Cancellations and chaos continue as Hollywood responds to the ongoing wildfires in LA


The toll from the devastating fires still ravaging Los Angeles is mounting for the film industry as the crisis enters its third day, with more events being postponed and stars such as Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore mourning the destruction of their homes.

The announcement of the nominations for the Oscars was delayed for two days due to the continuous fires. The list of stars and films for the awards will now be announced on January 19, instead of January 17.

Voting, which began on Monday for nearly 10,000 Academy members, has also been extended by two days and now ends on January 14. Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed his condolences to those affected by the fires in a letter sent to members.

“So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you,” the letter said.

As of Thursday morning in LA, firefighters were battling four separate fires stretching from the Pacific coast to inland Pasadena. At least five people have died and 130,000 people are under evacuation orders.

Just a few days ago, Hollywood’s biggest stars walked the red carpet at the Golden Globes to kick off awards season.

Now major industry events have been derailed as the film world reels before the fires. The Critics Choice Awards, which take place in Santa Monica, have been moved from January 12th to January 26th. The Screen Actors Guild Award nominations were announced Wednesday via a press release instead of an in-person announcement. The AFI Awards luncheon and BAFTA Tea Party have been postponed from their originally scheduled dates of January 10 and January 11, respectively.

Premieres for films such as A better man and The last showgirl were canceled and filming halted for shows and movies in the affected area.

Fire rages in the open shell of what was once a building. The whole picture is just bright red flames and darkness behind.
A fire rages through a building in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Thursday. (Jae C. Hong/The Associated Press)

The largest of the fires has been burning since Tuesday morning, when it roared through the affluent Pacific Palisades neighborhood, sending residents fleeing and leaving roads clogged with abandoned cars.

‘We raised our children and grandchildren here’

Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, said Wednesday that the home they had lived in for 45 years was destroyed in a Palisades fire.

“Janice and I have lived in our home since 1979,” they wrote. “We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that cannot be taken away. Of course, we are heartbroken, but with the love of our children and friends, we will get through this.”

Singer and actress Mandy Moore, who evacuated with her family on Tuesday, said Wednesday that she had lost her home in Altadena, near the Palisades.

“Honestly, I’m in shock and feel numb,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “My children’s school is gone. Our favorite restaurants, leveled to the ground. So many friends and loved ones have also lost everything. Our community is broken, but we will be here to rebuild it together.”

Paris Hilton shared a clip of the news on her Instagram on Wednesday, saying that watching her Malibu home “burn to the ground on live TV is something no one should have to experience.”

She said it was the home where her son Phoenix took his first steps and where they “built so many precious memories.”

“Although the loss is immense, I hold onto gratitude that my family and pets are safe. My heart and prayers go out to every family affected by these fires.”

Cary Elwes, known for The princess bride and other films, shared on Instagram that his home was also lost in the Palisades fire.

“Unfortunately, we lost our home, but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire,” he wrote.

The charred remains of some sort of metal structure with a wheel attached to it can be seen lying in a row of gray rubble.
Ashy debris blankets the ground as smoke lingers in Pacific Palisades Thursday after the fire blew out. (Damian Dovarganes/The Associated Press)

Other celebrities known to have homes in the area include Adam Sandler, Ben Affleck, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg. Canadian actor Eugene Levy was among those who evacuated on Tuesday, speaking Los Angeles Times he had to run through the dark smoke.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill evacuated his Malibu home on Tuesday, saying there were “small fires on both sides of the road” as they drove.

Reality TV stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, of The Hills fame, confirmed on social media that their home was lost in the Palisades fire.

Montag said Wednesday that she only packed two pairs of jeans and two shirts for herself before they evacuated.

“I got a lot more clothes for the kids,” she said in an Instagram story. Emotion creeps into her voice, she added that they thought “of course I’m coming back” when deciding what to bring.

“I’m just praying for everyone else going through this.”



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