Los Angeles, famously known as the City of Angels, has long been a symbol of hope and opportunity for many people. Los Angeles has global recognition as being the prime entertainment location of the world with five major movie studios including Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Warner Brothers, Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures and hundreds of other production facilities. It is no surprise that thousands of famous people reside in this city of opportunity.
With the unfortunate event of the California wildfires taking place, these filming studios have been put at risk for set damage and setbacks. Several major studios including TriStar Pictures, Amazon MGM Studios and Universal Pictures have been forced to cancel their premieres. Several productions have been forced to halt filming, with some directly threatened by the advancing flames and others disrupted by the heavy smoke filling the air. Famous shows such as Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy, NCIS, Suits LA, SWAT, George & Mandy’s First Marriage, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and more are currently postponed or have had major setbacks.
“It is disappointing to hear about the delays of many shows and movies, but it will mean better quality of these movies and shows in the end,” freshman Noelle Page said. “I do not mind waiting.”
The wildfires have not just disrupted daily life for people with jobs in the film industry—they have also taken a toll on some of Los Angeles’ most iconic filming locations. One example is Palisades Charter High School. Over the years, it has served as the backdrop for numerous notable productions, including the 2003 comedy Freaky Friday, the 1976 horror classic Carrie, the Teen Wolf TV series and the 2012 film Project X. Though not fully lost, the high school has sustained significant damage, threatening its legacy as a Hollywood favorite.
Famous houses that have been featured numerous times in the Hollywood film industry are also in danger. The Altadena Mansion, featured in the Max series Hacks was reported to be destroyed. The McNally House from Entourage and a mansion from Succession succumbed to the same fate. The Crank House, featured in Matilda, Scream 2 and Catch Me If You Can is also under extreme threat. The loss of these sets is a devastating blow to fans, the film industry and the preservation of Hollywood history.
“Hearing about these iconic houses [burning] down due to the tragedy of these LA fires is very sad to hear,” Page said. “They hold lots of nostalgia for many fans.”
