Ryan Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively are celebrating the three-year anniversary of their nonprofit organization, Group Effort Initiative (GEI), in a new video. GEI aims to secure job and internship placements for individuals from underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry. Reynolds expresses his pride in the organization’s growth, noting that since its founding in 2020, GEI has secured over 1,000 placements for participants.
The nonprofit currently has 767 active participants, who come from a variety of underserved populations, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, former foster and homeless youth, people with disabilities, and those who have previously been incarcerated and are reentering the workforce.
GEI has made significant progress since its inception. Initially, Lively and Reynolds placed eight participants on Reynolds’ Netflix film, “The Adam Project,” providing them with experience in various departments such as VFX, set decoration, makeup, art, construction, and assistant directing. This success led to other productions reaching out to GEI for trainee placements.
Recognizing the potential impact their organization could have beyond their own productions, Reynolds and Lively decided to expand GEI’s reach. The nonprofit merged with Evolve Entertainment Fund in 2021, enabling them to focus on three pathways for underrepresented populations: the corporate side, creative side, and production side. The production side aims to help individuals obtain entry-level positions as production assistants and eventually navigate their way into a unionized role.
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GEI also prioritizes professional development training and education for its participants to ensure their success in their jobs. The organization has formed private-public partnerships with entities such as L.A.’s Economic & Workforce Development Department to provide subsidized internships at companies that may not have the budget for internships.
Last fall, GEI launched a mentorship program that has already paired 125 mentors and mentees. The program is year-long, with monthly check-ins to ensure both parties are benefiting from the mentorship. GEI has collaborated with companies like Disney, Paramount, Netflix, The Martin Agency, and Banijay Americas.
To find participants, GEI works with organizations that also support underrepresented populations and have individuals who express interest in working in the entertainment industry. Moving forward, GEI aims to expand to more cities around the world, beyond the locations where they have already secured entertainment jobs for participants. They are looking to establish a presence in Sydney, Australia, and Sofia, Bulgaria, which is becoming a popular filming destination.
Reynolds expresses his pride in GEI’s progress and momentum towards creating a talent pipeline from underrepresented communities into the film industry. He calls on more productions to support their cause, emphasizing that true diversity and inclusion cannot be achieved without the support of those with power and resources.
In conclusion, Group Effort Initiative, founded by Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, has made significant strides in securing job and internship placements for individuals from underrepresented communities within the entertainment industry. They continue to expand their reach, prioritize professional development, and foster meaningful mentorship relationships. Their ultimate goal is to create a diverse and inclusive film industry.
