The wildfires around the Los Angeles area have devastated businesses and homes, and the flames are still being fanned by high winds. So far, they’ve caused between $135 billion and $150 billion in damage, according to AccuWeather.
Area agencies and production companies are feeling the effects of the fires as well, with some staffers being evacuated from their homes, a few losing homes, and everyone on high alert. Many production shoots are also on hold or changed to new venues.
DoorDash, which plans a Super Bowl 59 ad for its DashPass membership service, cancelled a shoot that had been scheduled this week, saying via a spokesperson: “When it’s clear and safe to proceed, we will conduct the shoot at a later date. Our spot remains set to air during the game as planned.”
Many of the top creative shops in the area are in the unenviable position of trying to support their affected employees, reconcile the damage done to their communities, while continuing to service clients.
This is a crucial time of year for productions, as the Super Bowl is just around the corner, and many shoots have been altered or postponed due to the fires.
“Imagine trying to do a job under those circumstances”
“We definitely have employees that have been in mandatory evacuation zones and still are, and then some folks that have voluntarily packed a bag to evacuate…just a lot of people displaced,” said Stephanie Ramos, director of people at the Culver City agency Zambezi.
While Zambezi itself is away from the fires, it has a production happening soon. It is being flexible about who will be at the shoot, based on who can get there and isn’t in danger. And luckily, clients are understanding, even if they’re not located in Los Angeles, being as flexible as they can considering the situation.
The ad agency Party Land has also found its clients to be accommodating, though the agency is two weeks away from a planned four-day shoot that will now need tweaking. At least one location was in a fire-impacted zone.
“We do have the benefit of time, and we’re not shifting away from L.A.,” Haley Hunter, founder and chief operating officer of Party Land, “but we’re scouting new locations.”
Also a top of mind concern: crew, vendors, and others needed to put a production together may not be available, which will require further pivots for Party Land’s upcoming shoot and many others.
While business is still being conducted, the agencies noted that the safety of their employees, family, and friends is much more important.
“Schools are closed, kids are home and they can’t go outside because of the air quality,” said Hunter, who noted that three L.A. homes she has lived in were destroyed in the fires. “People have a lot on their plates, so imagine trying to do a job under those circumstances.”
