In a video released today (see below) JJ Abrams announced that, by making a $10 donation to the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through Omaze.com/StarWars fans can win a chance to appear in Star Wars VII.
According to the press release “Star Wars: Force for Change, a brand new Star Wars initiative from Disney and Lucasfilm in collaboration with Bad Robot dedicated to finding creative solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.”
Personally I love Star Wars, and I’m glad that they are raising money for UNICEF, I don’t really believe that ‘the Force’ can save the world or ‘solve its biggest problems’. I just want a decent sequel.
Still it’s a nice sentiment and the money is going, specifically, to UNICEF’s Innovation Labs which work with “the greatest technologists and designers of our time to create open-source solutions that help millions of people,” according to UNICEF Senior Advisor on Innovation and co-Lead of the Innovation Unit.
More information about the Innovation Labs is available at unicefinnovationlabs.org.
The winner of the contest will get:
- Airfare and accommodations to London for one winner and a guest
- Behind-the-scenes access on the closed set of Star Wars: Episode VII as VIP guests of J.J. Abrams
- Winner will have the opportunity to meet members of the cast
- Winner and their guest will then be transformed by makeup and costume teams into a Star Wars character and filmed for a scene in Star Wars: Episode VII
Here’s JJ to explain it from the set of the film, in the background you can see the first alien creation from Star Wars VII and the lack of lens flares (in this video anyway) is a hopeful sign.