When pristine nightfall plummeted upon downtown Los Angeles, at the crossroads of 5th and Bixel streets, an abrupt spectacle seized the interest of a band of youngsters lingering in the vicinity. Through their eyes, they perceived what seemed to be an inferno devouring the summit of a towering structure, infernal flames glowing ominously as smoke shrouded the night sky. Finding this unfolding predicament worthy of documenting, the group immediately set to capturing the scene on video. The post was subsequently shared with the ominous headline ‘#Breaking News blaze in Downtown Skyscraper. Dense smoke and flames emanating from the topmost layers of the construction, residents advised to keep clear of the site.’
Within the audible range of the group’s recording, you could hear the remarks, ‘It’s discernible to the sense of smell,’ commented a female voice among them. As per her description, ‘You can detect the peculiar scent of burning paper… It certainly smells like scorched paper.’ An eventual declaration by a young male member of the group, ‘Incredible!’ was captured as he continued filming the perceived catastrophe. However, they were in for a startling revelation soon.
The intensity of the apocalyptic scenario was soon defused when the truth surfaced. The blazing inferno they were bearing witness to was nothing more than an elaborate façade devised by the cinematic craftsmen of Hollywood. Far from a catastrophe, it was the enactment of a scene for an upcoming feature film. As it was later unveiled, the premises of the high-rise at 1201 W. 5th St. is a part of the historically rich Los Angeles Center Studios. Spanning over an impressive expanse of 20 acres, the campus hosts a myriad of establishments such as event venues and a suite of six expansive sound stages each covering 18,000 square feet.
The authenticity of the illusory conflagration was so convincing that it prompted a precautionary move from the Los Angeles Fire Department. Seeing the potential for a flurry of emergency calls from concerned citizens, they leveraged the power of social media to assuage the burgeoning concern. The intent was to illuminate the true nature of the ‘fire’ thereby assuring the residents, ‘Rest easy as it’s a mere cinematic set, devoid of any peril’, clarified the fire department’s spokesperson Margaret Stewart.
The fire department took to a popular social media platform to disseminate the authenticity of the situation writing, ‘We value the conscientiousness of the observers dialing in, however, the blaze at 1201 W 5th near Bixel in [downtown L.A.] is pre-scripted and is part of a film or television production. The spectacle is planned to persist till 3 a.m., please spread the word.’ Shedding light on the matter further, Stewart admitted it was a natural misunderstanding, as the filming equipment positioned atop the building was hidden from the sight of onlookers.
Meanwhile, as the band of youths continued monitoring the ‘fire’, they started piecing together the puzzle, realizing the fire could be manufactured. Characteristics of the flames and smoke did not adhere to the typical patterns of a real fire. Rather, they observed the incandescence was static, the smoke released was of a lighter, white color. They also noticed the distinct absence of the crackling and popping associated with live fires.
This triggered speculation among the viewers of the live-streamed video who started to collectively surmise the ‘fire’ was part of a movie production. The confirmation came with a message from an observant viewer, ‘It’s a faux flame, everyone,’ which the recording youth articulated for everyone to hear. The realization dawned upon them, ‘It’s the mystical craft of Hollywood.’
Having found themselves in the midst of unwittingly becoming the performers in a comic scene, they chuckled at their naiveté. They expressed relief about their anonymous identities in shared laughter, free from any embarrassment they might have felt about public misinterpretation. Finally, a female voice from the group reassured the others with playful dismissal, ‘No fuss, they can’t see us.’