Vaccinate LA Films

 As part of VaccinateLA (Kipke/Baezconde-Garbanati, PIs), Jeremy Kagan and Sheila Murphy’s Telling Stories, Saving Lives worked with young Latinx and African American filmmakers trained at USC School of Cinematic Arts to create two short stories that debunk common myths that underlie vaccine hesitancy in those specific populations.

Of Reasons and Rumors follows a tight-knit Latino family in East LA and an African-American family in South LA celebrating their grandmother’s birthday. Except some family members are hesitant about getting their shot. Teresa Cualquiera is worried about side effects and her fertility, but her sister shows her what’s true and what’s just a rumor. Melanie’s family wants to travel but doesn’t want to get their shot. An argument at the dinner table leads to an honest discussion about the Tuskegee experiment, safety, and the vaccine. Both videos feature the work of young Latino and African-American filmmakers and actors, and is a production of USC, VaccinateLA and StayConnectedLA.

Happy Birthday Granny revolves around an African American family in South LA celebrating their grandmother’s birthday when an argument leads to an honest discussion about the truth about the development and safety of the Covid vaccine.