Even Hollywood, known as the 'cradle of the film industry,' was not immune to the impacts of the major wildfires in Los Angeles, but film production continues without significant setbacks. This stands in stark contrast to the cancellation or postponement of Hollywood award ceremonies and film premieres.
According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 14th (local time), thousands of dwellings were destroyed in this fire, and many of the destroyed dwellings are located in areas preferred by Hollywood producers, executives, agents, and stars. With evacuation orders or warnings issued to about 300,000 people, some Hollywood studio headquarters have effectively been closed temporarily.
However, Hollywood film production remains largely unaffected. So far, only two major studio films have temporarily halted production due to the fire: 'The Cradle Will Rock,' a remake of the 1992 original by 20th Century Studios, and 'Avatar 3' among others still in production. Other studio films continue to progress without issues.
The reason film production can continue is that land prices in Hollywood are high, leading most film studios to be located outside of LA or in entirely different regions. The NYT explained, "Most live-action films are no longer shot in LA," adding that they are instead produced in locations abroad such as Georgia, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, and even the UK and Australia, which offer tax incentives.
In the case of Disney, 64 employees lost their homes due to this fire, and hundreds of employees, including Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger, were affected. On the other hand, Disney's headquarters in Burbank, Hollywood, was spared from the flames, and Disney-owned Pixar and Lucasfilm, located in Northern California, also avoided damage.
Sony Pictures Studios is located in Culver City, west of Los Angeles County, California, which was untouched by the wildfires, and the studios of Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures in the San Fernando Valley also remain undamaged. Paramount Pictures and Netflix Studios are likewise situated in neighborhoods that are a 40-minute drive away from the largest wildfires.
National Public Radio (NPR) assessed that "Film production in LA has slowed in recent years, and the wildfires have increased anxiety in the film industry, which has worried about Hollywood filmmakers leaving LA." Veteran film marketer and former CBS Films president Terry Press noted, "If one is part of the industry, wouldn't they prefer to go where the work is rather than trying to rebuild their lives in LA?"
In October of last year, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he would double the scale of tax incentives for the film industry to $750 million annually (approximately 1 trillion won) to prevent 'de-Hollywoodization.' However, the movement of filmmakers leaving Hollywood is expected to accelerate due to this wildfire.
Some Hollywood film figures are reportedly urging to return to normal operations as soon as possible, according to the NYT. The Academy Awards, commonly referred to as the 'Oscars,' had their voting period postponed once due to the aftermath of the wildfires, but the ceremony is scheduled to take place as planned on March 2.