Homemade Christmas Film Takes Flight
By Jill Dando News
Re-engage supporter Sam Clegg has taken the charts and internet by storm with his home-made, John Lewis-inspired, festive film featuring the Christmas tune ‘Send me a Sign’, which highlights the impact of loneliness.
The three-and-a-half minute video has been viewed 1.7 million times on YouTube, 400,000 times on Tik Tok and over 1,100 copies of the record have been sold on iTunes alone - last week it topped the download charts.
Sam, 25, from Keighley, West Yorkshire, said:
“The response has been absolutely overwhelming. I can’t believe how well it’s gone. I’m really humbled by people saying how good it is and also very pleased that it’s getting attention and money for Re-engage. John Lewis have even been in touch congratulating me.”
This is Sam’s fourth Christmas song and he is donating 79p from each sale to us and Friends of the Elderly. He hopes to get over £1,000 which will be equally shared.
The video, which cost Sam £500 to make, features an older man, Mark - played by Paul Noble - who helps a robin which has been hurt in a storm before visiting the grave of his wife Robyn.
Sam said the idea had come from his mum who, whenever she saw a robin in their garden, would say it was his gran letting her know she was okay.
“During Covid I felt low and began to imagine just how hard it must be for older people, particularly at Christmas. That’s when I first started thinking about making a video to get some funds for Re-engage. I think it’s in everybody’s interest to look after older people.”
Sam, who began writing music when he was 12, said ‘Send me a Sign’ came together over about a month with input from his younger brother Roman.
Paul came forward after seeing a message on Facebook posted by the brothers’ mum appealing for someone to play the lead role. Events singer Katie Wilkinson, and theatre worker, Ben Wysocki, played a younger Mark and Robyn.
Sam, a marketing and digital content creator, has raised money for Re-engage from previous songs and aims to do more.
He added: “I can’t think of a better way to use my energy.”
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