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It’s a real tightrope that the entertainment industry is maneuvering at the moment in attempting to navigate business as usual at a time when everything is anything but…
In the light of the tragic fires in Southern California which have decimated entire communities and left scores of folks homeless, Hollywood has played a reactive game up to this point. Most shows and movie productions which have been closed down in recent days are an example of that. After all, you can’t knowingly place your cast and crew within harm’s way of a raging inferno. And as if to prove the old showbusiness adage of ‘the show must go on’, some of those shutdown productions are already sputtering back to life. Ever-sensitive to public optics, however, the gatekeepers in Tinsel Town are proceeding cautiously in their next moves. A big part of the ‘cautiously’ stems from the fact that these fires are still very much active and a true danger. Another aspect of this puzzle the industry is facing in how to return proceedings back to some semblance of normalcy has to do with the various and sundry awards shows. After all, this is the annual awards season where hard-working actors and actresses learn whether their stellar turns on the big and small screens will bear fruit in the form of a hefty and prestigious award.
The puzzle of when and how to proceed like normal became more labyrinth-like recently when actress and Golden Globe winner Jean Smart suggested that a moratorium be put on all awards ceremonies for the time being and, instead of hosting lavish ceremonies and red-carpet extravaganzas, the Powers That Be put all of that money towards helping the victims of this catastrophic fire. This being Hollywood, of course, that may be easier said than done.
From The Hollywood Reporter comes the news today that the legendary Sundance Film Festival – held annually in Park City, Utah – has decided to continue on with the business of recognizing the very best which cinema has to offer. This decision comes in the stark light of the ongoing fires in California which have already cost 16 people their lives. And it was a very personal decision for the people at Sundance who call the shots each and every year; the pioneering senior director of artist programs for the Sundance Film Festival, Michelle Satter, lost her own family home in the Palisades, California area due to the fires.
In a letter released this very day from Sundance festival director Amanda Kelso, the CEO said that “We’re reaching out today about the ongoing, devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area. First and foremost, our hearts are with everyone in our Sundance Institute community and with all affected by the unfolding tragedy. Please know that you are not alone right now; our thoughts are with you in Southern California and beyond…Over the past few days, we’ve had many conversations with artists, volunteers, industry/press, trustees, donors, partners, and staff. The losses we’re witnessing and so many are experiencing are hard to fathom and deeply emotional. Yet, as we continue planning for the 2025 Sundance Film Festival—just 10 days away—we’re moved by the resilience amidst the devastating loss.
“You are vital, vibrant members of our Sundance community, and we know that many of you have been and are being impacted by the ongoing tragic fires. Our community has a history of coming together when passion and perseverance are needed most, drawing strength from the deep bonds that make us so resilient.
Right now, we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on. Soon, we’ll gather for Sundance’s 41st Festival to discover a new year of films and filmmakers. Despite the challenges so many are confronting, we’re making our final preparations for this year’s Festival, as in times like these, our mission to support artists, uplift their work, and connect to communities is paramount. While it may challenge us in many ways, coming together will also empower and inspire us as we look to our future. With that in mind, we invite you to connect with us in the days leading up to the Festival. If you have been affected by the fires, and feel able or are in a space where you can, please share your situation in this form so we can understand how our community has been impacted.
Sundance exists to discover artists, celebrate their work, and support storytelling that connects people through the power of film and we know that coming together as a community can be both healing and catalytic.
Please stay safe as you care for yourselves and each other.”
The annual Sundance Film Festival will be held from January 23 – February 2, 2025.
