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‘It’s a gut punch’: how the California wildfires affected film and TV workers

Nearly 8,000 below-the-line Hollywood workers were in evacuation areas with over 300 losing their homes, a further blow to an industry already struggling

French lost her home, including irreplaceable family photos, her baby book and her late mother’s jewellery, when wildfires fuelled by dry conditions and powerful winds swept through Los Angeles on 7 January, killing at least 29 people and destroying thousands of structures. Although Hollywood stars such as Jeff Bridges, Billy Crystal and Mel Gibson losing their homes made headlines, some of the most vulnerable victims are “below-the-line” crew members such as grips, electricians, carpenters, set decorators, sound engineers, costume designers, makeup artists and editors. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty ImagesThis comes on top of turbulent years in which Hollywood has endured Covid shutdowns, a pullback from the heady days of the streaming boom and increased competition from other states – such as Georgia, New York, New Jersey and New Mexico – and countries offering tax incentives.

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