As multiple wildfires rage in Los Angeles County, studios are mobilizing their own response efforts. Following Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery has committed $15 million in donations to support relief efforts while Amazon, Comcast and Netflix directed $10 million apiece and Sony pledged an additional $5 million while Paramount Global added $1 million.
Warner Bros. Discovery, led by CEO David Zaslav, stated through a spokesperson that the company is sending the funds “for immediate response and rebuilding efforts” to unspecified organizations. “Our studio has called Burbank home for more than 100 years, and we are focused on what needs to be done to help those impacted rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead,” a Warners rep said.
Netflix plans to direct its donations to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, California Community Fund Wildfire Recovery Fund, World Central Kitchen, Motion Picture and Television Fund, and Entertainment Community Fund.
“For many people who aren’t familiar with it, Los Angeles conjures images of palm trees and red carpets; mansions and movie stars. But for those of us lucky enough to call this city home, Los Angeles is far more than that,” Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote in a memo to staff on Monday. “It’s a family — one made up of extraordinarily talented, hardworking people from all over the world and all walks of life, many of whom came here chasing a dream.”
Sarandos added, “Today, that dream feels a little further out of reach for thousands of our friends, family, colleagues and neighbors. But one thing that I have seen over and over again is how Angelenos and Californians come together in times of crisis and how we rebuild.”
Philadelphia-based studio giant Comcast, which has a large footprint in L.A. as the parent of NBCUniversal, will send funds to the American Red Cross, Entertainment Industry Foundation SoCal Fire Fund and more. And it will give $2.5 million toward the Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ ReBUILD LA initiative.
“We extend our deep appreciation to the first responders for their tireless and courageous efforts and to our news teams, including NBC4 and KVEA, who are providing vital coverage during this time. We stand ready to support our employees and the broader Los Angeles community as we recover and rebuild from these tragic events,” said Brian Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast.
And Amazon said it would be committing $10 million from its entertainment division division (including Culver City-based Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video) to American Red Cross of Southern California, FireAid, MusiCares Fire Relief Effort, World Central Kitchen, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation and more.
On Monday afternoon, Sony stated that it would be donating $5 million to unspecified groups that would be aiding in relief efforts. “Los Angeles has been the home of our entertainment business for more than 35 years,” said Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and president Hiroki Totoki, adding: “We will continue work with our local business leadership to determine how best Sony Group can support relief and recovery efforts in the days ahead. Our thoughts go out to those who are impacted by this devastating situation.”
On Jan. 10, Burbank-based Disney said it would donate $15 million to various relief efforts, earmarking funds for the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and other organizations. “We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need,” CEO Bob Iger stated.
Paramount Global‘s co-chiefs, Brian Robbins, Chris McCarthy and George Cheeks, wrote a memo to staff that stated the company would donate $1 million to various relief efforts. And SAG-AFTRA, led by president Fran Drescher, has also pledged $1 million for impacted workers in its 160,000-member union.
As of Monday, the Palisades Fire has burned more than 23,700 acres while the Eaton Fire in Altadena has reached more than 14,000 acres, with more than 12,300 structures destroyed, per CalFire estimates. More than a dozen people have been killed while thousands have evacuated and had homes and businesses destroyed. Most film and TV production has paused as the county deals with the emergency.
The Biden administration declared a state of disaster on Jan. 8, a day after California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency. The governor’s office has since issued an executive order to suspend some permitting rules for homeowners looking to rebuild and on Monday unveiled a plan for tax relief by extending deadlines for impacted businesses. “We are strong because of the diversity of our businesses, and we stand by them — providing relief to aid them through this difficult time,” Newsom stated.
The economic toll for the fires has increased exponentially in the past few days, with media firm Accuweather increasing its estimate to more than $250 billion in damages — up from a $52 billion to $57 billion estimate just days earlier.
Jan. 13, 7:33 pm Updated throughout with additional donations from studios.
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