A new documentary chronicling the aftermath of the devastating Eaton Fire is set to premiere this month in Los Angeles, per Deadline.
Produced by her ColorCreative company, the documentary When the Sky Turned Orange, is set to premiere February 10 at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
The production arrives nearly one year after the highly destructive Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County, in Southern California. When the Sky Turned Orange will commemorate the devastating fire by spotlighting how community members mobilized to provide resources, support and healing for families impacted by the tragedy.
The fire killed at least 19 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, becoming the fifth deadliest and the second most destructive wildfire in California history. Financial losses are estimated between $95 billion and $164 billion.
Rebuilding efforts have been slow to start, with the situation “gaining momentum” as the new year approached in December, according to the Los Angeles Times.
ColorCreative was co-founded by Issa Rae, Deniese Davis and Talitha Watkins.
B.P. Edwards, an Altadena resident, is the director of the film working alongside a team of filmmakers from ColorCreative’s inaugural Find Your People program. The initiative is a training curriculum that provides specialized resources, mentorship and guidance for seven disciplines in the filmmaking process.
“To me, B.P. Edwards represents the future of filmmaking,” said Watkins, president of ColorCreative. “As a member of our inaugural Find Your People Program cohort, he embodies the heart of our mission, which is developing and nurturing emerging creatives who are deeply committed to authenticity in storytelling. Championing his work for a broader audience is truly an honor.”
Edwards is one of the creatives with a personal connection to the fires. His city of Altadena was one of the hardest hit, behooving him to want to document the tragedy. He reached out to his fellow creatives from his cohort to gauge their interest in helping him tell this story, with Miller, Gilmer and Kleppmer taking on roles. Watkins worked with Jordan Brand to provide production support.
The Pan African Film Festival runs from February 16-22.