Hollywood studios pour over $70M into fire relief funds
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A view of the Hollywood sign during the Eaton wildfire in Altadena Calif., Jan. 9. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Hollywood studios and entertainment companies are donating millions toward disaster relief in the wake of the Los Angeles fires.
Why it matters: The devastating wildfires are impacting not just their production schedules, but the lives and homes of their employees.
State of play: The fires are a major setback for Hollywood following a brutal few years. The pandemic, followed shortly by the dual writers and actors strikes, had already taken a massive toll.
- For now, the industry is trying to operate on schedule as best as possible. But dozens of studio projects have been put on hold to deal with the catastrophe, per Bloomberg.
- Award show organizers said the Grammys and the Oscars will proceed as scheduled on Feb. 2 and March 2, respectively. But the voting period and nomination announcements for the Oscars have been pushed back. The Recording Academy said the Grammys will raise funds for fire relief.
- Major music labels, including Warner Music Group, Sony Music Group and Universal Musical Group, have canceled their Grammy-related events.
By the numbers: Over the past week, entertainment companies have committed more than $70 million to the fire relief.
- Disney said it committed $15 million for "initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts."
- Warner Bros. Discovery said it is committing $15 million and is helping pay for temporary housing and other needs for its more than 1,000 impacted employees.
- Amazon committed $10 million to national and local disaster and response organizations, along with in-kind ad opportunities on Prime Video for nonprofits supporting the relief efforts.
- Comcast said it will donate $10 million and will provide $2.5 million in funding as an inaugural corporate partner to the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles' ReBUILD LA initiative.
- Netflix said it will donate $10 million, assist impacted employees and double-match all employee charitable contributions.
- Sony said it will donate $5 million.
- Fox Corp. said it donated $1 million to the American Red Cross' California wildfires relief efforts.
- Paramount said it will donate $1 million across nonprofit organizations.
- Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said his company, along with himself and co-founder Bobby Murphy, disbursed $5 million and pledged to do more.
The big picture: For many Hollywood executives, the tragedy hits close to home.
- In a post on Snap's corporate blog titled "Dear Los Angeles, I Love You," Spiegel shared how he grew up in the Pacific Palisades and said that his childhood home burned to the ground.
- "Los Angeles, my heart breaks for you, and yet I love you even more," Spiegel wrote. "This melting pot of creativity, innovation, and storytelling. This city of angels, who, covered in soot, are already beginning again."
- Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said he has lived and worked in Los Angeles for nearly 30 years and referred to the city as a "family" in his note about the company's donation and other support efforts.
