Christmas Charity Music Video Project

Christmas image accompanying the MarkMeets festive music video project

The MarkMeets Christmas Project: “It’s Magic at Christmas”

The MarkMeets Christmas project brought together a festive song, a music video proposal and a call for families, couples and friends to share their Christmas memories.

In 2023, we invited readers to contribute photographs and short video clips for It’s Magic at Christmas. The project was planned in support of Great Ormond Street Hospital, with an idea built around the ordinary moments that make Christmas special: someone arriving at the door, a family gathering or a grandparent joining in the celebrations.

This page records the original project and its appeal for contributors. The 2023 casting call and submission window are now closed.

The Idea Behind the Video

The brief was simple. We wanted footage that felt like a family Christmas, rather than a polished advert. That could mean a crowded living room, a slightly chaotic party, a toast around the table or a quiet conversation with your nan in her paper hat.

The original call sought 12 couples or families, alongside contributions from friends and other readers. People were invited to send Christmas photographs and video clips lasting between two and five seconds.

We also asked whether contributors could join us in London for audience shots as part of a proposed stage shoot. Those attending would have needed to cover their own travel and expenses.

The Christmas Moments We Asked For

We encouraged contributors to look through their photographs or record a short scene that captured their own version of Christmas. Suggestions included:

Families welcoming loved ones at the front door.
Friends getting together and raising a festive drink.
Dancing, party games and people enjoying themselves.
A quiet chat with a grandparent wearing a Christmas hat.
A group calling “Merry Christmas” to the camera on their local high street.

Christmas jumpers, paper hats and tinsel were all welcome. We requested footage in 4K where possible, giving the editing team more flexibility when preparing the video.

The emphasis was on recognisable moments. Contributors did not need a perfect house or a carefully arranged scene; the appeal was for the people and small traditions that made their Christmas their own.

The Song and Planned Production

It’s Magic at Christmas was an original song associated with the project. At the time of the appeal, the recording had been completed and preparations were being discussed for filming later in the summer.

The proposed video combined performance footage with scenes of people celebrating Christmas. Plans included green-screen segments, with selected photographs and clips also intended for promotional use on social media in support of the song and video.

These details describe the original production brief. They should not be read as confirmation that every proposed scene was filmed or that every submitted contribution appeared in a final release.

A Call for Creative and Practical Help

The project also invited people to help behind the scenes. Alongside footage from readers, we asked for support with planning, filming, editing and practical preparations.

That appeal included:

Creating a storyboard and helping shape the video.
Suggesting suitable filming locations.
Joining the video production or editing team.
Identifying companies willing to donate presents for children at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Helping to wrap donated presents.

These were requests for support made during the original campaign, rather than a record of donations received or arrangements completed.

Contributor Information From the Original Appeal

Contributors were asked to provide their name, explain where their photograph or footage had been taken and share why the moment mattered to them.

The appeal required parental permission for anyone under 18. It also explained that submitted material could be selected for the music video and related promotion.

The original notice stated that unused content would be deleted within 14 days of the final edit, which was then expected in November 2023. This was the stated handling arrangement for that submission period, rather than an invitation to send new material.

Thank You to Those Who Offered Their Support

Thank you to everyone who took an interest in the idea, offered their time or considered sharing a piece of their family Christmas. A project like this depends on people being willing to help, whether that means filming a short clip, suggesting a location or offering practical support.

For questions about the past project, email Press@MarkMeets.com. Please do not send new photographs or footage for the closed 2023 casting call.

Mark Boardman
Founder of MarkMeets, part-time songwriter and media commentator.

Author Profile

Mark Meets

Articles published under the MarkMeets byline are written and edited by our shared editorial team. Our coverage spans entertainment, business, technology, lifestyle and other topics of interest to MarkMeets readers.