Charity video offers a first glimpse of a new creature from the new Star Wars: Episode VII, due out December 15, 2015.

In the video, produced for charity, Abrams offers fans a competition for a cameo role in the new film in exchange for donations to UNICEF. The charity initiative is being called "Star Wars: Force for Change" and is directed toward aiding UNICEF's campaign for vulnerable children.

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The drive is expected to draw a lot of attention given the record high fan anticipation for Star Wars: Episode VII, and is further bolstered by Abrams offering a first glimpse at a new creature in the video. The name and exact nature and role of the creature within the film remains unknown.

The donations are set to be made through the Omaze fundraising platform with a minimum contribution of $10 US in order to be eligible for the contest.

The grand prize winner of the contest and one guest will be taken to the legendary Pinewood studios in London, England on the expense of Walt Disney Pictures, where the majority of the film will be shot.

There, they will get to meet the main cast members and be invited to observe filming of the anticipated sequel to Return of the Jedi, released 31 years ago.

Additionally, the winner will be cast in a small role in the film.

Other prizes include tickets to advanced screenings, signed scripts by J.J. Abrams, limited Chewbacca busts, lightsaber hilts, posters, T-shirts and more, with prizes handed out based on donation amounts.

The contest period started Wednesday and is set to end late July 18.

This comes shortly after news that the film commenced shooting in Abu Dhabi, reportedly doubling for desert planet Tatooine in the film, taking advantage of the 30% tax incentive that also benefitted upcoming films such as Deliver Us From Evil and Fast & Furious 7.

The incentive was intended to draw more foreign productions to the United Arab Emirates and Abu Dhabi in particular, much like the effect of The Lord of the Rings had on New Zealand's tourism and film industry. The Star Wars production has since quickly become a publicity flagship for the burgeoning local film industry as a result.

The production unit on site in Abu Dhabi is currently estimated to be a crew of 600 people, many of whom are from local companies such as twofour54, which is the main local production house in collaboration with Disney on the shoot.

Estimations by financial consultants say that for every $1 returned to the production as part of the tax incentive, the local economy earns $4.50.

Another reason the production shifted toward Abu Dhabi instead of Tunisia, where previous films in the series had been shot, was the reported political instability in the North Africa region.

Meanwhile, British director Gareth Edwards was recently announced to have signed to direct an undisclosed Star Wars spinoff film, set for release December 16, 2016, almost exactly one year after Episode VII.

Edwards, a former special effects artist, recently directed Legendary Pictures' reboot of Godzilla, which premiered last week to solid reviews and strong box office. Given the special effects-heavy nature of the Star Wars films and Edwards' prior success, the news was relatively unsurprising to many industry insiders.

The details of the Star Wars spinoff is being kept under wraps but it has been confirmed to be part of the previously reported push by Disney to release at least one Star Wars film a year, with the three planned spinoffs filling in the estimated 2 year-gaps between the main Episodes.

Rumors of the nature of the spinoff have been ubiquitous, with reports including a film focusing on the character of Boba Fett, a Han Solo origin story or a prequel featuring Yoda. None of which have been confirmed by either the Walt Disney Corporation or Lucasfilm.

The spinoff script is being developed by Gary Whitta, who also wrote Denzel Washington-starrer Book of Eli and Will Smith-led sci-fi flop After Earth. Main instalment writer Lawrence Kasdan (Star Wars: Episode V-VI, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and renowned producer Simon Kinberg (Sherlock Holmes, X-Men: Days of Future Past) are supervising script development and producing.

TagsStar Wars, Video, Charity, UNICEF, Godzilla, Gareth Edwards, Spinoff, Star Wars: Episode VII, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Sherlock Holmes, Lawrence Kasdan, Simon Kinberg, Fundraising, Book of Eli, Gary Whitta, Sci-Fi, Creature, Contest, Pinewood Studios