Public showings of video will take place at 3:15 and 6 p.m.
RAW VIDEO OF STUDENTS MAKING LIP DUB, AS WELL AS COMMENTS FROM THE LAKOTA EAST LIP DUB TEAM
The Lakota East National Honor Society had a unique plan to raise awareness and funds for the Center for Spina Bifida Care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
They decided to do a “lip dub”, where roughly 3,000 students, teachers and community members participated in a video where they lip-synced five popular songs from artists, including the Black Eyed Peas, One Direction and Smash Mouth.
The original idea gained local support from University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo. However, all along, the school wanted to drive up national awareness by getting the attention of Ellen DeGeneres.
Students email blitzed anyone they thought could be connected to her show, tweeted #WeWantEllen and @TheEllenShow, as well as sent out close to 600 letters to producers pitching their story – their idea – their cause.
“Ellen is open to accepting challenges,” said senior Sydney Aten, NHS president. “She is not only a figure who has respect from multiple groups of people, but she can connect with almost everyone. We wanted to find someone who everyone looks up to and admires.”
The video was filmed April 18 at the high school. Film students from East and UC pointed the cameras, while Aten and her NHS team told them what to shoot. Students were lip-synching to the music, dressed up in costumes, danced in the background, as well as used roller blades, glow sticks and a helicopter in an impressive production that lasted only one Thursday afternoon.
The week before the filming, producers of the “Ellen Show” contacted the school. Aten said a producer told her that the “Ellen Show’’ is supportive of the cause and their efforts. They said they wanted to get the message out and are anxiously waiting for the release of the video.
That day is here, as the video will premiere Friday at Lakota East High School. There will be two showings, which are open to the public, at the school. The first showing will be at 3:15 p.m. and the second showing is at 6 p.m. Seating will be available on a first come/first serve basis.
To donate, go to the school’s donation site through Cincinnati Children’s website, giving.cincinnatichildrens.org/netcommunity/eastnhsdub.
BRONSON ARROYO AND LAKOTA EAST STUDENTS TALK ABOUT THEIR PROJECT AND ABOUT AMELIA MURPHY, A STUDENT AT VANGORDEN ELEMENTARY WHO INSPIRED THE COMMUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR SPINA BIFIDA
