Jason Staggie
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{{Infobox writer
| name = Jason Staggie
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| birth_date = 22 February 1984
| birth_place = Cape Town, South Africa
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| occupation = Writer; filmmaker
| language = English
| nationality = South African
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| citizenship = South Africa
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| alma_mater = University of Cape Town (2005) (Psychology)
Prague Film School (2010) (Directing and Screenwriting)
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| genre = Transgressive fiction
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Jason Staggie is a South African filmmaker and writer of transgressive fiction and literary fiction. His style has been compared with Anthony Burgess, Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh.{{cite web|title=Jason Staggie Discusses His Transgressive Novel Risk|url=http://umuzi.bookslive.co.za/blog/2013/09/23/jason-staggie-discusses-his-transgressive-novel-risk/|work=Umuzi|accessdate=2013-11-07}}
Staggie is best known for his controversial, acclaimed 2013 debut novel Risk. Risk was nominated for a South African Literary Award in the Best Young Author category,{{cite web|url=http://sala.org.za/news/2014-south-african-literary-awards-finalists-announced/|website=sala.org.za|access-date=2018-03-18|title=2014 South African Literary Awards Finalists Announced|date=2014-10-20}} and revolves around a group of hedonistic university students who create the ultimate dare game, which culminates in them attempting to trigger a modern-day revolution. It has been likened to an African Fight Club and Less than Zero{{cite web|title=Risk|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18052303-risk|work=Good Reads|accessdate=2013-11-07}} Staggie's background has been influenced by his being a nephew of Rashied of the Hard Livings gang,{{cite web|title=A high-risk life leads from film to novels|url=http://www.bdlive.co.za/life/books/2013/09/03/a-high-risk-life-leads-from-film-to-novels|work=Tonight|accessdate=2013-11-06}} though this was not a direct influence on Risk.{{cite web|title=Risky Business |url=http://www.citypress.co.za/lifestyle/risky-business/ |work=City Press |accessdate=2013-11-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926065132/http://www.citypress.co.za/lifestyle/risky-business/ |archivedate=2013-09-26 }} His filmmaking was influenced primarily by Quentin Tarantino,{{cite web|title=Nothing Ventured: Capetonian 'RISK' Author Jason Staggie on His Daring New Novel |url=http://afripopmag.com/2013/08/nothing-ventured-capetonian-risk-author-jason-staggie-on-his-daring-new-novel/ |work=Afripop! |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824181328/http://afripopmag.com/2013/08/nothing-ventured-capetonian-risk-author-jason-staggie-on-his-daring-new-novel/ |archivedate=2013-08-24 }} and his skills led to his being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kevin Spacey Jameson Prize.{{cite web|title=Jameson First Shot News|url=http://www.jamesonfirstshot.com/news|work=Jameson First Shot|accessdate=2013-11-06}}
Staggie is currently planning another book, named Epic.{{cite web|title=Staggie makes Hard Livings film|url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/movies/staggie-makes-hard-livings-film-1.1578588#.UnoRbXCnpP8|work=Business Day Live|accessdate=2013-11-06}}
Early life
Staggie grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. His mother Cheryl removed him from criminal surroundings, for which he dedicated to her his book Risk.
Since university
Staggie graduated UCT with a degree in psychology in 2005,{{cite web|title=Jason Staggie - The Power of Storytelling |url=http://www.anewuprising.co.za/main/jason-staggie-the-power-of-storytelling/ |work=A New Uprising |accessdate=2013-11-06 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115083303/http://www.anewuprising.co.za/main/jason-staggie-the-power-of-storytelling/ |archivedate=2013-11-15 }} then moved to Ireland to raise funds for charities. After Ireland he taught ESL in South Korea before moving to Prague, Czech Republic, where he studied directing and screenwriting at Prague Film School. He is now living back in Cape Town, where he studied for his honours at UNISA, and made a documentary about the Hard Livings gang.{{cite web|url=http://www.iol.co.za/tonight/movies/staggie-makes-hard-livings-film-1.1578588|title=Staggie makes Hard Livings film|work=Independent Online|accessdate=16 February 2015}}{{Cite web|url=http://nfvf.co.za/home/index.php?ipkMenuID=33&ipkArticleID=133|title = NFVF Approved Projects 2014 – 2015: Cycle 2}}
In 2013, Staggie's Fluxus video poem "Requiem for Lithium" was selected for the Visible Verse Festival in Vancouver.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecinematheque.ca/visible-verse-2013-festival/screen|title=On Screen|publisher=Thecinematheque.ca|accessdate=16 February 2015}}
In 2014, Staggie's short story "Beaufort West" was published in the Sunday Times Lifestyle magazine's “FFWD >> 2034 The Future Fiction Edition”. The special edition was published to celebrate 20 years of democracy in South Africa and featured short stories by 40 top South Africa authors set in South Africa on 27 April 2034 – 20 years after the publication date.{{cite web|url=http://bookslive.co.za/blog/2014/05/12/read-sunday-times-future-fiction-edition-featuring-short-stories-set-in-2034-from-40-top-sa-authors/|title=Read Sunday Times' Future Fiction Edition Featuring Short Stories Set in 2034 from 40 Top SA Authors - Books LIVE|work=Books LIVE @ Books LIVE|accessdate=16 February 2015}}
Films
In 2021, Staggie's debut documentary feature film, Hard Livings premiered at the Durban International Film Festival.{{Citation|title=DIFF {{!}} Hard Livings|url=https://www.durbanfilmfest.com/film/hard-livings/|language=en|access-date=2021-11-10}}{{Cite web|title=SPLA {{!}} Hard Livings|url=http://www.spla.pro/fiche.film.hard-livings.22950.html|access-date=2021-11-10|website=Spla|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Durban International Film Festival announces films in competition – Durban Film Festival|url=https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/durban-international-film-festival-announces-films-in-competition/|access-date=2021-11-10|language=en-ZA}} The film was well received at the festival{{Cite web|title=Hard Livings an intriguing documentary about gangsterism|url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/entertainment/2021-07-30-hard-livings-an-intriguing-documentary-about-gangsterism/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=SowetanLIVE|language=en-ZA}} and was a finalist for the Audience Award.{{Cite web|title=Local content dominates at this year’s Durban International Film Festival|url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/streaming/local-content-dominates-at-this-years-durban-international-film-festival-5f84d7c6-3a4e-4c12-859f-c1304f293369|access-date=2021-11-10|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}} The film also screened, amongst others, at the One People International Film Festival in Cape Town,{{Cite web|title=ONE PEOPLE FILM FESTIVAL|url=http://onepeoplefilmfestival.com/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=onepeoplefilmfestival.com}}{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Brian Tristam|title=Hard Livings|url=https://content.numetro.co.za/basic_movie_info.php?movieid=5952|access-date=2021-11-10|website=Nu Metro Content|language=en-ZA}} The African Diaspora International Film Festival in New York City,{{Cite web|title=NYADIFF 2021|url=https://nyadiff21.eventive.org/films?filterTags%5B614ba0c4f3bdca005b812d88%5D=true|access-date=2021-11-10|website=nyadiff21.eventive.org}} as well as the Tagore International Film Festival, where it won the Critics Choice Award.{{Cite web|title=FILMS OF THE MONTH – MAY 2021 – TIFF|url=https://tiff-b.com/films-of-the-month-may-2021/|access-date=2021-11-10|language=en-US}}