Six Years Ago Today The Journey Began
Six years ago today I recorded my first video footage with John Sears, aka Mule, and his three animal companions, Lady, Little Girl, and Pepper. It was Christmas Eve, 2012. My whole family was together for the holidays and I was reluctant to go off on a wild goose (or mule) chase. But as a documentary filmmaker, I sensed a good story. I headed for the Pasadena Arroyo in search of the guy with the mules.
No luck at first, but then I finally discovered him, already packing up to start on the next leg of his trip to who knows where. He accepted a cup of coffee that I have brought with me. He talked a bit, very softly. With some reluctance he allowed me to retrieve the video camera from my car. Surprisingly, with the camera running, he talked more. His words resonated with me, and I realized then and there that I was about to embark on a filmmaking adventure unlike any I had ever experienced. Now, six years later, my journey is far from over. In 200 days of filming over a 27-month period, I shot 300 hours of footage. It has and will continue to be a huge, long-term editing job to complete a full-length documentary and preserve the legacy of this special man and what he represents.
MULE: Living on the Outside is a personal independent documentary, not a commercially financed venture commissioned by a media company with deep pockets. If you believe in the project and would like to be a part of getting the film completed, tax-deductible donations can be made on my website 3MulesMovie.com. Your support is greatly appreciated, and I know you will enjoy the final film when I share it with you.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
John
P.S. Please “Follow” on Facebook or subscribe to my Newsletter and watch my short video clips–one from each day I spent filming The Mules.
