‘Blackjack’ is the story of Brooklyn-native street basketball legend Jackie Ryan. Writer Antonio Macia is a self-proclaimed ‘basketball junkie’ who says writing this film was a dream come true. "The story takes place in the world of street ball and basketball, but it's really not about that. It's really about a young man trying to find his way, trying to deal with his family dynamics, trying to get out of his own way."
Antonio talks about how he molded this true-life sports biopic. "I was able to work with Jackie [Ryan] quite a bit. I spent time with him, did extensive interviews talking to him about different periods in his life, and he definitely read over different drafts and would help navigate certain things. He was such a great resource because he was very open and vulnerable, especially dealing with his low points in his life."
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write On Podcast on iTunes!