Eaton Fire Documentary ‘When The Sky Turned Orange’ by Issa Rae’s ColorCreative Announced for Premiere

Documentary on Eaton Fire Set to Premiere at the Pan African Film Festival

The documentary When the Sky Turned Orange, produced by ColorCreative, co-founded by Issa Rae, Deniese Davis, and Talitha Watkins, will debut on February 10 at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles.

This film commemorates the Eaton Fire, which devastated the region a year prior. It highlights the community’s response, showcasing how residents banded together to provide resources, support, and healing for those affected by the tragedy.

Directed by B.P. Edwards, a resident of Altadena, the documentary also features production by Maia Miller and editing from Mayah Gilmer and Matt Kleppmer. All four individuals are members of the inaugural cohort of ColorCreative’s Find Your People program, designed to cultivate emerging talent in filmmaking.

Partly funded by Michael Jordan’s Black Community Commitment through Nike, the documentary aims to elevate authentic storytelling from diverse voices. Additional screening dates will be announced in the future.

Watkins expressed her admiration for Edwards, stating, "To me, B.P. Edwards represents the future of filmmaking. 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, deeply connected to the project as a native of Altadena, witnessed firsthand how the community mobilized following the fires. Motivated to document this experience, he collaborated with fellow creatives from his cohort, including Miller, Gilmer, and Kleppmer. Watkins facilitated production support through Jordan Brand.

According to records released by L.A. County, the Eaton Fire scorched over 14,000 acres, destroyed around 9,400 structures, and caused 17 fatalities while injuring several firefighters. A report from UCLA estimates the total financial losses from the fire to be between $95 billion and $164 billion, with insured losses around $75 billion. Rebuilding efforts have faced delays but have reportedly begun to gain momentum as the new year approached.

Edwards, a seasoned director and cinematographer, has previously worked on projects with Rae’s Hoorae Media, BuzzFeed, Food Network, and several other prominent organizations. An alumnus of Langston University and East Texas A&M University, he brings diverse experience across multiple media formats.

The Pan African Film Festival runs from February 16 to 22, showcasing additional notable projects, including the film One Spoon of Chocolate, featuring Shameik Moore and Paris Jackson, along with a special screening of Lifetime’s Tracy McMillan Presents: Tempted 2 Love.