TV3 Airs New Movie THE LUCKY SPECIALS, a Sensational Musical Journey with a Powerful Message
ACCRA, GHANA (MAY 23, 2017) — Celebrate Africa Day by watching THE LUCKY SPECIALS on TV3 on May 25 at 3 p.m. An African film for African audiences, this new feature-length film from the producers of the widely-acclaimed movie “Inside Story” follows a guitarist and his friends on their journey to create a new musical sound and catapult their small-time band to the big stage. THE LUCKY SPECIALS is making its west African broadcast premiere after winning awards at the Pan-African Film Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO).
The Lucky Specials are a cover band in a dusty town in southern Africa. Mandla (Oros Mampofu) is a miner by day and plays lead guitar by night. He dreams of making it big in the music industry. When tragedy strikes, the band, Mandla and their friend Nkanyiso (Sivenathi Mabuya) struggle to hold everything together.
Produced by Discovery Learning Alliance and Quizzical Pictures in association with HHMI Tangled Bank Studios, with support from Wellcome Trust, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and USAID and PEPFAR through Management Sciences for Health (MSH), THE LUCKY SPECIALS entertains with its dynamic storyline, new brand of African music, and a unique look at tuberculosis.
South African director Rea Rangaka (Ode in Blood) led a phenomenal cast, including musician Blondie Makhene as Mandla’s mentor Bra Easy; Richard Lukunku (Thina Sobabili), Thomas Gumede (A Place Called Home) and Fulu Mugovhani (Ayanda) as Mandla’s bandmates; and Linda Sebezo (Gauteng Maboneng) as a businesswoman who threatens to make The Lucky Specials’ dreams fall apart.
“Media, particularly film, has immense power to entertain, to express emotions and to inform individuals in a way that nothing else can,” said Aric Noboa, president of Discovery Learning Alliance and producer of THE LUCKY SPECIALS. “This film has it all: a new genre of music created specifically for the movie, a great story and a powerful message. We are privileged to work with our distinguished partners to bring this story to audiences across Africa and around the world.”
“When I read the script, it connected,” said Rangaka. “I am drawn to films that have powerful messages, especially when they come packaged in a good story. This story, as well as working with a great cast and crew, made THE LUCKY SPECIALS a deeply personal experience for me; I think audiences will understand and identify with what the characters are going through.”
“The film is filled with human and social values of family and community solidarity. It directs the viewer towards a future open to hope and perseverance,” said the SIGNIS jury members at FESPACO, where THE LUCKY SPECIALS received the SIGNIS award. SIGNIS is a non-governmental organization that seeks to promote a culture of peace through media.
“Films like THE LUCKY SPECIALS create an opportunity for great storytelling while giving viewers something that they have not seen before,” said Harriet Gavshon, managing director at Quizzical Pictures. “Innovation was key in bringing aspects of the film to life, combining drama with animation.”
“It’s always a great feeling bringing a character to life on-screen, and my character Mandla encounters a complex set of situations that take him down an unexpected path,” said Mampofu. “Figuring out how he evolves throughout the course of the film was fulfilling for me, and I think will be captivating for viewers as well.”
In addition to FESPACO, THE LUCKY SPECIALS was selected for the Toronto Black Film Festival, the Harare International Festival of the Arts, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the Zanzibar International Film Festival.
Learn more about THE LUCKY SPECIALS by visiting www.luckyspecials.com or find updates on Twitter or Facebook (@LuckySpecials).
About Discovery Learning Alliance
Discovery Learning Alliance (DLA) uses the power of media to transform education and improve lives in classrooms and communities around the world. DLA’s mass media initiatives entertain tens of millions around the world while addressing critical education, development and public health issues. For more information, visit www.discoverylearningalliance.org.
About Quizzical Pictures
Quizzical Pictures is a leading South African production house. With awards ranging from the Peabody, the Rose D’Or to numerous local awards, Quizzical Pictures has a reputation for creating drama which combines great storytelling with a social impact. We have created numerous features and series that not only entertain but impact our society for the good: “Inside Story” and “Intersexions” changed perceptions and raised awareness around HIV/AIDS. Our new feature, in collaboration with Discovery Learning Alliance, hopes to do the same for TB. For more information, visit www.quizzical.co.za.
About the Howard Hughes Medical Institute
HHMI plays an influential role in advancing scientific research and education in the United States. Its scientists, located across the United States and around the world, have made important discoveries that advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The Institute also aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research. For more information, please visit www.hhmi.org.
About HHMI Tangled Bank Studios
HHMI Tangled Bank Studios is a production company established and funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as an extension of its longstanding science education mission. Dedicated to the creation of original science documentaries for broadcast, theatrical and digital distribution, the company’s award-winning programs address important contemporary issues and capture compelling stories of discovery across all branches of scientific inquiry. For more information, please visit www.tangledbankstudios.org.
About the Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health. They support bright minds in science, the humanities and the social sciences, as well as education, public engagement and the application of research to medicine. For more information, visit www.wellcome.ac.uk.
About PEPFAR
The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the U.S. Government initiative to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/AIDS around the world. This historic commitment is the largest by any nation to combat a single disease internationally. PEPFAR investments also help alleviate suffering from other diseases, including TB, across the global health spectrum, www.pepfar.gov.
About USAID
USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. In southern Africa, USAID is committed to promoting trade and investment; increasing basic literacy; protecting our environment; combating gender-based violence; achieving an AIDS-free generation; and eradicating TB, https://www.usaid.gov/south-africa.
About Management Sciences for Health and the Leadership, Management & Governance Project
Management Sciences for Health (MSH) builds strong health systems that deliver everything it takes – people, money, medicine, information, and facilities – to prevent disease, treat illness, and empower people to lead healthier lives. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Leadership, Management & Governance (LMG) Project, led by MSH, strengthens health systems to deliver more responsive services to more people. The LMG Project builds on 30 years of the best thinking and practices from organizational development to empower health leaders, managers, and teams to meet and master their most pressing challenges. The LMG Project is funded by the USAID Regional HIV/AIDS Program and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) under Cooperative Agreement OAA-11-00015. For more information, visit www.LMGforHealth.org.