Jerry O’Connell – Woolsey Fire, 5 Years Later

At the heart of this project is a personal and candid conversation with actor and longtime Calabasas resident Jerry O’Connell, who recounts his own close call during the Old Fire of 2016 and reflects on the lasting impact of the Woolsey Fire on the community he calls home.

I set out to craft more than just a remembrance piece. I wanted to preserve some of the natural bits of the conversation, keeping in moments that others might have cut. Jerry’s pauses, his laughter when reaching for the right words, those unscripted beats helped retain the honesty of the moment and brought his personality forward. That authenticity was essential in keeping the interview engaging, human, and anything but dry.

Produced during my time with the City of Calabasas, I oversaw every aspect of the production surrounding the interview. Serving as both director and cinematographer, I shaped the visual and narrative tone by handling camera operation, lighting design, and on-location sound recording. I also edited the final piece, incorporating aerial footage I captured to anchor the story in place and scale. Select stock footage was carefully woven in to enhance historical context without disrupting visual continuity.