High schools give each other lip in video battle

ARLINGTON — So just how does anyone judge a high school lip dub contest?

First, one has to determine if school spirit is portrayed in each music video. Then there’s an examination of the quality of lip-synching, audio dubbing, acting and dancing by hundreds of students. Creativity is scrutinized. Above all, it has to be obvious that each lip dub was filmed in one continuous take.

The art of the lip dub is not new, but Arlington High School students hope to make regional, competitive lip dub an annual event.

The first Wesco Invitational Lip Dub Competition on Wednesday evening at Arlington included videos by

“>Henry M. Jackson, “>La Conner,

“>Mount Vernon, “>Shorecrest high schools

Student leader Hailey Brooker, her team of Everett High Seagulls and their mascot Sammy filmed their lip dub on Monday on both sides of Colby Avenue to tunes by Passion Pit and MC Hammer. The final shot in front of Everett’s classic old building was made with the help of a crane brought in by a parent. The long, high exit shot from the boom made for the best ending of all the videos shown on Wednesday.

Jackson High students put their lip dub on YouTube earlier this spring. Directed and filmed by Mitchell and Chase Weholt, the video’s dubbed song is “Good Time” by Owl City. It’s clear from the video that the Wolfpack does indeed have fun. The best thing about the Jackson lip dub is that the Weholts filmed it while walking backward. In most other lip dubs, the kids in the video skip backward while looking over their shoulders to see where they’re going.

Arlington’s students kept their lip dub under wraps until this week, said coordinator Mario Mirante. Filmed on campus before Christmas break, it was produced using a medley of tunes by the band Queen. In fact, school choir members enjoyed the Queen harmonies so much, they sang the last bit of the last song. The video includes zombies, nerdy boys, dressed-up girls, the Arlington Police Department, kids in Seattle Sonics jerseys, teachers in their classrooms and Darth Vader.

Arlington’s cameraman Nate Pitocco said it wasn’t an easy project.

“Video is my passion, though, and I hope to go to film school, so the lip dub was a great opportunity,” Nate said.

Professional videographers Sean Burke and Kyle Sutter, judges for this year’s competition, said they had a difficult time choosing a winner.

In the end Arlington edged out Jackson by one point for first place. Third place went to Sedro-Woolley, which dubbed Macklemore’s “Can’t Hold Us.”

The benefits of the lip dub are many, said Arlington student body adviser Ben Ballew.

“The videos get all the kids working together on something fun,” Ballew said. “It’s exciting to see the enthusiasm. It’s an experience they won’t forget.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

Lip dub videos

Everett High School:

Arlington High School:

Jackson High School:

Sedro-Woolley High School:

Shorecrest High School:

Mount Vernon High School:

La Conner High School:

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.