Jason Staggie

Jason Staggie is a South African filmmaker and writer of transgressive fiction. His style has been compared with Anthony Burgess, Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh.

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, 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 Staggie's background has been influenced by his being a nephew of Rashied of the Hard Livings gang, though this was not a direct influence on Risk. His filmmaking was influenced primarily by Quentin Tarantino, and his skills led to his being selected as a finalist in the 2013 Kevin Spacey Jameson Prize.

Staggie is currently planning another book, named Epic.

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, 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, studying for his honours at UNISA. He is also making a documentary about the Hard Livings gang.

In 2013 Staggie's Fluxus video poem "Requiem for Lithium" was selected for the Visible Verse Festival in Vancouver.

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.