DEACON - Front Street Pictures To Produce Series Based On The Life Of Zak Santiago

Front Street Pictures, the Vancouver based production company backed by Blink49 Studios, along with actor/producer John Cassini announced today that they have 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 inspiration for the original television drama Deacon.

Acclaimed writer and producer Jonathan Lloyd Walker will serve as showrunner. Walker previous was the showrunner and executive producer for Netflix’s Van Helsing and season one of Amazon’s House of David. The series is in development now and will be shopped at the TIFF Market in September. Award winning actor John Cassini (Intelligence) who also serves as Front Street’s producer along Jonathan Lloyd Walker and Santiago created the series.

The Story of Deacon

Deacon is 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.

“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.

Cassini had this to say:

“I met Zak over 20 years ago working on Robson Arms and learned quickly his life has always defied easy definition. 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.

Last 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 Pictures, is in active development on Deacon and will introduce the project to potential partners at the TIFF Market in September. Front Street and 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.