The recent wildfires in Los Angeles have sparked calls for a rethink on lavish awards ceremonies, but some industry professionals are warning that cutting back on glamour could be devastating for those who rely on the red carpet events for their livelihoods.
Awards season workers, including stylists, makeup artists, and tailors, argue that canceling or toning down the usual pomp and circumstance could exacerbate economic hardships they’ve already faced in recent years, such as during the 2024 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
“We’re just working-class people with families to feed and bills to pay,” said Kerrie Urban, a groomer whose clients include Brett Goldstein, Charlie Hunnam, and Kevin Kline. “We can’t just shut down; we rely on this season specifically to make a lot of our income for the entire year.”
Others echoed Urban’s concerns, stating that events already postponed or canceled could lead to unpaid work and industry-wide problems.
“It’s an industry epidemic that no one honors [fees for] cancellations,” said Amanda Lim. “We’ve done the work: days of prep, gathering and shipping pieces, organizing looks, getting fittings underway.”
As awards season events remain in flux, industry professionals are urging caution to avoid losing their livelihoods amidst the conversation about canceling or toning down the red carpet.
“We got through the strikes, and we’ll get through this, too,” said Raha Dixon, CEO of Tailor Here.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/style/rethinking-red-carpet-events-crisis-1236120468