In a testament to the power of compelling storytelling, Stephen “Spling” Aspeling, the founder of reviewmyscript.com and a respected film critic and script editor, has achieved notable success in the SAfm radio scriptwriting competition. His psychological thriller, Close to Home, secured second place amongst a field of fierce competition. The story journeys with a woman struggling with PTSD who goes on a solo writer’s retreat to a small coastal village in order to heal, only to confront the shadows of her past.
The SAfm competition, known for its commitment to nurturing South African talent, drew an impressive 675 submissions. From this extensive pool, only 10 finalists were selected, highlighting the exceptional quality of Spling’s work. Notably, the judging process was conducted anonymously, ensuring that each script was evaluated purely on its merit.
Aspeling’s achievement is particularly significant considering his established career in film criticism and script editing. His deep understanding of narrative structure and character development has clearly translated into a powerful radio drama. Close to Home, a psychological thriller, promises to deliver a gripping auditory experience for listeners with Aspeling tapping into some bold new sound terrain through intrusive thoughts, flashbacks and via our over-reliance on technology.
The winning radio play script was from Jessica Glendinning for ‘The Past is a Foreign Country’ with fellow WGSA member, Aneesah Kader taking third prize for her script, ‘Mayaa’. The competition’s format ensures that the finalists’ work will reach a wide audience. All 10 of the competition finalists are set to have their work produced by SAfm’s Drama department and broadcast on the national radio station in the coming year. This provides a valuable platform for South African writers to showcase their talent and contribute to the rich tradition of radio drama.
For those familiar with Spling’s work, this achievement comes as no surprise. He has long been a prominent voice in the South African film industry, offering insightful critiques and valuable script editing services. His dedication to the art of storytelling is evident in his diverse body of work. The radio playwright wants to adapt his award-winning script into a feature film script as an upcoming project.
Stephen ‘Spling’ Aspeling is a film critic and script editor, the founder of reviewmyscript.com, providing script consulting services. Spling has a radio presence, having hosted over 500 episodes of ‘Talking Movies’, a radio program on Fine Music Radio. A member of FIPRESCI, Aspeling has also been a judge for film schools and film festivals. The author of ‘The Essence of Dreams: An Anthology of Film Reviews’, Spling continues to champion film as a pundit, screenwriter and aspiring film-maker in South Africa.
The upcoming broadcast of “Close to Home” on SAfm is eagerly anticipated, offering listeners a chance to experience Aspeling’s talent in a new and exciting format. This victory serves as a reminder of the enduring power of storytelling and the importance of platforms that support and celebrate creative talent.