Netflix/Christian Black(LOS ANGELES) — Ryan Reynolds has just announced a program called the Group Effort Initiative, which “COVID-willing” will see him train 20 people of color to work on his next film project — on his dime.
The affable actor made the announcement via video, in which he explained that the effort, in partnership with Netflix and Skydance Productions, will train those people to work on film sets, with their pay, travel, and lodging coming from Reynolds’ salary.
“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,” the Deadpool series star and entrepreneur says, explaining that they will take submissions from applicants of all ages. “Because it’s never too late. I myself am way older than I appear on set, and so you’ll get to see what Ryan Reynolds really looks like,” he quipped as a picture of an elderly man wearing a Deadpool suit pops up above him.
The set in question is likely a time travel thriller for Netflix that Reynolds will make with his Free Guy director Shawn Levy.
The recruits will, “spend their days on set learning from professionals and getting real-life experience that they can then parlay into another job and another job and hopefully — if they’re not too disillusioned — a career in the film industry.”
Interested applicants are asked to go register at GroupEffortInitiative.com so they can be kept abreast as to when the application process begins.
Erick Anderson / eafotoCharlieDaniels’ Volunteer Jam will return in 2021, highlighting the life and legacy of the late country and southern rock superstar. Alabama, Ricky Skaggs, Old Crow Medicine Show, Cece Winans and Junior Brown were added to the bill this week.
The event previously announced performances from Chris Janson, Charley Pride, the Marshall Tucker Band and many more. Additionally, Charlie’s longtime outfit The Charlie Daniels Band will perform as part of the tribute to the late performer, who died on July 6.
“I am forever grateful for all of the love and support Charlie Jr. and I have received since Charlie’s passing,” says the singer’s widow, Hazel. “Charlie would be excited and extremely proud that his Volunteer Jam would continue. I want to express my sincere thanks to the artists paying tribute to Charlie.”
In a nod to the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is offering 500 free tickets to those who have donated their time in recent emergency relief efforts across middle Tennessee. Those tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The 2021 Volunteer Jam: A Musical Salute to Charlie Daniels is scheduled to take place next February 22 at 7PM CT. The event will be held in downtown Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.
Warner Music NashvilleHot on the heels of their new single’s release on Friday, Dan + Shay dropped a gravity-defying video to match the dazzling vocal acrobatics of “I Should Probably Go to Bed.”
The clip begins inside an old mansion filled with vintage appliances and a recurring aesthetic theme of red and yellow. Bandmates Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney find themselves lost in different sections of the house, and before long, things start to go sidewise — literally.
Whiskey glasses topple, furniture levitates, a hallway fills with fluttering sheets of loose paper and the two country stars find themselves sliding from wall to wall, as the song’s emotion ramps up to a climax. Meanwhile, in the town below, people stop at intersections and basketball courts to stare up at the sky in amazement, as the old house floats in the air above them.
“I Should Probably Go to Bed” follows “10,000 Hours,” the duo’s 2019 hit duet with pop superstar Justin Bieber. Dan +Shay have been teasing their new single for several days, dropping short trailer teasers of the track and music video on social media.
If the duo plan on following a traditional album release format, then “I Should Probably Go to Bed” is likely the second single from an upcoming, as-yet-unannounced fourth album.
narvikk/iStockBy MORGAN WINSOR and ELLA TORRES, ABC News
(NEW YORK) — A pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 673,000 people worldwide.
Over 17.3 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations’ outbreaks.
Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the United States has become the worst-affected country, with nearly 4.5 million diagnosed cases and at least 152,075 deaths.
Here is how the news is developing today. All times Eastern.
10:36 a.m.: Florida reports 4th day of record deaths, DeSantis announces new initiative to fight COVID
The Florida Department of Health recorded 257 deaths in the last 24 hours, marking a new, grim record for the state for the fourth day in a row.
There are now 6,966 total deaths and the number of confirmed cases has reached 470,386, with an increase of 9,007 in the last 24 hours, according to the health agency.
The rise in deaths and cases comes on the same day that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new initiative to stop the virus’s spread.
DeSantis’ initiative — called One Goal One Florida — encourages the public to follow four guidelines: Protect the vulnerable, practice proper hygiene, practice social distancing and wear a mask if in close contact with another person.
“COVID-19 has been a significant challenge for all Floridians but I’m 100% confident we can, and will, overcome this challenge,” DeSantis said in a statement. “To that end, I’m asking all Floridians to join me in this important effort.”
DeSantis has previously encouraged people to wear masks when they cannot maintain social distancing; however, the initiative is believed to be the first formal plan put forth by the state.
10:13 a.m.: Cardinals v. Brewers game postponed
The St. Louis Cardinals have postponed their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Friday after two positive coronavirus tests were reported within the Cardinals organization.
The league said the game has been rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday, Aug. 2 at 1:10 p.m. (CT).
The two teams were expected to play Friday in Milwaukee at 2:10 p.m. local time.
