Sarasota gets 'Happy'

In recent weeks, people in cities around the world have filmed music videos for Pharrell Williams' hit song, "Happy," as part of the United Nations' celebration of the International Day of Happiness on March 20. The videos, some with hundreds of thousands of YouTube views, feature residents of each city dancing and lip syncing to the song in different locations around their city.

Now, Sarasota has recorded a "Happy" video of its own, which I was lucky enough to participate in! "Sarasota: Destination Happy," showcases some of what makes Sarasota unique — our beautiful coastline, our commitment to the arts and our vibrant downtown.

A team of Sarasotans planned, filmed and edited the video to show the world why our city is so unique. Featured in the video were local performers from Asolo Repertory Theatre, the Players Theatre, girls from Girls Inc. of Sarasota, students from Ringling College of Art and Design and several other Sarasota residents and visitors.

Lindsey Nickel-de la O, creative director at Nickel Communications, was inspired by the #happyday videos from cities like Sidney and Cologne and decided that Sarasota should do its own version of the song.

She and the team at Nickel Communications put together a crew of volunteers to plan, shoot, dance and lip sync their way through William’s song while visiting all of Sarasota’s iconic hot spots. Most of the filming was done on Sunday, March 23, at locations including Siesta Key Beach, Five Points Park, the Palm Avenue Garage, Bayfront Park and the Ringling Bridge.

The filming started early Sunday in the morning on beach, where they shot scenes of the group dancing in the surf, spelling out the word “happy” with their arms and frolicking with some beefy lifeguards.

Then the filming moved to Westfield Southgate Mall, where Nickel-de la O’s 4-year-old daughter, Eve, danced in the mall’s main corridor with one of the lip syncing stars, Andy Angstadt.

The Palm Avenue Parking Garage was the setting of the third location, with dancers from the Players Theatre moving to the beat on the roof of the garage and tapping down the staircase near the entrance of Louie’s Modern.

From there, the cast and crew headed to Five Points Park, just as audience members left the Sarasota Opera from the matinee performance. Here you may catch a special appearance by the iconic flamingo bicycle created by Dr. Nik Gapeto.

At Sarasota’s Bayfront Park, ballerinas used sculptures and statues as their canvas to create something of art within art within art. Moored sailboats and the beautiful coastline were also the backdrop as one lip syncer rose from below a seawall as if emerging from Sarasota Bay itself.

As the sun began to set, the team ventured out to capture the final and most ambitious scene of the day. Driving across the Ringling Bridge, yours truly danced in the passenger’s seat of a McLaren convertible at sunset while two videographers rode along in separate cars capturing the magic of the moment.

On Monday, the editing began in earnest, with the team working into the wee hours of the morning to make sure the best raw footage was selected, edited and crafted in a way that showcases what makes Sarasota so unique and beautiful. The final edit is now complete and uploaded to YouTube, so the world can begin watching and learning just what makes Sarasota such a happy place!  Be sure to use the tag #HappyDay

Cast and Crew of “Sarasota: Destination Happy”

Produced and Directed By: 

Lindsey Nickel-de la O

Shot and Edited by:  

Nathaniel Rothenberger and Gena Morgese

Executive Producer: 

Grier Ferguson

Assistants to the Director: 

Evangelina de la O

Edgar de la O

Singers:

Kathryn Parks

Andy Angstadt

Keith Keith Nielsen

Ashley Nicole Jackson

Lindsey Nickel-de la O

Happy Dancers:

Nikki Testa

Ari Colliard

Keith Nielsen

Andrew Angstadt

Haley Faye

Taylor Horner

Brianna Graber

Keith Misja

Brad Ward

Paige Caruso

Meg Linen

Lisa Dolny

Grier Ferguson

Ashley Nicole Jackson

Chase Wentherbee

Peter Colliard

Special Thanks To:

Westfield Southgate Mall

Sarasota Architectural Salvage

Sarasota County

Jonathan Parks Architect

Dr. Nik Gapeto

McLaren