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Oscar melted? Costume designer rebuilds after wildfire
5 Jan
Summary
- Costume designer Colleen Atwood lost three melted Oscars in a wildfire.
- The Palisades fire destroyed her home and most of her possessions.
- She is rebuilding her home and navigating financial and permit challenges.
A year after the devastating Palisades Fire swept through Los Angeles, acclaimed costume designer Colleen Atwood is still grappling with the aftermath. The blaze consumed her home, tragically melting three of her Academy Awards and damaging a fourth. This personal loss is compounded by the widespread destruction affecting thousands of residents, including numerous celebrities.
Atwood, known for her work on films like 'Chicago' and 'Alice in Wonderland,' describes the rebuilding process as daunting, both financially and logistically. She highlights the slow and complex permitting system as a major hurdle. Despite these difficulties, the Academy and BAFTA have replaced her melted Oscars, though other awards remain unreplaced. Her archive, however, survived the disaster, stored safely in a separate unit.
Professionally, Atwood experienced a remarkable year with her work on 'One Battle After Another,' 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' and 'Wednesday.' She finds strength in industry support, including the Motion Picture & Television Fund. While the fire's impact has faded for some, Atwood emphasizes the ongoing challenges of rebuilding and the importance of government accountability.
