Samo Lives: The Price of Passion in the Art World

Production Details

Title: Samo Lives

Format: Feature Film

Production Begins: September 15

Filming Dates: September 15 – October 17, 2025

Filming Location: New Jersey – New York

Producer: Rob Feng, John Baker, Eric Ro

Writer: Julius Onah, Peter Glanz

Director: Julius Onah

Production Manager: Charles Miller

First Assistant Director: Daniel Lugo

Cast: Kelvin Harrison Jr.

Casting Director: Jessica Kelly

Synopsis

The biographical film will celebrate the life, career, and impact of the groundbreaking New York-born, Haitian-Puerto Rican American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose seminal paintings and street art defined the Neo-Expressionism arts movement of the 1980s. In 1983, Basquiat became the youngest artist to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York, at just 22 years old. The acclaimed artist died on August 12, 1988, at the age of 27, but his work continues to make a great impact on the art world. At a Sotheby’s auction in 2017, Basquiat’s painting “Untitled” sold for $110.5 million, becoming one of the most expensive paintings ever purchased and subsequently raising the bar for an American artist at auction.

Company name

Altona Filmhaus
Samo Lives D&s, LLC
Valmont Productions

450 N Roxbury Dr., 8th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

9601 Wilshire Blvd., Third Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Email: careers@fifthseason.com
Phone: 323-510-3330

This production is not yet released.

About Samo Lives

Samo Lives is a feature film that explores the intricate world of art and commerce. It tells the story of one of the most expensive paintings ever sold and its impact on the art market. The film highlights the journey of the American artist associated with this significant auction milestone. Through a mix of interviews and cinematic storytelling, viewers gain insight into the motivations behind such high-stakes transactions. The narrative emphasizes the intersection of creativity and business in the contemporary art scene.