Film

Fire in Santa Clarita Not Started By Film Set, Says LA County Fire Department

By Alice G. Collins 2 years ago


a view of a large mountain in the background: Los Angeles downtown skyline after sunrise

Los Angeles downtown skyline after sunrise

Despite early reports that a film production set off an explosion and subsequent brush fire in Santa Clarita on Tuesday, officials say that isn’t the case.

“We’re unsure of how the rumor of it being a movie shoot got out. There’s no evidence leading us in that direction thus far,” says Jonathan Matheny, a Los Angeles County Fire Department public information officer, who said the inciting event occurred at a business within an industrial park.

According to multiple reports, there was a loud explosion at around 4:45 p.m. in the afternoon on the 25100 block of Rye Canyon Road in Valencia, California, an area north of Los Angeles. It sparked a brush fire — quickly dubbed the Rye Fire — that 125 firefighters and two helicopters were ultimately able to hold to one acre. It is no longer an active fire.

An investigation is

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“CODA” big winner at 2021 Sundance Film Festival

By Alice G. Collins 2 years ago

“CODA,” a touching coming-of-age dramedy about a young girl in conflict with her deaf parents and brother as she attempts to pursue singing — a talent they cannot fully appreciate — received top honors at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival.



a man holding a gun: coda-620-50621511826-77be663404-o.jpg

© Seacia Pavao/Courtesy of Sundance Institute
coda-620-50621511826-77be663404-o.jpg

The film received the Grand Jury Prize for U.S. Drama, as well as the Audience Award, a director’s award for Siân Heder and a special jury award for its ensemble cast, which includes Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur, Daniel Durant, Eugenio Derbez and Ferdia Walsh-Peelo.

“CODA” (an acronym for Child Of Deaf Adults) also set a record last week when worldwide distribution rights were picked up by Apple Studios for $25 million — the highest sum ever for a film premiering at Sundance.

Other award-winners announced Tuesday evening were the “Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),”

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