DEACON: TV Drama In The Works From Front Street Pictures Ahead Of TIFF Market Launch
Vancouver-based Front Street Pictures is in development with Deacon, a new original TV drama from award-winning actor John Cassini (Watson, Accused, Intelligence), and writer and producer Jonathan Lloyd Walker (Netflix’s Van Helsing, Amazon’s House of David). The move comes as the label announced it acquired the life-story rights to award winning actor, Golden Gloves boxer, renowned DJ and ordained Deacon, Zak Santiago (Virgin River, Billy the Kid, Untamed) as the show’s inspiration.
Walker will serve as showrunner, with Front Street shopping the project at the TIFF Market in September. Cassini and Santiago will serve as the show’s creators.
Deacon is billed as an aspirational, emotionally grounded drama inspired by Santiago’s extraordinary journey through the seemingly disparate worlds of faith, boxing, music, acting and community service. The series follows Santiago “Santi” Luna, a former boxer and street criminal who finds redemption as a Catholic deacon. Moving between an East Vancouver church, federal prison, boxing gym, community centre and nightclub DJ booth. While Deacon draws inspiration from Santiago’s remarkable life, the series is a fictional drama that uses the unique intersection of his experiences to explore redemption, forgiveness, grief, community and the belief that no one should be defined by the worst thing they have ever done.
Photo: Jason Benson
“At its heart, Deacon is about showing up for people, especially when they feel forgotten, and believing that everyone deserves the opportunity to find their way back,” says Santiago.
“I met Zak over 20 years ago working on Robson Arms and learned quickly his life has always defied easy definition,” says Cassini. “The contradictions between the worlds he inhabits are what make Santi and the series so compelling.”
“Santi’s greatest strength is not that he has all the answers. It is that he refuses to walk away,” adds Walker.
Back in July, month Zak won an award for his performance in a television movie, but was unable to accept it in person due to a mission in Spain ahead of an invitation from the Vatican Secretariat of State to Rome.
Front Street and its backers over at Blink49 Studios also co-produce the hit series Wild Cards, as well as the upcoming contemporary mystery thriller Yaga, which will make its world premiere at TIFF as part of the festival’s Primetime program.
Lead photo: Micki Kennedy
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