The recent wildfires in Los Angeles, California have had a large impact on the entertainment industry, affecting award shows in particular. The fires have not only caused destruction upon land and homes, harmed civilians, but have also disrupted the schedules of major social events such as the Oscars.
“Given the fire situation, we want to share some updates regarding an extension to the Oscars nominations voting window… Nominations voting for the 97th Oscars opened this morning at 9 a.m. PT. We will be extending the voting window by two days to give members more time to cast their ballots. Voting will now close on Tuesday, January 14 at 5 p.m. PT. As such, our Oscars Nominations Announcement will move from Friday, January 17 to Sunday, January 19,” wrote Academy CEO Bill Kramer to all Academy members.
The Oscars is not the only one impacted by the fires. Other award shows including The Critics Choice Award and the Producers Guild of America Awards have been affected too. The Critics Choice Award will potentially premiere on January 26 while the PGA has been postponed to next week.
“Out of care and concern for those being affected by the fires, we will be holding the announcement of the PGA award nominees until next week,” the guild declared on Sunday.
One of the highly anticipated shows, the Grammys, will continue its planned date on February 2nd yet they plan to bring attention and support to wildlife relief efforts. Sixteen annual pre-Grammy events sponsored by the Recording Academy have officially been cancelled.
"We understand how devastating this past week has been on this city and its people. This is our home, it's home to thousands of music professionals, and many of us have been negatively impacted," said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in a recent statement.
John Hopkins, a Welsh actor, producer, writer, and the winner of over 70 awards and over 130 nominations has been deeply impacted by the wildfires in particular. The 87 year old’s home was burnt down among the thousands of other houses destroyed by the fires.
“As we all struggle to heal from the devastation of these fires, it's important we remember that the only thing we take with us is the love we give," Hopkins says.
Although the logistics of award shows have been disrupted and thrown off balance, it is only so that attention is focused on the wildfires as well as the safety of the people and environment. During this postponed break, time will be spent helping and donating to this cause.
