Sunday, November 17, 2013

Meet Muley the Mule

Every company has its flagship character and so do we.  Meet Muleton Mule, Jr., who his friends call "Muley the Mule" or "Muley" for short.  And, parents, stay 'tooned until the end for an important note!

This hyperactive 6-year-old loves to entertain, and loves drawing and puppetry.  He...well, let's let him tell you in his own words:


A bit more about Muley:



And, don't forget that you can get his full bio in the comic strip collection Muley's Comix and Stories!
http://www.indyplanet.com/front/product/71008/

 
FUN AND GAMES


Boxy Muley created by Janet Wade, personal assistant of Missy Mule.
Right-click and save to your computer, then print in color!

Right-click, save to your computer, and print out!
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LETTER TO PARENTS:
Leadership, by Angela Freeman


What is a leader?  According to entrepreneur Akhil Shahani, leadership is defined as, “The process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective.” Leaders are not always those who are hired or appointed to be in charge of others. Sometimes leaders are those who are appointed by people who desire to follow in the footsteps of those who are influencing them. There are good leaders, those who lead or influence people to follow them and then share their successes, and there are bad leaders who influence people to follow them into trouble and then abandon them to suffer the consequences by themselves. It is important to learn to be a good leader.
Who can be a leader?  Anyone can be a leader, but it takes a very special person to be a good leader. A good leader takes responsibility for the decisions they make and the results that occur because of those decisions. A good leader looks out for the best interests of those who are following.

Why teach children leadership?  Teaching leadership to children helps them to develop responsibility by giving them decision making opportunities. Giving children a chance to make decisions gives them self-confidence and the ability to make larger decisions that can matter further down the road of life. 
How can you teach a child to be a leader?  Start by letting your child make small, every day decisions. For instance, allow your child to decide when to clean their room by giving them two different choices and explaining to them the benefits and disadvantages of each choice (such as Saturday morning or Sunday morning). After allowing your child to make small every day decisions, allow them to take on one small task and be in charge of it from beginning to end. Eventually, your child will develop leadership skills which can be used throughout their entire lives.

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What can YOU do to teach your child about leadership?  Choosing what's for dinner? Choosing a book to read at bedtime?  Choosing what to watch on TV (preferably US!)?  Choosing clothes to wear to school?  There are a lot of responsibility training things you can do to put your child in a leadership role.  Discuss what leadership means in your household.

If you have questions for Muley the Mule or the team, use our comments section below, or you can visit Muley at his Facebook page by clicking here.

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Video Credits:
Featuring Muley the Mule
Videography, editing, music by Ed Griffith
Sound: Drew Russom, Brad Alsobrook
Camera assists by Lisa Fletcher
Written/Created by Kevin L. Williams
Assistant to Muley the Mule, Kevin L. Williams
 

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Behind-the-Scenes Photos: The Muley and Friends Show - Intro Videos

There was a lot of fun as we got together and did video introductions for the characters to be featured in the upcoming "The Muley and Friends Show."  You'll soon get to meet:

Muley the Mule (Muleton Mule, Jr.)
Missy Mule
Buford the Dog
Roy Duck
Jonathan Monroe
Nora Moore

And for a few followers, you'll be glad to see a special cameo by the Santa Fish.

The intro videos will be followed by some Fun-n-Games, and a letter by an educator to help parents and children work together.  There will be a lot of fun times for you as well as us!

Script and Screen Shot Storyboards

When you're the photographer, you seldom get to be in pictures.
When you are the photographer and you get to show up in pictures,
they look like this.

Brad Alsobrook sitting with Missy Mule's backdrop

Andrew Chandler studies a 1976 map of Walt Disney World.

Drew Russom makes everyone sound great.

Ed Griffith directs from the camera, Lisa Fletcher looks on.

Jonathan meets Santa Fish for the first time again...
hope he likes eating seafood.

Martheus Wade has such a bright aura.

Buford the Dog, Muley the Mule, and Roy Duck take a rest.

Nora rests on Jonathan's couch, reading a graphic novel,
and is interrupted by Missy Mule.

Missy Mule thinking she's going to be on a show
called 'The Missy and Friends Show.'

Janet Wade waiting to assist Missy Mule, and
Nora is still reading.

Brad holds the microphone to get good sound of Nora and Missy.

Created, written, directed by Kevin L. Williams
Videography, direction by Ed Griffith
Sound by Brad Alsobrook and Drew Russom

Jonathan Monroe performed by Jonathan McCarver
Nora Moore performed by Nora Childers

Assistants to:
Muley the Mule - Kevin L. Williams
Buford the Dog, Santa Fish - Martheus Wade
Roy Duck - Andrew Chandler
Missy Muley - Janet Wade