Julius Basquait: FADER Interview

Story By: Kerry Jetton

Posted: December 1, 2011 7:38 AM IN FILM

In the Chinatown district of the Big Apple, Julius Basquiat stuffs udon noodles in his mouth like he performed a month long food sabbatical. "What?" He laughs looking up from his bowl "This sh#t is good, try it." As ubiquitous as the biracial actor is, dipping his hands in nearly every channel of celebrity: the male face of Chanel, blue chip model for runways and editorials, Lady Gaga's edgy beau in Kiss the Sun and an Academy Award winning actor, Julius still carries a mystique with him that celebrities this day and age don't have the privilege of having. We caught up with Julius at the Japanese restaurant Dim Mak on his lunch hour to interview him for the first time since his death, resurrection and disappearance.

Tell us what you've been up to since your "disappearance"

JULIUS: I won't address the directly situation, but I was basically pulling myself together after being ripped apart. Y'know? It was crazy for me more than the millions of people who watched it happen. I was numb to all the backlash I got for it. In that moment I didn't care about anything. It's sounds cruel, but I didn't I was a zombie. I remembered how to react to things, but it wasn't how I felt. It wasn't real. And I don't want to cheapen the craft with this, but I was acting my way through it. For the most part I pretended to be happy. I wasn't mad, depressed or confused--just numb. And it was exhausting. I'm alive now though. In both context.

Fast forward to now, what's your next move?

JULIUS: Education. I moved to New York with my friend Simon [Kafka], found a place in the LES and enrolled into NYU. I start January.

So the phone calls from Clint Eastwood and Johnny Depp about their Korangal Valley film were rumors?

JULIUS: [Laughing] What the f#ck? How did you know?

Johnny Depp spoke on it.

JULIUS: Well in that case. Yes and no. I spoke to Johnny and Clint, but they called to check up on me--light the fire under my ass. Good people.

No talk about doing a role for their film?

JULIUS: I know as much about that as you do. [Smiling]

At University, what do you plan on studying?

JULIUS: Film, Creative Writing and English. I plan on getting my Bachelors for Creative Writing at the end of the next year. Hell, I think growth [education] is the sweetest success you can get in life. F#ck money. [Snickering]

So acting isn't quite out of the picture?

JULIUS: No, not at all. I love acting. But I think I hit a peak and I need to expand--I always wanted to direct and write my own films. I do it now, but I need the proper training before I nurture bad habits. It's amateur...but real dope.

How is your family doing through all this?

JULIUS: [Smiling] My family is supportive--calling and emailing 24/7. They're involved more than they were prior to all this. My mom actually worked as a seamstress at a Mik Cire show I did a few days ago. Blatantly creeping on me [Laughing]. We're good.

You're back in modeling too?

JULIUS: Yeah, I plan on juggling school and modeling. I can get quicker money from the modeling. I gotta pay bills too, Kerry. [Laughing]

Would you let your girlfriend wear Kanye West's new women's line?

JULIUS: [Laughing] Can you rephrase that question to, 'What do you think of Kanye's clothing line'

What do you think of Kanye West's clothing line?

It was...courageous. [Smiling]

One thing you do vocalize about you family is your relation to WWE star Sean Watanabe, what do you think about his sudden release?

JULIUS: I always thought UFC was his circuit anyway. But he's doing great.

Why the move from LA to New York?

JULIUS: New York is easier for me to study and work. I can kill three birds with one stone. My classes are here, my agency is here and this is the modeling capital--in America.

This is going wonderful, but i can only ask two more questions? What are your top 5 things at the moment?

JULIUS: This food. [Laughs] Alex Lopez. Gold chains. Ernest Hemingway. And You. [Smiling]

Who is Alex Lopez?

JULIUS: The world isn't ready for Alex. Yet.

With school and modeling, what's next for acting?

JULIUS: I got a few scripts in the mail, but I don't plan on doing full time any time soon. I'll pop up on the screen every now and then though. Stay tuned.