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Disney, Warner Bros. and Universal have shut down or scaled back in-person work.
By Alex Weprin
Media & Business Writer
As the wildfires continue to spread across the Los Angeles area, studios and agencies are shutting down their lots and offices, or allowing employees to work remotely if safe to do so.
Given their location in Burbank and Universal City, Walt Disney Studios, Universal and Warner Bros. Studios have all shut down their lots and offices, with Universal only requiring “essential” employees on-site.
Productions of films and shows on those lots have been paused accordingly. The Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, which is adjacent to the lot, shut down Wednesday.
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For other studios, many of which are situated a safer distance from the fires, a more flexible approach is being implemented.
Sony Pictures, located in Culver City, is remaining open for those who want to work from the office, though employees are not being required to come in.
The Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood is open, though employees are being encouraged to work from home if they can. Tours of the Paramount lot are canceled.
At the agencies, UTA in Beverly Hills and CAA in Century City are both encouraging its employees to work wherever is safest for them, be it at home or from the office. The WME office is closed.
The accommodations from employers underscore one way that Hollywood has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced offices and studio lots to shut down and employees to work remotely. While film and TV productions largely need to take place in person, much of the office work around the business can be done remotely, and the fires underscore how the industry is responding to the disaster, while continuing to keep the industry moving, if not business as usual.
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