Wanted: Fans to join ‘Jem and the Holograms’

Universal is giving "Jem and the Holograms" fans a chance to appear in the upcoming teen-musical fantasy, with winners selected based on "Jem"-inspired videos posted on social channels.

The studio launched the digital casting call at VidCon, the annual digital-video confab taking place this week in Anaheim, angling to attract YouTube stars to the contest. "Jem and the Holograms," based on the '80s animated TV series, is about a small-town girl who becomes a singing superstar.

The goal: to produce a groundswell of user-generated content about "Jem" ahead of the movie's Oct. 23 premiere, as effectively free publicity.

Universal's "Star in Jem" contest is inviting anyone to post multiple videos of themselves singing or dancing to one of the songs from the movie (after downloading music from the site). For actors, the studio is looking for testimonials addressed to the fictional Jem about "how she has given you courage to be yourself."

"Jem and the Holograms" stars Aubrey Peebles (ABC's "Nashville") in the title role. Cast also includes Stefanie Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Hayley Kiyoko, Ryan Guzman, Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis.