“Baby We’re The Firework!!!”

The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match. Each one of you is a fuse. Edward Koch

Produced, organized, choreographed, filmed, and edited by student Michael Lotspeich (Class of 2013). For any questions or comments about this LipDub, pop a line to ifyouknewthestorm@gmail.com

This video is an excerpt from our school documentary “If You Knew The Storm” (also produced by Michael Lotspeich), premiering in May 2011.

Bureau Valley High School is a high school located on 9154 County Road 2125 North in Manlius, Illinois. It was formed by consolidation of four school districts in 1995 (Manlius, Western, Wyanet, and Walnut). Students are from ten different villages (Bradford, IL, Buda, IL, Harmon, IL, Manlius, IL, New Bedford, IL, Normandy, IL, Sheffield, IL, Thomas, IL, Walnut, IL, Wyanet, IL), three different area codes (815, 309, 779), and four counties (Bureau, Stark, Lee, Whiteside).

There are just over 400 students currently attending the school, and 250 of them were able to participate in our LipDub.

Over the course of three months, multiple study hall periods (30min), seven meetings in the auditorium, and four filming dates; the Bureau Valley High School student body was able to produce a hommage to their school’s motto of Unity, Excellence, and Pride.

The song “Firework” by Katy Perry is copyrighted by Capitol Records. The writers were Katy Perry, Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm, and Ester Dean.

Katy Perry, Thank you so much for this song! It really is an inspiration to us. It encourages us to break out to find and make our mark in the world. Almost like letting your name be known, and not being afraid to achieve anything. Nothing is just a dream, you can live it.

The entire thing was created with a tripod mounted to a wheelchair, a $99 Flip Video Camcorder, and iMovie ’11.

I want to make a final thank-you to Mr. Mike Patterson, and everyone in the high school office for their support during this. It wasn’t easy to organize over thirty-five groups, and your positive attitudes encouraged me to keep going.

-In order of appearance: Stormy the Storm-petrel, Varsity Club, Drama Club, Student Council, Assorted Students, Office Staff, Drill Team, Chorus, Show Choir, Jazz Band, Band, Cross Country, Golf, Football Gator, Cheerleaders, Football, Baseball/Softball, Drivers Ed Car, Volleyball, Track, Basketball, Home Ec Club, Art Club, Assorted Students/Teachers, German Club, Future Farmers of America, Advanced Science Club, Assorted Students/Teachers, National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Newspaper Staff, Scholastic Bowl, History Club, Yearbook, Library Aides, Cheerleaders, A Conglomeration of Groups.

The School Song “Go U Bureau Valley” is performed by the Bureau Valley High School Pep Band under the direction of Mrs. Ann Lusher.