A lip dub is one continuous shot of the entire studio performing a song — every learner has a moment, every part of the studio gets used. The camera moves through the space, learners hand off the "spotlight," the song plays once start to finish, and at the end you have one video that captures the whole tribe in motion. It's the centerpiece of Exhibition Day. It takes weeks to do well.
The lip dub doesn't get introduced until the studio is ready — typically Week 4. Earlier and the tribe doesn't have the muscle. Later and you run out of runway. Final film happens by mid-Week 6.
Mission roles activated when the project kicks off in Week 4.
The learner who films. They develop the camera path, practice the moves, learn to hold a steady shot, manage the song playback. Big responsibility — usually held by a returner.
Maps moves to lyrics. Designs the group moments. Coaches reluctant performers. Calls the shots during practice.
Manages the song file, the speaker, the playback. Ensures the timing is exact. Holds the watch during dry runs.
Tracks the camera path on a paper map. Catches inconsistencies between takes. Reminds everyone where they need to be when.
If light edits are needed (color, sound levels, opening title), this learner does them. Usually after Wednesday's final take.
Everyone else. Every learner has at least one moment — a lyric, a dance bit, a visual gag.
Picking too long a song. Stay under 4 minutes. Sub-3 is even better. A 5-minute lip dub is misery to film.
Choosing a song with inappropriate content. Read the lyrics, all of them. Some "clean" songs have second verses that are not clean. The studio votes; the guide vetoes if needed.
Letting one learner dominate. If a returner ends up with 10 lines and a quiet learner ends up with 0, fix it before Week 5 ends. Every learner gets a moment.
Underestimating the camera path. Walking and filming smoothly is hard. The Camera Operator needs real practice. Try a few practice runs with just the camera and music — no performance.
Calling Wednesday's final take "the take" when it's not ready. If the studio knows they bombed it, take it again Thursday morning. Don't lock in a take you'll regret. But also don't keep re-shooting forever — at some point, the imperfections are the charm.
The studio picks. But here's the criteria checklist for whatever they bring forward: