Hollywood in the Wake of Fires
Elizabeth Denton
Staff Writer
The Southern California fires have blazed through Los Angeles, impacting many communities, especially the entertainment industry.
While evacuation orders were lifted for thousands of people affected by the wildfire north of Los Angeles, a new fire erupted in San Diego County. Southern California has been under a red flag warning for critical fire risk with dangerous winds gaining strength. NPR reports the Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and burned nearly sixteen square miles near Castaic Lake in less than a day, nearly 40 miles away from the Eaton and Palisades fires, which are currently burning for the third week in a row. Two new fires were reported in the San Diego area, evacuations were later lifted after a bushfire near the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Another fire spreads through the Otay Mountain Wilderness near the U.S.-Mexico border. A new fire flared up in Ventura County, and water-dropping helicopters made quick work of the Laguna Fire. Rain is forecast for the weekend bringing hope to end Southern California’s dry spell.
The California wildfires have devastated the Los Angeles art world. Vanity Fair reports that hundreds have lost their homes, studios, and decade’s worth of artwork and culture. Many artists are taking to social media to report their losses from homes to galleries. Many local restaurants and bars are pitching in where they can. An Italian restaurant called Jon & Vinny’s is delivering pizzas to first responders, Spago is offering free meals in Beverly Hills, and El Prado will donate all proceeds from sales of wine and foot-long hot dogs.
The Palisades Fire broke out less than two days after the Golden Globes, reports The Associated Press. With the Oscars ceremonies impending, officials are left facing questions of safety and meaning. Currently, the Oscars remain as originally scheduled, but they are predicted to mean something beyond the usual celebration of celebrities. Many are wondering what the Oscars might symbolize for the city in the wake of the drastically damaging fires with most hoping it will become a beacon of perseverance. Usual ceremonies such as the nominees’ luncheon have been canceled with the academy promising to honor frontline workers and support relief efforts instead. The Critics Choice Awards have also been postponed and nominations for the Producers Guild Awards have been delayed twice. Many film groups are establishing funds to support entertainment industries affected by the fires.
Prior to the fires, the television industry struggled with the COVID-19 pandemic, strikes, studios cutting jobs and slashing budgets. According to the Los Angeles Times, film production in Los Angeles was 5 percent lower in the third quarter of 2024 than the same period in 2023. Opportunities for work became scarce and pay lowered, many crew members hoped the new year would bring relief. But the recent fires have left those hopes in the ashes.
Film groups are not the only ones speaking out for victims of the fires, many celebrities are sharing their own stories, opinions, and well-wishes. The Guardian reports Jean Smart’s advocacy for networks to donate revenue they would have gathered from televising the upcoming awards, Lucas Shaw shared his opinion on the industry podcast The Town that the fires could not have come at a worse time for the city or the industry, and Jimmy Kimmel shared his experience with a fire burning only two miles away from his studio. The entertainment industry was estimated to create over $43 billion in wages annually for the California economy, but the recent catastrophe has forced the industry to take a short-term pause and is raising concerns over long-term recovery. Premiers for films such as The Last Showgirl, Wolf Man, and Better Man were canceled. Production on shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Suits: LA, and Hacks have been put on hold with many productions losing key locations for filming.
Image courtesy of Getty Images
