All that remains of a property on Sunset Boulevard in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, in a photo taken on Friday, January 10.
John Locher/Associated Press
hide caption
toggle caption
John Locher/Associated Press
This is a developing story. For the latest local updates, visit LAist.com and register for breaking news alerts.
As wildfires continue to rage across Southern California, Hollywood’s awards season has been turned upside down. This year’s Oscar nominations were originally scheduled for this Friday and had already been delayed once. As the fires continue to burn, the Academy has extended the voting period and once again pushed back the announcement of nominations, this time, until January 23; Now actors, directors, cinematographers, writers and more will have to wait until next week to find out if they’re in the running for an Oscar. Additionally, the annual luncheon honoring the nominees has been canceled.
“We are all devastated by the impact of the fires and the profound losses suffered by so many people in our community,” wrote Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang in a press release. “The Academy has always been a unifying force within the film industry and we are determined to remain united in the face of difficulties.
“Due to the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area, we believe it is necessary to extend our voting period and move up the date of our nomination announcement to allow more time for our members. , as we want to be sensitive to the region’s infrastructure and accommodation needs over the coming weeks, it is imperative that we make some changes to our events calendar, which we believe will benefit from the support of our industry.
The Writers Guild of America said it was also delaying the announcement of its nominations “until further notice.”
The Oscars themselves remain scheduled for a televised ceremony on March 2. Some in the industry have called for changes to this year’s awards season: On the BlueSky app, actress Rosanna Arquette urged award shows, including the Oscars, to raise money for the city, firefighters and families. who lost everything.
I would love to see the Sag Awards, Oscars and Grammys this year turn the shows into telethons to raise money for the community, the city of Los Angeles, for the families who have lost their homes, their pets and the memories of their lives and for our loved one. firefighters who saved lives.
– Rosanna (@rosannaarquette.bsky.social) January 9, 2025 at 1:05 p.m.
The show will continue at other entertainment events. The Grammy Awards are still scheduled for February 2, with the telecast intended to raise money to fight wildfires.
Universal Music Group, which represents artists like Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift, announced it was canceling all of its Grammy-related events“and will redirect resources that would have been used for these events to help those affected by the wildfires.”
The Sundance Film Festival announced it will still be held in Park City, Utah, starting next week.
“We have had many conversations with artists, volunteers, industry/press, trustees, donors, partners and staff. The losses we are witnessing and so many others are experiencing are difficult to understand and deeply moving,” wrote interim CEO Amanda Kelso. and festival director Eugene Hernandez, in a letter shared with NPR. “Our community has a history of coming together when passion and perseverance are needed most, drawing strength from the deep connections that make us so resilient. In this moment, we can cry, but we also know that it is important to continue.”
Wildfires continue to disrupt the film and television industry that has made Southern California famous. Many of those who work at the company lost their homes and neighborhoods to the flames that ravaged the area. Some red carpet premieres have been scrapped and productions on TV shows and movies have been halted, causing even more anxiety among industry players already concerned about the industry downturn and productions that left the Los Angeles area.
How to help and stay safe
Resources to help you stay safe:
➡️ With fire risk still high, authorities implore you to follow evacuation orders
➡️ What to do – and not to do – when returning home from a fire evacuation
➡️ Is there smoke in your house? Here’s how to make an air purifier from a box fan
➡️Trying to stay safe during a wildfire? There is an app that can help you
Ways to support response and recovery:
➡️ Do you want to help victims of a fire? Here’s what experts say does the most good and where to look for volunteers
➡️ Wildfire Donations and Volunteering: How and Where to Help
➡️ Share: Here are the steps fire victims should take to file an insurance claim.
The California Newsroom is tracking severe weather across the region. Click to LAist cover for the last one.