That’s what film critic Roger Ebert calls it. This remarkable YouTube video has racked up nearly 3 million views in just two weeks, and has received favorable press from all the U.S. news networks and many international news sources. Some talented people from Grand Rapids, Michigan produced the video in answer to a recent Newsweek allusion that Grand Rapids was a “dying city.”

Urban artist and Grand Rapids native Rob Bliss designed this awesome nine-minutes-plus lip-synch production to be shot in one single, sweeping take. It includes thousands of Grand Rapids celebrities and residents, a marching band, kayakers, fireworks and much, much more -all carefully choreographed from start to finish.

The video had a $40,000 budget which was underwritten by local sponsors. Bliss directed five takes; the last one was the keeper. As one viewer said, “I wish EVERY American City had as much pride as Grand Rapids.” The video will bring a tear to the eye of anyone with an ounce of civic pride… and certainly should provide some serious food for thought for ambitious videomakers and producers!

How Did They Stage This?

Watch “The Grand Rapids LipDub” once with the sound off, and imagine the directions that are being shouted to the groups of performers, each waiting their cue to jump into the event. The video was shot from a John Deere Gator by a cameraman wearing a Steadicam. He jumps off the Gator at various points in the production, and finally backs into a helicopter cargo bay for the final aerial sequence.

This video was a complex production that was very well planned and executed. Just read the end credits to get an idea how many people it took to make.

Here’s a behind-the-scene look at the making of the video: http://youtu.be/5mEfDka4w6Mheighth