A devastating wildfire that has been burning in the Los Angeles suburbs since Tuesday continues to threaten lives and livelihoods across the city, causing extensive damage to property.
In a city famous for being home to film and television production, the impact was devastating, with celebrity enclaves such as Malibu and Pacific Palisades particularly hard hit. Studios were evacuated and television production and awards season events were postponed.
Here’s what it means for the world of pop culture and filmmaking.
1. Are LA movie theaters and studios under threat from wildfires?
The TCL Chinese Theater, commonly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and the Dolby Theater, the current home of the Oscars, were included in the evacuation zone as the Sunset Fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday night. However, the fire was mostly extinguished overnight and the evacuation warning was lifted.
Los Angeles premieres of award-nominated Pamela Anderson’s The Last Showgirl, Unstoppable, The Wolfman and the highly anticipated second season of Apple TV+’s Severance have been canceled. Ta. The New York premiere of Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz’s Netflix action comedy “Back in Action” has also been canceled.
Meanwhile, the popular Studio attraction was also closed for the week due to the proximity of the fire. Universal Studios closed to the public on Wednesday but reopened today.
Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal CityWalk will open on Friday, January 10th and resume normal business hours. pic.twitter.com/jD4ydZEcX9
— Universal Studios Hollywood (@UniStudios) January 10, 2025
2. Will the Oscars be cancelled?
As of now, the Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on March 5th at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, will be held as scheduled. However, the announcement of candidates was postponed from January 17th to January 19th.
Several other awards ceremonies scheduled for this month, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Circle Awards, AARP Adult Film Awards and Critics’ Choice Awards, as well as nomination announcements from the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild, have also been postponed. . .
Nominations for the Producers Guild Awards have also been postponed from January 10th to January 12th.
In an Instagram post, Hucks star Jean Smart encouraged television networks to decline to air any awards shows and instead donate to fire relief efforts.
“Attention! With all due respect, we are serious that during Hollywood’s gala season, each network airing upcoming awards will not be airing the awards and will be donating the proceeds they would have earned to fire victims and firefighters.” I hope that you will consider it.”
3. How is Hollywood helping those affected by the fires?
It is unusual for a significant number of disaster victims to be wealthy enough to provide assistance. Billy Crystal, John Goodman, James Woods, Mel Gibson, Eugene Levy and Cary Elwes were among those who lost their homes in the Malibu and Pacific Palisades fires. Melissa Rivers saved the Emmy Award her late mother Joan Rivers won when she was evacuated from her home, but ultimately lost it. This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia watched on surveillance camera as his home burned alongside his pregnant wife.
“[It’s] It’s heavy,” the actor said. “When you start thinking about all the memories in different parts of your house and elsewhere, and then you look at your neighbor’s house and everything around it, it just breaks your heart.”
Of course, many celebrities are now offering some form of support. Jamie Lee Curtis donated $1 million to fire relief efforts. Sharon Stone has turned her Beverly Boulevard store into a distribution center for donated clothing and essentials. Jennifer Aniston and Jenna Ortega shared information about shelters and pet adoption on social media.
Actor Steve Guttenberg helped neighbors evacuate, assisted local first responders and helped move abandoned cars to make way for firefighters. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life,” he told CNN. “And I think a lot of people have seen it.”
Photo: Supplied/Stan’Hacks’ is one of the works affected by the fire
4. Are your film or TV productions delayed due to the bushfires?
Although it’s not at the top of the priority list at the moment, Hollywood’s everyday local business, television production, has also been hit hard by the fires. Several television and film productions were canceled. Both Warner Bros. and Universal Studios have suspended production on site, with productions including “Abbott Elementary,” “Hacks,” “Ted and Suits,” “LA NCIS,” “Dr. Odyssey,” and “Grey’s Anatomy” Filming for “Doctor Odyssey” and “Grey’s Anatomy” was also canceled, and recordings for “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and “After Midnight” were also canceled. .
Due to the LA wildfires, these landmarks and restaurants are closed.
Celebrity homes are damaged by wildfires in LA.
