The Lucky Specials
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most pervasive human pathogens on the planet, and it can be fatal if left untreated.
Effective treatments are readily available, and TB can even be cured in most cases, however, misinformation, misconceptions, and ignorance stymie effective TB control and prevention. The burden of TB is particularly high in several locations around the world, including southern Africa.
Tangled Bank Studios developed the dramatic film The Lucky Specials to educate audiences in southern Africa about TB risks and treatments. The film combines an emotional story, lively music, and scientific animations for an engaging, informative experience. Tangled Bank Studios surveyed moviegoers after the film and learned that viewers changed their habits and behaviors to reduce the spread of this widespread disease after seeing the film.
Highlights
20M
viewers from around the world
20
countries in southern Africa held screenings
91%
of viewers surveyed after seeing the film said they would seek a TB test if they experienced symptoms
4
partners came together for the film's distribution
Initiative
The Lucky Specials conveyed important information about TB to encourage both personal and systemic behavior change by:
- Leveraging the power of filmmaking and storytelling to reduce infection rates and increase adherence to treatment
- Using a compelling and entertaining musical story that engages audiences as a vehicle to share information
- Airing the film widely on public broadcast channels
- Appealing to younger audiences that are difficult to reach with public health campaigns
94% of viewers said they found the film entertaining.
Before the movie, I didn't think I could get TB. But after the movie, I felt like TB could affect anyone, and I needed to know if I also have the disease, and I was thinking about other people that I stay with.
Screenings & Events
The Lucky Specials movie was released by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on World Tuberculosis Day, March 24, 2017. Following the SABC premiere, it aired on more than 20 mostly free-to-air broadcast channels across Africa and around the world, reaching over 20 million viewers. The film is available in English, Zulu, Swahili, Portuguese, and French, which allows its message to be shared broadly.
Other screenings included:
- Harare Film Festival
- San Francisco Black Film Festival
- The Telly Awards
- The New York Festivals World Awards
- South African Film and Television Awards
Educational Outreach
In the Classroom and Community
In partnership with Discovery Learning Alliance and Management Science for Health, the outreach campaign developed and evaluated the following materials to accompany the film:
- Facilitators' guide with additional information about TB to enhance community screenings
- Standalone animations produced with material from the film that illustrate how TB infects the lungs and how drugs work to fight TB infection
- Project website which directs visitors to the ministries of health and other reputable agencies with public health information.
Partnerships
The Lucky Specials was produced by Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures in association with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios. Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures modeled this film and outreach campaign on the previously produced, widely acclaimed Inside Story, which focused on HIV and was broadcast to more than 400 million people across Africa.
The Lucky Specials also received support from:
Press Coverage
Management Sciences for Health
MSH partners with Discovery Learning Alliance on new film The Lucky Specials
Friends of the Global Fight
The Lucky Specials: Tuberculosis awareness through storytelling
About the Film
Set in a dusty South African mining town, The Lucky Specials follows Mandla, a hard-working miner by day and a talented lead guitarist for a small-time cover band by night. Driven by dreams of musical stardom, Mandla and his bandmates strive to create a unique sound and break onto the big stage, but their aspirations are jeopardized when a personal tragedy involving tuberculosis (TB) strikes the group.
As Mandla and his friend Nkanyiso struggle to keep their shared dream alive, the film weaves a compelling drama with life-saving public health information, using state-of-the-art animation to demystify the science of TB and challenge the social stigmas surrounding the disease. Ultimately, it is a story of resilience and community solidarity that seeks to inspire and educate audiences through the power of authentic African storytelling.
Learn More
Explore more about The Lucky Specials, read reviews and press coverage, and find out where to watch.