How will Hollywood and the entertainment industry recover from the Los Angeles wildfires?

Just one week has passed since wildfires began ravaging Southern California, but in seven days time, the destruction caused to hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles residents is sobering and incalculable. Whether any of those dates will hold is a matter of the course nature takes, but that hasn’t stopped awards season devotees and those in the entertainment industry from expressing their aggravation. Makeup artist Benjamin Puckey wrote, “I completely understand the desire to support those affected by the fires, but awards season provides essential work for so many.” Puckey noted fellow makeup artists as well as “drivers, stylists, riggers, and countless others behind the scenes” who would be affected by an all-out cancellation of the Oscars and other ceremonies — especially in a period when paid jobs are critical for those who have lost their livelihoods and homes in the fires. Talent producer Kate Tuckwood agreed, saying, “Those ‘below-the-line’ rely on awards season financially to get us through the year.” Makeup artist Lilly Keys added: “Many artists in our community have already lost their homes to the fires, and their livelihoods are tied to this short but vital period. If we don’t work during these critical months, we don’t earn.” It’s evident that the wildfires aren’t just causing ongoing destruction, they’re also dividing Los Angeles’ most notable industry.