belief in myself was all I needed, despite doubters & those who tried to disregard me. It was self actualization.

Since then I auditioned for many roles & came hella close to booking several of them, but after the pandemic & little success, I’ve pivoted hard to music for now and I’m so glad I did. Just wish I did it sooner… I’m aiming for 100k monthly listeners on Spotify by the end of this year, we’ll see if that happens. I’ve been putting the work in.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Aye, great question! Assuming they’ve never been to LA, I’d love for them to see the beautiful views & geography LA has to offer. I remember when I first moved here, I was kinda speechless at the mountains, hills & the ocean.

So I’d say we’d hit up Santa Monica for awhile, just checking out a couple spots out there that give us a chance to enjoy the ocean views & sunshine. The first time I saw the actual ocean kinda blew me away- would be cool to share that first-time experience with someone new.

There’s this really sick cafe in the hills called Cafe on 27 in Topanga canyon- again, gorgeous views. For dinner I love Jones or this spot called The Prince – oh, or Dan Sung Sa in Koreatown area >>> Lots of great street food, too – solid options, you know.

If we’re craving something sweet, def would hit up Salt + Straw- probably the one in East LA in the arts district area, then prob hit up some stores and boutiques in the area.

Don’t get me started on clothes shopping, there’s so many dope spots in the city- like Fred Seal, Gallery Dept, Wasteland Vintage, maybe Melrose- again, hella great options, but I’ll leave it there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout to Vasi Belokon- she’s been a light in my life since I met her last year by chance- and an incredibly talented, kind-hearted human being. She’s going places, fr!

Website: https://www.jonlevert.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonlevert/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYI8m6scw7ByvI-hsWWVEQA

Image Credits
The main photo (in B&W) was taken by this dope LA photographer Matt Kallish

The photo in front of the car was taken by Vasi Belokon.

The photo in front of the garage door w/ graffiti was taken by a very talented Chicago photographer who goes by Ambercita.

The one at the street intersection was taken by Alexander Siliezar.

The one in the car was me haha