Filmmakers Offer Old Location Photos to Help Fire Victims — And Prove Insurance Claims

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In the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires, producer Amanda Rohlke and production designer/art director Amelia Steely are urging fellow professionals in the industry to post photos of damaged properties online. This will aid property owners in filing insurance claims as well as provide emotional significance.

The inspiration struck Rohlke and Steely on a Monday while they were chatting with a friend whose family had tragically lost their home in the Palisades. This reminded Rohlke of a film she had shot at that very house back in 2013, and how the team had taken numerous photos during production. She reached out to the art department from the set in search of these images. As Rohlke shared this news with their friend, it dawned on Steely that she too had captured photos from various locations – a realization that followed closely behind Rohlke’s revelation.

A thought struck Steely: ‘Wow, there are so many resources that homeowners might not be aware of.’ Many times, the homeowner isn’t even present when someone has snapped hundreds of pictures of their property. She’s captured images of around 50 houses in Los Angeles, with five to ten of them being located in areas affected by fires.

These photographs, as stated by Steely, extend beyond broad views and scene-setting shots. They are additionally what he calls “re-set” images, which meticulously depict the exact arrangement of objects for the team to reposition items following a move or as a reference in case of damage.

Following that first discussion, Rohlke and Steely chose to share this innovative concept within their professional networks. Rohlke then shared on Instagram: “An idea for film crews, particularly the art department: Have you filmed at businesses or homes in Palisades or Altadena? Do you have images from scouts and filming? Collect these for the homeowner. This could aid them with insurance claims or inventory management, while also providing emotional keepsake photos that they probably wouldn’t have taken themselves.

Rohlke, who’s behind the production of the Apple documentary titled “Deaf President Now!“, set to be showcased at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, also shared a piece of advice for homeowners in distress: “If you ever had your home used as a filming location and still have contact with our team, don’t hesitate to reach out. They might still have photos saved from that time.

News about Rohlke’s call to action spread rapidly through the Hollywood production community. Among those who commented or shared it on Instagram were writer and director Ally Pankiw, filmmaker Kelly May, and Marissa Nodar, a member of the location teams for movies like ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Nope’.

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In no time, word got around in Hollywood’s production circles about Rohlke’s call to action. Among those who expressed their support on Instagram or re-shared it were Ally Pankiw, a writer and director, Kelly May, a filmmaker, and Marissa Nodar, a member of the location teams for movies like ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Nope’.

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The buzz about Rohlke’s call to action traveled fast within Hollywood’s production sector. Those who reacted on Instagram or re-posted it included Ally Pankiw, a writer and director, Kelly May, a filmmaker, and Marissa Nodar, a member of the location teams for movies like ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Nope’.

Nodar mentioned that he had explored Altadena just a year ago, and it was heartbreaking to return because he’d formed such strong bonds with the locals. However, in his reflection, he didn’t consider the significance of those connections; they could be useful for possible insurance claims or simply for their emotional worth.

Upon seeing the post, Nodar understood its potential usefulness. “Let me note for the record,” she commented, “we’ve got a comprehensive view of what that property entails.

Afterward, Nodar reached out to her professional network to brainstorm effective strategies for reaching out to property owners. This is because some of these property owners could potentially be working with location service providers.

The filmmaker who commented on Rohlke’s post mentioned that she had scouted locations in Altadena back in November and has since reached out to various sites to determine if they could utilize her photos. She has been cross-referencing the digital map of where she took the pictures with the wildfire map available on the Watch Duty app. At least one property owner reported that the location, a cabin situated in Altadena, no longer exists.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Palisades Fire, covering over 23,000 acres, was reported to be 19% under control, while the Eaton Fire, affecting more than 14,000 acres, was estimated to be 45% contained. According to official reports, a total of around 12,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed in these two fires.

For property owners pondering their next moves, visual aids could prove helpful. Although Google Maps offers street and satellite perspectives, a filmmaker’s or production team’s footage could offer more comprehensive insights.

In Steely’s words, “Our team excels at diligent visual note-taking as a key responsibility, ensuring we can efficiently deliver vital information to those who require it.

Rohlke mentioned that aside from insurance claims, having photographs of their furniture and personal items would hold immense sentimental value for them.

On Wednesday, it remained uncertain to Rohlke and Steely how many individuals from the production team and property owners had linked up. They were in the process of establishing a centralized platform, potentially utilizing Google Forms, to facilitate these connections. Privacy issues were also under consideration, as mentioned by Rohlke.

As a gamer, I’d put it like this: “Man, those pics are super intimate! It’s not just an exterior shot of someone’s house with a grand piano in the living room. My team members dive deep; they snap every book on a bookshelf, even peek into people’s closets.

One hub is currently active. Taking inspiration from Rohlke’s post, Eric Hernandez and Chris Fenner, both directors of photography, introduced SafeFrame – a platform enabling users to upload images from fire-stricken areas or search for photos by location. At the moment, Hernandez and Fenner could not be reached for comment.

For individuals within the field, this opportunity seemed like a means to extend assistance, despite resource constraints, according to Rohlke.

She mentioned that in the movie industry, it’s not just location managers, scouts, or art team members who take scout photos, but even producers and directors are doing the same. These photos often include images of strangers’ houses and their personal items, which we have in our possession, even if we don’t end up filming at those locations.

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2025-01-17 00:25