South African director and screenwriter Raoul Dyssell is making waves in the film industry.
He was recently selected as a semi-finalist in the renowned PAGE International Screenwriting Awards.
The global screenwriting contest aims to discover the best new screenwriters from around the world.
The competition offers crucial industry recognition and prizes and acts as a launchpad for up-and-coming writers in various genres seeking to make their mark in the film and television industry.
Dyssell’s TV pilot script, “Money Man”, a gripping crime drama set in Cape Town, was selected by judges who reviewed over 9000 entries from 80 countries.
The story begins with a winning lottery ticket and spirals into chaos. The characters scramble to seize the moment.
“Money Man” delves into universal themes of greed, fate and the true costs associated with sudden wealth.
Dyssell, who was previously a finalist at the Slamdance Screenplay Competition in 2017, said: “These things are very subjective, so I’m incredibly grateful to PAGE for validating my pilot script, given how hard it is to make a dent in this particular competition.”
“I started writing this story nine years ago to explore how a life-changing event can reveal the best and worst in people, and it’s an honour to have it recognised on a global stage.”
He added that the pilot captures Cape Town’s true energy with a grit and scope rarely seen on screen.
“My goal, when it is made, is to show how local stories, when told with honesty and craft, can stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world.”
Since its inception in 2023, the PAGE International Screenwriting Awards has helped sign over 300 writers and produced over 220 projects.
Many writers who have advanced to the semi-final and final rounds of the contest have also been signed by agents and managers, optioned their screenplays, and secured paid writing assignments as well.
Past South African winners include Shivana Naidoo, Dean Ravell, Mechiel Bishoff, Inez Robertson, Neliswa Chigudu and Yemesh Moodley.
These writers have been recognised for their work across various categories, including feature film and television screenplays.
With his placement this year, Dyssell’s screenplay is now in the top 2% of all submissions.
Reflecting on his journey as a screenwriter, Dyssell said that it was the film “Jaws” that inspired him to tell stories.
“It’s the movie that pulled me into wanting to tell stories from a very early age. I was lucky enough to catch the IMAX screening here in 2022 and it reminded me exactly why I started.”
Although he has been slowly working on several productions, turning “Money Man” into a series has been his focus over the past nine years.
“Turning ‘Money Man’ from a feature script into a series has been my flagship for the last nine years. I’ve virtually done nothing else.”
