Xochitl Chury

The show must go on, or is it time to put a pause? Hollywood is a town of fantasy and entertainment, a dream maker since the talkies. In this place, the world’s miseries and troubles are always left outside the gates of the film studios, where the dream factory is always focused on creating escape opportunities away from the world’s uproars, distress and cruel realities—a playground for the mind, a relief for the senses. There is always an event to look forward to attending or witnessing through broadcasting and streaming platforms. All year long, the town ground is painted in an eternal and quasi-infinite red carpet where movie stars, directors, producers, musicians and who is who in the show business parade in their best and most regal attire specially chosen for the occasion by a team of stylish, assistants and collaborators. A literal “La La Land” in motion, the city of Los Angeles, where Hollywood is located, is an open invitation to live up to the idealistic yet attainable idea of fulfilling their dreams of stardom and fame.
Once in a while, the threat of a natural disaster in the form of an earthquake has taken the town hostage and destroyed a town that has been rebuilt more than once. A place where resourcefulness and creativity have been put to the service of coming up with crafty ideas to hold awards even during global pandemics such as COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. The pledge that “The show must go on” embodies the lives and daily operations of a unique place where millions of dollars in investments cannot go to waste because life decided to get real and currently hurt the population of a place the is currency due to the wildfires far from a fantasyland. The unfathomable catastrophe of wildfires that affected the city of Los Angeles, including near areas such as Malibu, Santa Monica, Calabasas, and San Diego County, for in the crest of award season that goes from January to March each year has made the authorities and the board of directors at the helm of the entertainment industry in addition to the broadcasting head honchos to switch their priorities and put a pause and many events, cancel some commitments and reschedule awards all in the spirit of focus on safety, and recalibrate, recoup and rebuild what once was. The list of pivotal events for the industry that had been postponed included the “Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) nominations and Critics Choice Awards, which were postponed twice from their initial set date of January 8th of 2025, one day after the California Wildfires rapidly spread. In addition to the delay in Oscar Award nominations, the taping of nationwide broadcast talk shows and series has been paused for weeks in some specific cases. There is a need to assess the devastation and plan a timely delay to care for the affected residents and relocate if necessary. Some events had caused a significant drawback and were replaced amid a chaotic environment. Hollywood is trying to take care of reality while rethinking how to carry on with their motto, “Business As Usual.”
By the looks of February, “The Grammys.” changed locations and will focus on its broadcast on relief and fundraising efforts to help those affected by ravaging fires.
Some venues have completely burned down, which means they must be relocated, and available spaces must be found that can fulfill the safety, capacity and requirements necessary to hold an effective ceremony without further interruptions. If anything, Hollywood will put a brief standby on its most anticipated time of the year, which is the ultimate recognition of its beloved starts and performances to close with a golden broche year in the industry and its most shining products. However, this time, even though resilience is a trademark of the thespian willingness to keep life going in some cases, austerity will prevail because it is not a time to be flamboyant and over the top when so many inhabitants are suffering. It will take a while to make Los Angeles look like the dreamland paradise that once was in the eyes of spectators looking through their screens at the uproaring glamour of award season and carpet walking with the occasional inquiry of “Who are you wearing? Shout from any side of the carpet by a photographer, a reporter, or a fan. Above all, after the pause, the show will go on in the town where dreams get overpowered by the urgent reality of the wildfires.