Six of the Major League Baseball’s 30 teams will not be playing Friday because of coronavirus cases. That is 20% of the league.
7:25 a.m.: 45 fraternity members at University of Southern California test positive
At least 45 fraternity members at the University of Southern California have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed the cases while investigating a coronavirus outbreak at three fraternities associated with the private university in Los Angeles. The names of the fraternities involved were not released.
“The outbreak may be linked to a large social gathering on July 4,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a statement Thursday night. “As a reminder, gatherings of people from different households are prohibited under the Health Officer Order in place. These are high-risk situations where COVID-19 can spread quickly to many people. Those people, even if they are asymptomatic, can then spread it to their household, which may include someone who becomes seriously ill or who may die.”
ABC News has reached out to the University of Southern California for comment.
6:32 a.m.: Hong Kong government delays elections, citing coronavirus
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam announced Friday that the highly anticipated legislative elections planned for September have been postponed, citing the coronavirus outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Lam told a press conference that her government has China’s support in making the decision to delay local elections — a move that will surely infuriate pro-democracy lawmakers and supporters.
Hong Kong has seen a spike in coronavirus infections in recent weeks. The total number of diagnosed cases stands at 3,273, including at least 27 deaths, according to the latest data from Hong Kong’s Department of Health.
6:14 a.m.: Dr. Anthony Fauci to testify on Capitol Hill
Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the nation’s top medical experts on the coronavirus pandemic, is set to testify Friday on Capitol Hill.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health and a key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, last testified before Congress on June 30. His latest appearance comes amid rising COVID-19 cases across the United States and mounting scrutiny into his strained relationship with President Donald Trump.
Fauci will be joined during a hybrid in-person/remote hearing by two other leading officials from the task force: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s director, Dr. Robert Redfield, and the assistant secretary for health at the Department of Health and Human Services, Adm. Brett Giroir.
5:39 a.m.: South Africa reports more than 11,000 new cases overnight
South Africa’s health ministry said there were 11,046 new cases of COVID-19 reported across the country on Thursday.
That brings the national total to 482,169, including 7,812 deaths, according to data released early Friday morning by the South Africa’s National Department of Health.
The latest daily caseload is just under the country’s record set on July 9, when nearly 13,500 new cases were identified in a 24-hour reporting period.
South Africa has the fifth-highest number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the world, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. The country also accounts for well over half the total number of cases in Africa.
4:27 a.m.: US records over 67,000 new cases in a single day
More than 67,600 new cases of COVID-19 were identified in the United States on Thursday, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
The latest daily caseload is under the country’s record set on July 16, when more than 77,000 new cases were identified in a 24-hour reporting period.
A total of 4,494,601 people in the United States have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, and at least 152,055 of them have died, according to Johns Hopkins. The cases include people from all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories as well as repatriated citizens.
By May 20, all U.S. states had begun lifting stay-at-home orders and other restrictions put in place to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The day-to-day increase in the country’s cases then hovered around 20,000 for a couple of weeks before shooting back up and crossing 70,000 for the first time in mid-July.
Many states have seen a rise in infections in recent weeks, with some — including Arizona, California and Florida — reporting daily records.
ABC(LOS ANGELES) — Bryan Cranston is loudly asking the public to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously after disclosing his personal battle with the virus.
The Breaking Bad star revealed on Thursday that, even though he abided by all the proper social distancing guidelines, he still caught the novel coronavirus.
“I was pretty strict in adhering to the protocols and still… I contracted the virus,” Cranston penned in the lengthy caption of his video PSA. “Yep. it sounds daunting now that over 150,000 Americans are dead because of it.”
Thankfully, the 64-year-old actor admitted he was “one of the lucky ones” because he suffered from “Mild symptoms.” In a banner that played beneath his video, he revealed, “My symptoms were a slight headache, tightness of chest and I lost all taste and smell!”
The six-time Emmy winner, who says he caught the virus “early,” cautioned that “The symptoms show up differently for everyone it seems.”
“Keep wearing the damn mask, keep washing your hands, and stay socially distant,” Cranston lectured. “We can prevail – but ONLY if we follow the rules together.”
In addition to beating the coronavirus, the Malcolm in the Middle alum documented himself donating his plasma, which has COVID-19 antibodies, to the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center in order to help others beat the illness.
Cranston seemed to have fun poking fun at the doctor drawing his blood before settling down to watch old movies to pass the time because “The whole process takes an hour.”
When the process was finished, the actor donated 840ml of plasma. He then vowed to donate more as soon as he’s able.
Cranston hoped his video would inspire those who know they battled COVID-19 to consider donating their plasma, as well. “Be well – Stay well,” he concluded.
Netflix/Christian Black(LOS ANGELES) — Ryan Reynolds has just announced a program called the Group Effort Initiative, which “COVID-willing” will see him train 20 people of color to work on his next film project — on his dime. 
