How did Feel Your Best Self Happen?
FYBS is a unique partnership between the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH) and the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry at the University of Connecticut. The collaboration initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to address the emotional challenges faced by schools, children, and their caregivers. Pairing collective expertise in educational psychology and puppetry, the team designed fun, engaging ways to learn simple strategies to calm yourself, catch your feelings, and connect with others. The initial response was overwhelmingly positive, with the project evolving synergistically into the complete FYBS toolkit.
Learn more about the FYBS history in UConn Today.
The Making of Feel Your Best Self
FYBS Cast and Crew
| Created by | Sandra M. Chafouleas & Emily Wicks |
| Executive Producers | Sandra M. Chafouleas & Emily Wicks |
| Original Characters & Stories by | Yanniv Frank |
| Education Content Specialists | Emily A. Iovino & Sandra M. Chafouleas |
Scripts
| Staff Writers | Sarah Nolen, Yanniv Frank, Emily A. Iovino, Sandra M. Chafouleas |
| Script Consultants | Heather Asch, Emily Wicks, Sophie Hall |
| Story Consultant (Ep. 10 Chillax in My Head) | Phoenix Leigh |
Puppet Design & Build
| Character Designers | Yanniv Frank, John Cody |
| Lead Puppet Builder | John Cody |
| Additional Puppet Builders | Jonathan Little, Faye Dupras, Honey Goodenough, Heather Asch, Sarah Nolen |
| Costumer | Sarah Lafferty |
| Additional Costumers | Kaitee Tredway, Honey Goodenough |
Pre-Production
| Supervising Producer | Heather Asch |
| Art Director | Sarah Nolen |
| Producer | Sarah Nolen |
| Digital Set Designer | Juan G. Santos |
| Storyboard Artist | Sarah Nolen |
| Prop Master and Lead Set Builder | Amanda Gibson |
| "Nico" Prop Art by | Yanniv Frank |
| Set Builders | Faye Dupras, Sarah Nolen |
| Puzzle Art (Ep. 9 Be a Kind Helper) | Vince Broelmann |
| Casting Director | Sarah Nolen |
| Casting Assistant | Roxanna Myhrum |
Production
| Studio | Media Arts Center MACFilms.RED |
| Supervising Producer | Heather Asch |
| Director | Sarah Nolen |
| Director of Photography | Luke Geissbühler, Jimmy ODonnell |
| 1st Assistant Director | Leah Schneider |
| Puppet Captain | John Cody |
| Puppet Wrangler | John Cody |
| Assistant Puppet Wrangler | Heather Asch |
| Additional Puppeteers | Heather Asch, Yanniv Frank, Sam Kendall, Sarah Nolen, Anthony Sellitto-Budney |
| 1st Assistant Camera | Rob Curtin |
| DIT / Media Manager | Mark Russell |
| Sound Engineer | David Curtin |
| Script Supervisor | Yanniv Frank |
| Prop Master and Scenic Builder | Amanda Gibson |
| Key Production Assistant | Matthew Sorensen |
| Production Assistants | Jannell Brown, Genna Beth Davidson, Aly Doyle, Sophie Hall, Faiza Hussein, Sam Kendall, Anthony Sellitto-Budney |
| Craft Services Supervisor | Jessica Koslouski |
| Production Accountant | Emily Wicks |
Talent
| "Nico" | Cedwan Hooks |
| "Mena" | Jimmica Collins |
| "CJ" | Stoph Scheer |
| "Dance Teacher" | John Cody |
| "Ice Cream Salesperson" | Jimmica Collins |
| "Darnell" | Yanniv Frank |
| "Brianna" | Heather Asch |
| Voice of "Nico" - Spanish | David Barrera |
| Voice of "Mena" - Spanish | Elvira López |
| Voice of "CJ" - Spanish | Alejandro Uribe |
| Voice of "Dance Teacher" - Spanish | Xavier Coronado |
| Voice of "Ice Cream Salesperson" - Spanish | Luis Javier |
| Voice of "Darnell" - Spanish | Mauricio Ocampo |
| Voice of "Brianna" - Spanish | Graziella Soberani |
Music
| "Theme Song" Music Writer, Arranger, Vocalist, Producer | Ethan Hanzlik |
| "Theme Song" Music Production Advisor | Louis Hanzlik |
Post-Production
| Post-Production House | Luminous Creative Agency |
| Video Editors | Mark Russell, Sarah Nolen, Devin Zuba |
| Visual Effects | Francisco Tang |
| Illustrator | Steve Bermundo |
| Post Production Manager | Bryan Roberts |
| Production Accountant | Sandra M. Chafouleas |
| Spanish Translation | Jessica Koslouski, Marline Reynoso-Vasquez, Ivette Roberts |
CSCH sits between the Neag School of Education and the well-established Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy at the University of Connecticut. The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry is part of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut.
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