As wildfires spread across the Hollywood Hills and star-studded coastline, Los Angeles’s vast film industry began to grind to a halt.
Celebrities such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Adam Brody, Paris Hilton, Jeff Bridges and Billy Crystal are among those who have lost their homes, as more than 12,000 buildings and structures have already been destroyed by the fire. But beyond the A-list actors, editors, producers, extras and crew who keep productions running have also been displaced.
After burning nearly 40,000 acres and killing at least 24 people so far, several production studios in LA were at risk of fire, but all escaped unharmed, according to hollywood reporter,
The fire prompted producers of the late-night Jimmy Kimmel show and the long-running medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy,” to abandon production.
The premieres of films and series including Meghan Markle’s “With Love, Meghan,” “Barking Action,” “Unstoppable” and “Wolfman,” as well as Academy Award and Writers Guild of America nominations, were also postponed.
A joint statement from Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang noted the “deep loss experienced by many in our community” while confirming the delay of the Oscar nominations — though the awards ceremony is still scheduled for March. Is.
“The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry, and we are committed to standing together in the face of difficulty,” the statement said.
Hollywood productions move indoors
But even as the fires rage out of control, several scripted series, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “911” and “Doctor Odyssey,” have been halted from production in L.A., according to reports. , filming has resumed in the indoor studio.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Broadcasting also began this week in studios that were evacuated due to the growing fire in LA’s Runyon Canyon.
The late-night show host, who won an Oscar for the fourth time last year, described the scale of the wildfire disaster and its impact on the entertainment industry during his monologue.
“As you know, it’s been a very scary, very stressful, very strange week here in L.A. — where we work, where we live, where our kids go to school,” Kimmel said.
“Some of our coworkers lost their homes. It’s terrible. Everyone who lives in this city knows someone – most of us, many people – family, friends, coworkers, neighbors whose homes burned down.”
Meanwhile, the Sundance Film Festival, which takes place in Utah but is strongly linked to the L.A. film industry, will go ahead as planned on Jan. 23. This is despite the fact that film executive Michelle Satter, who has been with the Sundance Festival since its founding, also lost her home in the fire.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has suffered a loss during this devastating time in our city,” he wrote in a social media post.
Film industry is making deep efforts for the fire victims
Donations are rising to help fire victims, with the Jimmy Kimmel show turning its car park into a collection point for donations. Variety Magazine,
Major Hollywood studios such as Disney, Warner Bros. and Netflix have also contributed millions of dollars to aid disaster victims.
“Many of our employees and creative partners have been directly impacted by this disaster,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said in a statement. He said the streamer “will donate $10 million (€9.7 million) to provide immediate relief and continue to support families and businesses as they work to rebuild in the coming months and years.”
Various stars have also pledged aid, including Beyonce, who is donating $2.5 million through her foundation BeyGOOD to help families who lost their homes.
Several benefit concerts are also planned, including FireAid at the 18,000-seat Intuit Dome in L.A., which promises an all-star line-up.
The funds raised will be spent “to rebuild infrastructure, support displaced families, and advance fire prevention technologies and strategies to ensure LA is better prepared for fire emergencies.”
Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
