These Navy Midshipmen Made A Hilarious Music Video With Zero Dollars

In Annapolis, where the U.S. Naval Academy trains future leaders, marines and sailors take well-deserved breaks to recharge. During one of these moments, Rylan, along with about 60 of his fellow midshipmen, including the Trident jazz/swing band, decided to have some fun. With no budget and plenty of creativity, they filmed a hilarious music video parody about their city.

“It’s all midshipman-run,” Rylan told Navy Times. “Every single person in front of and behind the camera was a midshipman, and our budget was a whopping $0.”

The entire project was midshipman-run, from the talent on screen to those behind the camera, proving that even with zero funding, a great idea and teamwork can bring something special to life.

Rylan and his team gave Bruno Mars’ hit “Uptown Funk” a creative twist by rewriting the lyrics and calling it “Naptown Funk.” With a Canon 5D camera and a drone borrowed from another midshipman, they set out to create a memorable video.

The group managed to secure a permit to shut down Maryland Avenue, a popular cobblestone street lined with shops and restaurants, for a few hours. The clock was ticking, though, as they had only four hours to film before needing to return for the Navy football game they were required to attend. The result was a fun, energetic video captured against the backdrop of a lively town.

The video attracted 8.6M views with thousands of compliments. A person said, “It’s funny, fresh, funky, entertaining and very fun to watch. I love a man in uniform who can dance!”

Another shared, “I never get tired of watching this. It’s so fun and puts me in a good mood every time! Love the brass overlay of “Anchors Away” near the end – that was inspired musicianship!
Living near Annapolis I get to see all the young midshipmen strolling around town in their spiffy white uniforms – and it just swells the heart of this former navy wife with pride when I see them! They are such a credit to their nation!”