B.C.-born actor Ryan Reynolds has launched a new initiative in an effort to get more Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) on film sets.
Reynolds has created the Group Effort Initiative, launching a website where people from marginalized communities can apply for a spot on the crew of an upcoming Netflix production.
“Making a film is a group effort, but for entirely too long that group has systemically excluded Black, Indigenous, people of color and several other marginalized communities. This is a global problem which will not be fixed overnight, but change can start locally and immediately,” reads a statement on the initiative’s website.
Reynolds indicates that he plans on using a portion of his own salary to pay for 10 to 20 diverse hires on set.
“COVID-willing, we’ll be starting a movie this fall. We’ll be bringing on between 10 and 20 trainees who are Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) or people from marginalized and excluded communities. Of all ages. From 18 to 118,” says Reynolds.
The “new recruits” will spend time on set learning from professionals and getting “real-life experience” that will translate into a professional environment, according to the initiative’s website.
Hired applicants will have their travel, accommodation and salaries covered by Reynolds for the duration of the production.
Applications for the new initiative, one Reynolds is describing as long overdue, are now open and anyone who applies must be eligible to work in Canada, and available in November through to March 2021.
In a video message posted on YouTube, the Deadpool star says he hopes that the experience gained on set by the recruits will parlay into job after job and possibly a career in the film industry.
Specifics for the shoot are still being finalized, but applicants can register for updates via email.
Anyone interested in the role can apply through the Group Effort Initiative website.
Graham Cox
