On January 5th, the top talent agent cut short her stay at the Golden Globes post-party and rushed home to catch up on all the work that had accumulated over the holidays. Two days later, the house would be destroyed in wildfires that devastated parts of Malibu as well as the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas of Los Angeles. Tasks that had felt so urgent just hours before became less important in the face of unimaginable personal loss.
It’s a feeling felt throughout the entertainment industry, which has been hit hard by the disaster, with all the media companies, talent and PR companies, people left homeless by fires, sometimes at the highest level. Non-emergency meetings were rescheduled, critical decisions were postponed, and work went remote or hybrid as hundreds of staff were told to evacuate or had to leave immediately or prepare to do so. I did.
Deadline has received several complaints that departments are suspected of subjecting employees to forced labor, including during evacuations, but camaraderie prevails throughout the industry, with executives scheduled to He said people are attending each other’s meetings, whether they just keep their schedule or not. Check on your coworkers to make sure they’re okay, guide a junior staff member who lost their home to their insurance company, or set up a Venmo account for a coworker whose house is on fire. Bosses can also step in and help those who are struggling. under. Major studios and talent agencies are offering free or discounted temporary housing to evacuated employees. CAA gave employees Friday off after an emotionally draining week.
One entertainment executive said, “I don’t think we’ve ever had this many people gather together since the coronavirus outbreak.”
Flexibility is expected to continue, with evacuated staff in Los Angeles being given the option to work from home.
Local television production, which was suspended early in the fire, has resumed, mostly indoors, as air quality in many parts of Los Angeles remains at dangerous levels. There are often accommodations for cast and crew. For example, people affected by a fire or who cannot safely travel to a CBS studio show set are not obligated to do so while still receiving their regular pay.
“People are conscious of the need to take care of bottom-line workers who are finally getting back on their feet after a pandemic and two strikes,” said one TV executive. “We have to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable while not going too far off the rails.”
One of the popular slogans for 2024, which was affected by the industry contraction after the strike, was “Survive till 2025”. Despite recent skepticism as to whether Hollywood’s much-needed recovery will materialize in 2025 or be postponed, there was still hope and enthusiasm. Just a week ago, during a Golden Globe party, streaming executives talked about plans to ramp up purchases in January and greenlight the film in February.
With so many screenwriters, producers, directors, their representatives, and executives at all levels affected by the fire, many in the industry are still in shock from the huge fire, and the daily buying and selling… I have difficulty concentrating. The severity of the devastation that has affected virtually everyone in Hollywood, directly or indirectly. It may be difficult to continue working for a while.
“Some people just don’t feel comfortable going to work,” said one film distribution expert. “How are you thinking about work in the midst of all this?” There are so many things being pushed forward. ”
It should return to normal eventually, but it may take some time. “We don’t know when things will get back to normal, whatever normal means right now,” the agency insider said.
A Los Angeles-based film sales and finance executive had a cautious but different outlook. “It’s still too early to know the impact on business,” the person said. “What is certain is that this is very bad for the already deteriorating L.A. economy overall. We may see more delays than usual in the coming weeks, but we don’t expect many projects to be delayed. .”
Sensitive to the personal tragedies experienced by so many Angelenos who were left with the clothes on their backs, entertainment companies withheld their announcements and announced that almost everything in Hollywood over the past week, including movies and television Major events have been canceled or postponed. Premiere and award nominations.
Inexplicably, awards season has come to a halt as no one is thinking about celebrating right now. That will be put to the test at the Sundance Film Festival, where the 2025 edition begins in 10 days.
“There will probably be some repercussions,” one festival regular said of the festival being held so soon after the fire. “Some cast and industry members may already be affected and are considering rebuilding their homes, while others may not want to leave their homes due to concerns about fire, looting, or robbery. Maybe.”
Festivals have to walk a fine line between trying to stay afloat and working with an industry that has its own troubles.
“It’s devastating to see so many people, including friends, affected in this way,” said a major international retailer. “Sundance is heading our way, but so far it hasn’t affected our packaging. We feel it’s more important than ever to get work in the film industry.”
Sundance is just days away, but with evacuation orders still in place and winds picking up to dangerous levels again this week, many in Hollywood are taking a wait-and-see attitude. Many things can happen.
“We all know people who have lost their homes and everything they own, so it’s hard to focus on anything else, especially if you’ve lost your home,” the agency executive said. Ta. “There is too much uncertainty to think about the next few days.”
Andreas Wiseman and Dominic Patten contributed to this report.
