CTV News Montreal

Updated: Wed Sep. 23 2009 11:03:39 AM

ctvmontreal.ca

A walking, first-person perspective video shot by UQAM students and set to a Black-Eyed Peas hit has turned into an online sensation.

The lip-synched remake of the song "I Got a Feeling" was put together by communications students to promote their department, but it has since gone viral with more than 55,000 Youtube hits.

The video transports the viewer through UQAM's front door, down the hallways and into the atrium while dozens of colourfully-dressed students scream and preen to the up-tempo dance track.

Co-directors Luc-Olivier Cloutier and Marie-Eve Hebert told Canada AM that the popularity of their creation was a surprise.

"We didn't expect it, all the attention from the media at all," Hebert said from Montreal.

"We're happy about it, really proud but surprised, really surprised."

Logistics

Cloutier says it was difficult to coordinate 172 students in one take.

"The problem was we didn't know before how many people should be there for the dub so we cannot plan," he said.

Cloutier said the video was eventually shot in two takes. Despite some minor glitches, the pair is proud of the final product.

"We decided to keep this take because (of) the vibe," said Cloutier.

"Everybody was in it ... we didn't want to have a good technical dub but ... with bad people, with no energy inside."

Unintended benefits

Someone with clout might have been watching -- Cloutier and Hebert both received job offers after their video hit the web.

- With files from ctv.ca -