ABC Family Begins Production on THE FOSTERS

ABC Family begins production this week on the drama series pilot "The Fosters," starring Teri Polo ("Meet the Parents"), Sherri Saum ("In Treatment"), Jake T. Austin ("Wizards of Waverly Place"), Hayden Byerly ("Parenthood"), David Lambert ("Aaron Stone"), newcomer Maia Mitchell, Danny Nucci ("Titanic") and Cierra Ramirez ("The Secret Life of the American Teenager").

"The Fosters," a one-hour drama about a multi-ethnic family mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms, begins shooting in Los Angeles this week. Stef Foster (Teri Polo) is a divorcee now in a happy relationship with Lena (Sherri Saum), her soulmate and very significant other. Stef, a policewoman, is the biological mother of Brandon (David Lambert), who she had with her ex-husband Mike (Danny Nucci) who is also a cop. Stef and Lena are the adoptive parents of Mariana (Cierra Ramirez) and Jesus (Jake T. Austin) out of the foster system. Lena, the vice-principal at the charter school her children attend, is the more soft-hearted one and ends up taking in Callie (Maia Mitchell), a defiant teen fresh out of juvie. Stef is initially upset, because they had agreed not to foster any more kids until Brandon was out of the house and feels that Callie is bound to disrupt their stable, happy home. But they all soon realize that Callie is a broken girl who needs mending -- and they may have no choice but to take her in.

From executive producer Jennifer Lopez, ("American Idol," "What to Expect When You're Expecting," "The Back-Up Plan") and created by Bradley Bredeweg and Peter Paige, who will also serve as writers and executive producers. Simon Fields and Greg Gugliotta will also serve as executive producers. The series is produced by Nuyorican Productions, Inc., and Prodco, Inc.

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