Basquiat : Julian Schnabel Biopic

"I KNOW ONE DAY I'LL TURN THE CORNER AND I WON'T BE READY FOR IT." - JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

.

It was the Eighties, the fast and frenzied era that created New York's Soho art scene - when throngs of artists, actors, musicians, celebrities, socialites and Mudd Clubbers brought the city's downtown streets to life with the energy, excitement, music and color of their generation. The film, which marks the motion picture writing and directing debut of his fellow artist, Julian Schnabel, takes its inspiration from Basquiat's short but fascinating life. "Humans are hypnotized by those drenched with talent; they also can't take their eyes away from the violent accident that often occurs to those people," explains Schnabel. "Jean-Michel had the success and fame that an artist wishes to achieve. He burned bright, caught on fire and burned up, sealing his fate with his early death. Was his life a tragedy? I don't know. He certainly accomplished a lot more than most people do who live to be 80."

More than just the story of a great artist and his times, Basquiat is a compelling tale of the war between genius and society, and it's never been shown from an insider's view until now. "I wanted to tell it the way it really happened," says Schnabel, himself a celebrated artist whose works have been exhibited all over the world. "Like so many young people, Jean-Michel idolized artists who lived tragic lives. He believed the mythology about Jimi Hendrix and Charlie Parker - it doesn't matter if you are killing yourself, your life was the price you paid for your talent. He thought it was cool, romantic even."

- -

"Most of the stuff in this movie happened. I witnessed much of it. The rest, I hope is true to his spirit. Jean-Michel's work mocks categorization. It wasn't enough for him to be a great black artist, or a graffiti artist or even a young artist. He placed himself among the great artists of all time. Jean-Michel was irresistible, charming, handsome and diabolical. Almost everyone who met him was drawn into his orbit."

- Writer/Director Julian Schnabel