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Samo Lives: First Major Basquiat Biopic Begins Filming

9/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Filming for the biopic "Samo Lives," about Jean-Michel Basquiat, has started in New York City's East Village.
Directed by Julius Onah, the film features Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Basquiat.
This marks the first major Basquiat film directed by a Black filmmaker.
"Samo Lives" highlights Basquiat's early street art with Al Diaz, known as SAMO©.
The film explores Basquiat's rise in the 1980s Neo-expressionism movement.

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Story summary

Filming for the biopic "Samo Lives," about Jean-Michel Basquiat, has started in New York City's East Village.
Directed by Julius Onah, the film features Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Basquiat.
This marks the first major Basquiat film directed by a Black filmmaker.
"Samo Lives" highlights Basquiat's early street art with Al Diaz, known as SAMO©.
The film explores Basquiat's rise in the 1980s Neo-expressionism movement.