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[Rootbeer]

A message from SW Episode VII's director JJ on their new initiative: Force For Change... on set!!!

Our first look at a new alien from Episode VII too. Looks awesome.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfNiC9iKM0Q

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

For your chance to be in Star Wars: Episode VII and to support UNICEF Innovation Labs and Programs, visit: www.Omaze.com/StarWars

In a special video message from the set of Star Wars: Episode VII, director J.J. Abrams announces the creation of 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. The first Star Wars: Force for Change campaign will raise funds and awareness for UNICEF's Innovation Labs and its innovative projects benefitting children in need.

To support the launch of Star Wars: Force for Change, Disney has committed $1 million, and fans can now donate directly at Omaze.com/StarWars for a chance to appear in Star Wars: Episode VII. By pledging as little as $10 through the Omaze fundraising platform, any eligible supporter will be automatically entered for a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime experience. The campaign runs from 12:01am PST on May 21stth until 11:59pm PST July 18th.

The Star Wars: Force for Change Grand Prize includes:
• 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

Visit StarWars.com/ForceForChange to learn more about this new charitable initiative and the work of UNICEF's Innovation Labs and programs, and be sure to enter through contribution or free entry for your chance to win at omaze.com/starwars.

 

[SuicidalSteve]

Puppets!!!!

 

[CassSept]

Puppets

Edit: Argh

 

[RobotNinjaHornets]

Puppets?

 

[OldRoutes]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

 

[Rootbeer]

Great little teaser hu? We've known JJ wanted to move more into practical effects this time, and here is some great evidence of that.

 

[Kinyou]

What if it's a cgi pupper? :O

 

[JetBlackPanda]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

It looked good.

Wow Star Wars is filming right now guys! I have to imagine that so many model makers, puppeteers, choreographers are living a lifelong dream right now.

 

[Rootbeer]

Sorry, I changed the thread title but I guess only mods can change it so that it shows on the threaded index? If a mod would change it to "Force for Change" instead of "a force for change" that'd be cool.

 

[Interceptor]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

Lets hope there are only puppets and no cgi

 

[Team Top Hat]

What a great initiative. Good for them! After watching this video I have high hopes for episode VII

 

[Ithil]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

And a CG creature would look CG.

Lets hope there are only puppets and no cgi

That's going overboard. CG has vastly more use than just making creatures.

 

[Rootbeer]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

I think it looked good, I mean, I doubt it's a character that is going to get a lot of screen time. Just something that will look cool in a few background shots or something. For that purpose I think it's a great sign of what we are going to be seeing.

 

[Yakitorii]

The setting looks great! Can´t wait!

 

[Ingueferroque]

So good that they're using locations and puppets.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

For background shots and stuff puppets are just more organic and my mind is tricked easier into them being "real" because of their movements and depth.

CG is amazing for a lot of things but this makes me super happy.

 

[OldRoutes]

And a CG creature would look CG.

I think a puppet could look better than this. See Pan's Labyrinth, Where the Wild Things Are or Hellboy 2.

Like, it's obvious this puppet is not a main character anyway, and it's a background extras in some scene.

But let's hope they mix Puppets with CG, that'd be the best of both worlds. Like those movies above!

 

[hachi]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

 

[styl3s]

Did it look good? I don't think it looked good.

It looked like a puppet.

Which is infinitely better then CG that will be dated in 8 months.

I think a puppet could look better than this. See Pan's Labyrinth, Where the Wild Things Are or Hellboy 2.

Like, it's obvious this puppet is not a main character anyway, and it's a background extras in some scene.

But let's hope they mix Puppets with CG, that'd be the best of both worlds. Like those movies above!

You are also comparing polished and finish products to a video of him pushing a movement in a poorly lit video.

Logic, how does it work?

 

[Liamario]

I peed a little. Honestly, that was such an amazing and heartwarming thing to see. In JJ I trust.

 

[Rootbeer]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

Op'd

 

[TCRS]

our first glimpse at Ep VII!!

should be in the thread title!

 

[OldRoutes]

Which is infinitely better then CG that will be dated in 8 months.

You are also comparing polished and finish products to a video of him pushing a movement in a poorly lit video.

Logic, how does it work?

Well it's whole other debate about what ages good or not, but we can all agree that Jurassic Park looks good today because it mixed CG with puppets animatronics.

You don't need to be condescending to prove a point, by the way.

 

[Rootbeer]

our first glimpse at Ep VII!!
should be in the thread title!

Guess mods can decide.

Anyway while it definitely is our first glimpse, hopefully it won't overshadow what they are trying to do here... promote Force for Change which looks like a great cause.

But damn if those tiers aren't expensive...

 

[Randdalf]

His voice sounds so much like Steven Spielberg it's uncanny.

 

[SketchTheArtist]

That looks like a background puppet, not a ''hero'' puppet.

Feels like a breath of fresh air all of a sudden.

 

[hwalker84]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

Awesome

 

[Loomba]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

Awesome.

 

[Sojgat]

Looks like Yoda crossed with an Emu.

I Fucking love it.

 

[Liamario]

If you're a star wars fan and that didn't give you tingles, then there is something wrong with you, ie you're dead inside. DEAD!

 

[bengraven]

That puppet is how I imagined the Star Wars movies evolving back in the 80s. Awesome.

 

[erpg]

Practical effects? In my Star Wars?


Things are looking up.

 

[injurai]

Looks like Yoda crossed with an Emu.

I Fucking love it.

The word you're looking for is Camel.

 

[Dusk Prophet]

Just realised that it has two beards

 

[Shanks D Zoro]

A Chinese Ostrich?

Looks fucking awful.

 

[bengraven]

Good message, too. No, no really...

 

[Rootbeer]

The first of many puppets I hope?

It's great that CGI is continually advancing but puppet tech is easily as cool to me.

Maybe Episode I Yoda wasn't a great example of what a puppet evolution could be like... but look at the Wild Things from Where The Wild Things Are... I think it added SO much to that film that they didn't go full CGI.

Also: Puppets + CGI enhancements for faces, etc., definitely holds a ton of potential as well, which is how they achieved it in Wild Things.

 

[Sojgat]

The word you're looking for is Camel.

The little ones have feathers.

 

[FUBAR McDangles]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

Not better than well done CGI. That didn't look very good at all.

 

[KittenMaster]

It looks incredibly creepy...


Which is exactly what Star Wars needs for its aliens.

 

[dark_inferno]

Old school Star Wars?
This keeps getting better and better.

 

[marrec]

Just as long as they don't go overboard and make it a muppet movie like Episode VI.

Also I still don't trust that hack JJ Abrams. *narrows eyes*

 

[theechrisfox]

I wanna be a star wars puppet.

 

[Bucket Mouse]

I fucking love it.

 

[JetBlackPanda]

Looks horrible? What?? It looks awesome. That little fucker made me smile.

Maybe you guys would rather have an update like this.

Here we are filming star wars!

 

[monome]

Awesome alien.

I mean it.

nice visual balance between cartoonish / anthropoidal accuracy / cultural clues (immediately conveys the idea of the affable persian seller).

Just compare it with the alien slave owner from Episode 1 and see how much better it's conceptually/visually superior in EVERY WAY.

 

[hokahey]

Looks exactly like an old school Star Wars puppet. FUCKING HYPE.

 

[Doctoglethorpe]

So much better than CGI. There is hope.

I'm smiling so hard right now. This is just amazing.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

I concur. That Alien was fucking awesome. And yes my heart warmed to that it was a puppet.



Death Proof was the movie that really showed me how much I had missed stunts, and live action. No CGI blood, real squibs, real effects, real people hanging out of cars. This is movie magic. There is a place for CGI (also in Star Wars) but this really does not seem to be 95% CGI like new trilogy.


Maybe there is hope. Maybe there finally is a new hope.

 

[hiryu]

Puppet looked awesome. I'm so glad they are using puppets. I hope they keep the cgi to only parts that are necessary.