Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively plan to “level up” their Hollywood training program Group Effort Initiative.
Five years ago, the acting couple launched the initiative and have since had great success placing talent in paid internships, initiating studio hires and production assistant roles, and in launching a mentorship program.
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The group began on the set of Ryan‘s Netflix movie The Adam Project, financing the salaries of the trainees and providing them with housing near the Vancouver set.
“When we saw those first eight trainees on set for The Adam Project, it was clear something good was happening,” the Marvel star told Variety. “I left plenty of room for it to backfire and I still think about the feeling in the pit of my stomach and the blind faith it can take to just leap.”
Blake chimed in, saying, “I was worried because I’d advocated for 8 to 12 trainees and wondered if we’d started with too many folks to allow enough of the vital one-on-one experience from their mentors. But it felt like it found its rhythm halfway through the first week.”
They launched a celebratory video on Monday to mark five years of growth and announced plans for the future, like “the introduction of the Adobe-sponsored Mid-Level Bootcamp.”
“We’re leveling up even more,” the actor said.
Both Ryan and Blake are championing inclusivity behind the camera and in front of it.
“What I’d love to see is an industry where access and mentorship are a normal part of how things get made – and where that idea can expand beyond just film and television,” added the Simple Favor actress.
Similarly, Ryan said, “Inclusion shouldn’t be an afterthought, it should be built-in from the start. It isn’t charity. It’s a means to be better at the job and expand capabilities across the entire creative landscape.”
Blake recently shared an adorable selfie with her husband and included a cute Gossip Girl reference!
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