Wildfires raging across Los Angeles County have prompted a surge in donations from major studios, with some pledging hundreds of millions of dollars to support relief efforts.
Warner Bros. Discovery has committed $15 million, while Amazon, Comcast and Netflix directed $10 million apiece. Sony pledged an additional $5 million, followed by Paramount Global’s $1 million donation. The contributions are aimed at immediate response and rebuilding efforts for the disaster.
In a statement, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO David Zaslav stated that the studio is dedicated to supporting those impacted by the disaster, with a focus on helping them “rebound from this disaster and rebuild in the weeks, months, and years ahead.”
Meanwhile, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos directed his donation towards organizations such as the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, World Central Kitchen, Motion Picture and Television Fund, and Entertainment Community Fund. Sarandos emphasized that Los Angeles is a family of talented individuals who come together during times of crisis.
Comcast, which owns NBCUniversal, will send funds to various relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, Entertainment Industry Foundation SoCal Fire Fund and Habitat for Humanity’s ReBUILD LA initiative. Amazon pledged $10 million from its entertainment division, while Sony stated that it would donate an additional $5 million to unspecified groups.
The donations are part of a growing list of support as the Biden administration declared a state of disaster on January 8, and Governor Gavin Newsom has issued executive orders to suspend permitting rules for homeowners looking to rebuild. The economic toll from the fires is estimated at over $250 billion in damages.
As production of film and TV comes to a halt due to the emergency, studios are mobilizing their resources to support those affected by the disaster.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/comcast-netflix-amazon-warner-bros-relief-efforts-1236107508