Amid L.A. fires, CEO says Oscars ‘must and will go ahead’

After being decimated by fire season, it seems impossible for the Los Angeles area to begin thinking about awards season.

As the fires continue to rage, killing at least 25 people and destroying thousands of homes and businesses, the idea of ​​glamorous red carpets, swag bags and arguments over who’s who is who? He should They won Best Picture as if they belonged to another time, to another world.

The heart of the entertainment industry has been devastated, both literally and emotionally, and the true extent of the damage will not be known for many months. So it’s no surprise that some are calling for the upcoming Grammy Awards and Academy Awards to be cancelled.

Is now really the time to marvel at celebrities flaunting borrowed diamonds and high-end fashion, giving passionate speeches while clutching coveted statues?

Yes. yes it is.

In recent days, several guilds and organizations, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, have postponed nominations announcements and delayed or canceled other January events. However, the Recording Academy has announced that the Grammy Awards will be held, as scheduled, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 2 — as Recording Academy and MusiCares CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Board of Trustees Chair Tammy Hurt wrote in a letter to members, “ A renewed sense of purpose: Raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the courage and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”

Despite a recent misreport in the British press, the Oscars will follow suit.

“After consulting with ABC, our Board of Directors, and other key stakeholders in the Los Angeles and film community, we have made the carefully considered decision to proceed with the 97th Academy Awards as planned on March 2,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer said. Statement to The Times.

“This year’s ceremony will include special moments to honor those who bravely fought against the bushfires. We feel we must step forward to support our film community and use our global platform to bring attention to these critical moments in our history.”

He added that the academy will continue to monitor the situation closely.

“The spirit of Los Angeles and our film community has always been one of resilience, and the Academy Awards represent not just a celebration of film, but the strength and unity of the industry in the face of adversity,” he added.

For some, the ability of these awards to help raise money for many in need is the best argument for them happening. But, as Kramer points out, there are other compelling reasons as well.

Like it or not, the Oscars and Grammys remain important rituals, relatable moments in time around which Los Angeles, the country, and the world regularly rally. To celebrate or mock, it doesn’t matter. They are an established part of our cultural conversation and our calendar year — and as we have discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of such rituals heightens the feelings of helplessness and frustration that accompany any crisis.

It’s hard to imagine asking those who have lost their homes to wear a tuxedo or glam up in basic clothes, but never before would a sea of ​​famous faces be seen as such a challenge.

Although viewership for the Oscars is dwindling, it is the most watched awards ceremony in the world; Her trophy remains the ultimate symbol of success. Although the Academy Awards have been postponed and rescheduled several times during its 94-year history, it has never been cancelled. Not during war or plague, not after assassination or the 9/11 attacks. To do so now would send a message completely at odds with the historic resilience of both the city and the industry it represents.

We should always celebrate the work that unites us and defines us, that makes us laugh and cry and think and aspire. Especially in the midst of tragedy.

This work must continue despite the devastation and grief. The fires are just the latest blow for many already struggling to find work, pay rent, and feed children. For nearly five years, the entertainment industry has suffered, first from the pandemic, then from the writers and actors strikes and the clampdowns that followed.

The economics of every awards season, even if muted or modified to reflect national trauma or local devastation, matter deeply to thousands of people. As for those involved in the nominated works, the studios that produce them and the shows themselves – it takes nearly 1,000 people to present the Oscars, not counting presenters and guests – of course. But also for hotel workers, florists, restaurants, construction crews, taxi drivers, designers, seamstresses, rental companies, cleaners – the number of people required to set up, supervise and dismantle these massive events is incalculable.

Including all the press involved. The critical fire coverage you’ve been reading in The Times and other outlets is paid for, in part, by awards season ads.

It may seem cruel and impossible to expect Los Angeles to pull itself together and start throwing nationally televised concerts within weeks. But I know this city. In the more than 30 years I’ve lived here, I’ve watched it endure fires, floods, plague, civil unrest and a 6.7-magnitude earthquake that destroyed homes and broke highways in half.

Like the steely jacaranda, Los Angeles will never give up. You will cry for what was lost. And then she would dry her eyes, pick up some happy rags, put on a little make-up and blow… She would stand, straight-backed, in the middle of the rubble, greeting the guests and distributing champagne into the broken teacups with a smile. So dazzling that no one will notice anything wrong.

So use the Oscars and Grammys telecast to raise money and awareness. He suggested that those companies that used to offer exclusive goodies to celebrities should donate to fire relief instead. We acknowledge and honor all that the industry, frontline workers and the city have endured with a more sober celebration – if not too sober, because God knows we could use a laugh. Just don’t talk about how to cancel it completely. This would make a bad situation worse.

The show is here, just as it always has been. Now more than ever, the show must go on.