Samo Lives – Stunt Coordination by Robbie Smith
The energy, rebellion, and genius of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat come alive again in the highly anticipated biopic Samo Lives, directed by Julius Onah and starring Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Behind the film’s raw street realism and physical intensity stands UAA stunt coordinator Robbie Smith, whose work brings kinetic authenticity to Basquiat’s world — from downtown New York’s underground art scene to the chaos that shaped an icon.
Bringing the Streets of 1980s New York to Life
For Samo Lives, realism was everything. The story captures Basquiat’s rise amid the grit and pulse of the early 1980s — a world full of movement, emotion, and danger.
Robbie Smith and his UAA-USA stunt team were tasked with building sequences that felt both lived-in and cinematic, blending controlled chaos with cultural authenticity.
Designing Realistic Movement for a Biopic
In collaboration with director Julius Onah, Smith and the UAA team approached the project with sensitivity to character-driven physical storytelling.
Basquiat’s world — full of artistic spontaneity, nightlife energy, and emotional turbulence — demanded movement that was expressive, not exaggerated.
Key stunt contributions included:
- Environmental choreography through urban landscapes and art studio setups.
- Character-based stunt design emphasizing realism over spectacle.
- Safety coordination for complex set builds and practical effects.
- Actor training to ensure authentic body language within action scenes.
UAA’s Commitment to Story-Driven Action
UAA-USA’s presence in prestige drama and biographical storytelling continues to grow.
From Samo Lives to The Savant and Lazarus, UAA’s coordinators bring the same standard of cinematic excellence to feature films and streaming productions alike.
Meet more of our UAA-USA stunt coordinators working across film, TV, and streaming projects.
About Samo Lives
Filming Location: New York City
Title: Samo Lives
Director: Julius Onah (Luce, The Cloverfield Paradox)
Star: Kelvin Harrison Jr. (Chevalier, Elvis)
Stunt Coordinator: Robbie Smith (UAA-USA)
Production Companies: Endeavor Content, Onah Productions
Genre: Biopic / Drama
About Robbie Smith
A leading stunt coordinator with credits across both studio and independent films, Robbie Smith brings a unique balance of artistic vision and technical mastery to every project.
His work on Samo Lives reinforces UAA’s dedication to supporting bold, story-first filmmaking — blending movement, emotion, and realism at every frame.