Friends’ video becomes You Tube sensation

Since the musical film – involving pupils and some staff at the Lisburn school – went on the YouTube website last Friday it has recorded over 175,000 hits as viewers seek to catch a glimpse of the singing and dancing gem.

The video – recorded using only a digital camera – is also generating positive feedback with hundreds of favourable comments from around the world.

In the film, a new first year pupil tells her mother of her apprehension ahead of her first day at the school, before walking into the main building.

But she is greeted by a scene of euphoria as hundreds of fellow students and teachers sing and dance their way through a maze of corridors.

The unique ensemble also features pupils engaging in unicycling, gymnastics and roller-skating as others showcase the activities on offer at the school.

Viewers then watch the school choir singing in the assembly hall before the room erupts with pupils dancing in a mad frenzy.

To end the video – which includes the soundtrack of classic US sitcom Friends – participants form the school’s initials, FSL, on the outside playing fields.

The brainchild of the project, PE teacher Stephen Robinson, admitted the response to the online initiative had been “surreal”.

He revealed he came up with the concept last year having watched a promotional video produced by a Canadian university.

“We did a couple of videos in the past couple of years but we wanted to do something slightly different and aim it towards new pupils,” he said.

After gaining approval from the principal and presenting his idea to pupils in October, a committee was formed to decide the video’s content.

Paying tribute to pupils for their involvement, Mr Robinson said: “I have to admit the night before I was nervous because I wasn’t sure how it was going to work out.

“But they basically outdid themselves on the final day and final take – it was just astonishing.”

The teacher expressed his amazement at the online response, revealing he has received positive comments from as far away as Australia and America.

Mr Robinson was assisted in his project by former pupil, Matt Good, 18, who was responsible for filming the video last month.

Friends’ principal Elizabeth Dickson, who herself participated in the recording, praised all those involved.

“I think the way the video turned out shows the community at the school,” she said.

“There is a tremendous sense of friendship and very good relationships between the pupils and members of staff.”

To see the Friends LipDub video click here YouTube