Decimated by fire season, it seems impossible that the Los Angeles area can even begin to think about awards season.
As fires that have killed at least 25 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses continue to burn, the idea of glitzy red carpets, stuffed goody bags and arguments over who should won the Best Film award and feel like they belong to another era, another world.
The heart of the entertainment industry is devastated, literally and emotionally, and the true extent of the damage won’t be known for months. So it’s no surprise that some have called for the upcoming Grammys and Oscars to be canceled.
Is now really the time to gaze upon celebrities showing off borrowed diamonds and haute couture, giving moving speeches while holding coveted statues?
Yes. Yes it is.
In recent days, many guilds and organizations, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, have postponed nomination announcements and delayed or canceled other January events. The Recording Academy, however, announced that the Grammys would take place, as planned, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 2 – with, as Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. wrote. and Board President Tammy Hurt. a letter to members, “a renewed sense of purpose: to raise additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honor the courage and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.” »
And despite recent misinformation in the British press, the Oscars will follow suit.
“After consultation with ABC, our Board of Directors and other key stakeholders in Los Angeles and the film community, we have made a carefully considered decision to proceed with the 97th Academy Awards as scheduled on March 2,” said Academy CEO Bill Kramer. a statement to the Times.
“This year’s ceremony will include special moments honoring those who fought so courageously against the wildfires. We believe we must move forward to support our film community and use our global platform to draw attention to these critical moments in our history.
The academy, he said, will continue to monitor the situation closely.
“The spirit of Los Angeles and our film community has always been one of resilience, and the Oscars represent not only a celebration of cinema, but also the strength and unity of the industry in the face of adversity. “
For some, the ability of these awards shows to help raise funds for the many people in need is the best argument for them to take place. But, as Kramer points out, there are other compelling reasons as well.
Whether you like them or not, the Oscars and Grammys remain important rituals, reliable moments around which Los Angeles, the country and even the world regularly come together. Celebrate or ridicule, it doesn’t matter. They are an integral part of our cultural conversation and our calendar year – and as we have discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of such rituals only adds to the feeling of helplessness and demoralization that accompanies any crisis.
It’s hard to imagine asking those who have lost their homes to put on a tuxedo or change into basic clothing, but never before has a sea of famous faces been considered such an act of defiance.
Despite falling audiences, the Oscars remain the most-watched awards ceremony in the world; his trophy remains the ultimate icon of success. Although they have been postponed and rescheduled several times during their 94-year history, the Oscars have never been canceled. Not during the war or the plague, not after the assassinations or the attacks of September 11. Doing so now would send a message diametrically opposed to the historic resilience of the city and the industry it represents.
We must always celebrate the work that unites us and defines us, makes us laugh, cry, think and aspire. Especially in the midst of tragedy.
And this work must continue despite the destruction and grief. The fires are just the latest blow to many people who are already struggling to find work, pay their rent and feed their children. For nearly five years, the entertainment industry has been beset, first by the pandemic, then by writers’ and actors’ strikes and the constriction that follows.
The economics of each awards season, even if toned down or altered to reflect national trauma or local devastation, are essential to thousands of people. To the people involved in the nominated works, the studios that produce them, and the shows themselves – it takes about 1,000 people to put on the Oscars, not including presenters and guests – of course. But also to employees of hotels, florists, restaurants, construction crews, taxi drivers, stylists, seamstresses, rental companies, housekeepers: the number of people needed to set up, supervise and organize these enormous events are incalculable.
Including all the press involved. The crucial fire coverage you’ve read in the Times and other media outlets is funded, in part, by awards season advertising.
It may seem cruel and impossible to expect Los Angeles to get its act together and start throwing nationally televised parties within weeks. But I know this city. In the more than 30 years I’ve lived here, I’ve seen it endure fires, floods, plague, civil unrest and a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that flattened homes and broke highways in two.
Like the steel jacaranda that it is, Los Angeles will never surrender. She will mourn what is lost. And then she’ll dry her eyes, get out some happy rags, put on a little makeup, and give herself a rash. She will stand with her back straight in the rubble, greeting guests and handing out champagne in broken teacups with a smile. so dazzling that no one will notice anything is wrong.
So use the Oscars and Grammys telecasts to raise money and awareness. Suggest that companies that have a history of offering exclusive gifts to A-listers donate to the fire department. Acknowledge and honor all that the industry, frontline workers, and city have endured in a more sober ceremony – but not too sober, because God knows we might laugh. Just don’t talk about how they should be canceled altogether. This would only make a bad situation worse.
The show is there, as it always has been. And now more than ever, the show must go on.
