May 19, 2021
‘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."
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