The production of “Star Wars: Episode VII” has joined forces with Omaze to give us our first look at the set of the film and to invite us to donate to a Unicef charity, all for a chance to win a walk-on role in the film.
It’s an incredibly smart move for a number of reasons. First, we’re going to be pining for any look at this movie we can, and in this one video they’ve shown us backgrounds, physical effects, new creatures, and sand. And we all love sand. Or hate it. You know, it is coarse, rough, and irritating. And I’m sure it gets everywhere.
But having this new creature walking in to the video is incredibly smart. This is what people think they want so badly in a “Star Wars” film. Puppets and dirt. And dirty puppets. And something new.
In all the years of “Star Wars” I’ve never seen this sort of creature and knowing that this new “Star Wars” film is going to give me something tangibly new is exciting!
This video was so exciting, I went an kicked in $40 to enter the contest before I even thought about it. And it showed us nothing.
And the money is going to something great. Omaze has teamed with Unicef to spend this money doing some positive good in the world, which is an excellent way to harness geeky enthusiasm. From the website:
Star Wars: Force for Change wants to create a brighter tomorrow for thousands of kids and families around the world. With your help and creativity we can develop innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. By acting as a Force for Change, your donation to support UNICEF’s Innovation Labs and other innovative work for children will fund dozens of life-changing projects like these in communities across the globe: • Portable, solar-powered learning kits being built in China, Uganda, and Burundi to ensure every child in the world has access to relevant, quality learning. • Mobile phone application developed in South Sudan and Uganda, and used in the Philippines, that helps reunite children with their families after an emergency. • A text messaging solution in Zambia that helps families receive infant medical test results from clinics, in half the time, through mobile phones. Join us! Help create a brighter tomorrow for thousands of kids and families. Be a force for change.
“Star Wars: Episode VII” comes out in 575 days on December 18, 2015.