Hollywood aflame: how the LA fires sent the movie industry into a tailspin

The devastating wildfires that have been sweeping through suburbs of Los Angeles since Tuesday continue to threaten life and livelihoods across the city – as well as inflicting enormous destruction of property.    

In a city famous as a headquarters for film and TV production, the impact has been devastating, with celebrity enclaves like Malibu and Pacific Palisades hit especially hard by the blaze. Studios have been evacuated, and TV productions and award season events deferred.

Here’s what it all means for the world of pop culture and moviemaking.

1. Are LA’s cinemas and studios threatened by the wildfires? 

As the Sunset fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills on Wednesday evening, TCL Chinese Theatre – popularly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre – and the current home of the Oscars, the Dolby Theatre, were included in the evacuation zone. The blaze was largely extinguished overnight, however, and the evacuation warning lifted.  

The LA premieres for Pamela Anderson’s award-nominated The Last Showgirl, Unstoppable, Wolf Man and the long-awaited second season of Apple TV+’s Severance were called off. Even a New York premiere – of Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz’s Netflix action-comedy Back in Action – was cancelled too.

Meanwhile, popular studio attractions were also closed during the week, due to the proximity of the fires. Universal Studios closed its gates to the public on Wednesday, before reopening today.

2. Will the Oscars be cancelled?

As of now, the Academy Awards, scheduled to take place March 5 at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, are continuing as planned. The nominations announcement, however, has been pushed back, from January 17 to January 19.

Several other award ceremonies set from this month have been delayed, including the Los Angeles Films Critic Association Awards, the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, and the Critics Choice Awards, as well as nomination announcements from the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

The Producers Guild Awards nominations have been also been delayed from January 10 to 12. 

In a post on Instagram, Hacks star Jean Smart encouraged television networks to decline airing any award shows and instead donate money to fire relief efforts:

‘Attention! With ALL due respect, during Hollywood’s season of celebration, I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider NOT televising them and donating the revenue they would have garnered to victims of the fires and the firefighters.’

3. How is Hollywood helping those impacted by the fires?

It’s a rare instance that the people wealthy enough to aid a disaster make up a significant number of those affected. Billy Crystal, John Goodman, James Woods, Mel Gibson, Eugene Levy and Cary Elwes were among those to lose their homes to the fire in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Melissa Rivers saved an Emmy Award won by her late mother, Joan Rivers, as she evacuated her home, which was ultimately lost. This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia, alongside his pregnant wife, watched their home burn on security cameras.

‘[It’s] heavy,’ the actor said. ‘You start thinking about all the memories in different parts of the house and what not, and then you see your neighbors’ houses and everything kind of around and your heart just breaks.’

Of course, many celebrities are now offering assistance in one form or another. Jamie Lee Curtis donated $1 million to fire relief efforts. Sharon Stone turned a shop on Beverly Boulevard into a distribution centre for donated clothing and essential goods. Jennifer Aniston and Jenna Ortega took to social media to share information about shelters and pet fostering.

Actor Steve Guttenberg helped evacuate neighbours and assisted first responders in his neighborhood, helping make way for firefighters by moving abandoned cars. ‘I haven’t seen anything like this in my entire life,’ he told CNN, ‘and I don’t think many people have’. 

4. Are any movie and TV show productions delayed by the wildfires?

It’s not top of anyone’s priority list at the moment, but the day-to-day local business of Hollywood – making TV shows – has also been hit hard by the fires. Several television and film productions have been halted. Both Warner Bros. and Universal Studios shut down production on their lots, affecting the likes of Abbott Elementary, Hacks, Ted and Suits LA. NCIS, Dr Odyssey and Grey’s Anatomy also saw filming halted, while tapings of Jimmy Kimmel Live and After Midnight were cancelled.

These landmarks and restaurants are closed due to the L.A. wildfires.

All the celebrity homes affected by the L.A. wildfires.