Spotlight: Jonny Labey on his filmmaking journey and support from ArtHouse Jersey

Following the success of his first short film ‘Swirl State’, Jonny Labey, a Jersey-born actor, dancer, and filmmaker, has secured a second ArtHouse Jersey Development Grant towards his latest project, ‘Gi’. The funding will support the initial shooting of the film to be used as a ‘proof of concept’ to secure further investment. We spoke to Jonny about his journey growing his skills with ArtHouse Jersey's supportand the invaluable lessons learned throughout that process.

Q- Firstly, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background with ArtHouse Jersey?

A- I'm a Jersey-born actor, dancer, and filmmaker based in Liverpool and have grown up alongside ArtHouse Jersey. From as young as I remember, ArtHouse Jersey has been the driving force for local artists, championing emerging and developing talent. It's hard to pinpoint a favourite, but my most memorable collaboration was during their lock-in weekends, and I believe we were a part of the first groups to trial them out. We were allowed to bring something and ask for something; it was strictly no phones, and we weren't allowed to leave the grounds of the most beautiful manor for three or four days, which I was totally fine with. It changed my perspective of everything as an artist; the right to create something purely for yourself so that art wasn't always produced for external reasons. It proved that like-minded creative communities need each other, and above all, that collaboration without an agenda or a plan can lead to the most remarkable creations. Then, shortly after, came their Kino project, whereby I shot a very short version of what is technically the first film I'd ever shot, which later developed into Swirl State.

Q- You were awarded a Development Grant for your first short film 'Swirl State' in 2023. Can you tell us about the experience of creating this?

A- Mad, mad, and madder! Firstly, I was so grateful to be awarded the grant in the first place, and as we worked our way through it, it was so incredible to know that it was on home soil, supported by the organisation that has been there since day one. It ended up being the most incredible experience of my career so far. It's really tough to fully back yourself as a creative, to take on something as huge as making a film, especially within such short pre-production time. Yes, it was terrifying and stressful, and all of the things that make this industry seem strangely masochistic, but it was also hugely empowering—and if I say so myself, we absolutely smashed it! It had been a little while since I'd been on a set, and although I have a wealth of experience throughout my career, this was completely a new direction. As soon as we stepped onto set and got going with it, it just felt right!

Q- What are the themes that you explore in your work?

A- As Swirl State is based on my own experiences, it takes a big dive into a period where I felt incredibly lost and my mental health was dangerously low. The story is a slightly amalgamated combination of times or people in my life that caused that spiral, and although it isn't verbatim, the core of the story is that Jersey and ice cream genuinely saved me. So, a massive thank you to my best mate Natalie Coutanche, Emma Jane Cole, the Jersey public, and Swirl and Twirl at Les Platons. There's a quote in the film that says "seeing smiles all day makes you smile," and it's the truth that saved me, as people come up to an ice cream van with one thing on their mind... ice cream! The 'happiness exchange' was something that later ended up affecting how I approached everything in life thereafter, so another thank you to Jersey Dairy!

Our production company, Doing Brave Productions, has newly launched, and we're now fastly approaching our sixth film. There has been an underlying root theme in a lot of my work and writing to do with the 'fragile man' and the exploration of masculinity. I believe it to be the most powerful topic I can relate to, having grown up in an all-boys private school doing ballet, but also further afield. I find the notion of Shakespeare's quote, 'What piece of work is a man?' compelling, and we're currently exploring male-centred dance pieces that explore that exact question.

Q- What are the next steps for 'Swirl State' and when will people be able to see it?

A- We are currently organising a screening which will be open to the public, and I'll be there for a Q&A with my current film crew of Gi to connect with all Jersey filmmakers. From that point onwards, the film will be in the festival circuit for a while and will be released near the end of 2026!

Q- How have your artistic skills developed throughout the process of making the film?

A- My artistic skills have exploded in the best of ways during this whole process, not only in realising that Jersey has so much to offer, but also that I'm excited to grow and learn more than I have ever done. Learning to produce, direct, write, and act in a film covered a lot of skill sets, but even when we came to do a reshoot in Jersey six months after wrap, the level of growth from then to now was huge.

Q- You have recently been awarded another Development Grant for your second film 'Gi'. Can you tell us more about this new project?

A- I have, and I'm absolutely bowled over. I'm so glad, having shown them how much I put into editing and creating Swirl State, that ArtHouse felt assured to support me for our next project, Gi, which is split into two parts. The story follows an amateur ballet dancer, Remy, and after an altercation, he stumbles upon a martial arts dojo. ArtHouse is funding all of the scenes set in the ballet studio, for which we will be bringing over some stars as well as auditioning some local ballet students. The project is one of my favourite things I've written and has a punchy British comedy style, inspired by my favourite all-time film, Billy Elliot.

Q- How will 'Gi' build on your learnings from your first film 'Swirl State'?

Gi is a whole new approach entirely. Although Swirl State is now ready to view, it's been in an edit suite for the best part of a year and a half, during which time we've shot another four projects—Gi will be our fifth (I told you we're hitting the ground running!). Firstly, we're choosing to fund and build this film differently. While Swirl State had an incredible level of support and we raised nearly £5,000, the film's total was nearly £11,000 in the end. With our collaboration with ArtHouse, we'll be able to put together trailer-style footage which will hopefully ease the second part along. Also, skills-wise, we have structured and planned everything so much cleaner; our incredible director Myles Petford has got the pre-production in an amazing place. Lastly, as filmmakers, we've really homed in on a style which we're carrying into Gi. It's a 'dance with the camera' with an incredible team which we'll be inviting back, having worked wonderfully together the first time around.

Q- How will the funding from ArtHouse Jersey help you to achieve your overall aims as an artist?

The funding support is absolutely crucial for developing as an artist; however, not only that, ArtHouse Jersey's ethos as an organisation and everything they have taught me over the years is to harness local Jersey talent and steer it brightly into the future. I feel like every new finding I have, every stone I overturn, feels like I need to share and hopefully inspire others to do the same. The importance of what it means to me to be able to translate my life experiences into films gives me hope that someone might watch them and not feel alone. ArtHouse Jersey support has meant that to me my entire life.