On Thursday, January 9th, Megan Weinraub was sent a photo of ‘Azul’, her aptly named 1970s VW bus that was parked in the Palisades as the fires erupted. It was the only thing left standing. She freaked out. She was in the bathroom and screamed.
Later, on January 14, this exact image aired on AP news. It went completely viral. ‘Azul’ became an image of hope for so many. What does it mean when a miracle like this occurs?
Prompted by the power of this image, Saved By Grace is a film by Orion Eshel and Zack Raffin that explores the impact of the Palisades fire across the affected communities of West L.A. Taking a deep dive into a community ravaged by tragedy, Saved By Grace follows the stories of longtime resident Jimmy Ganzer, local business owner Erica Simpson and Community Brigade Member David Barton to look at the immediate effects of the Palisades fire… and most importantly, what comes next?
Coming soon.
A film by Orion Eshel and Zack Raffin
Featuring - Megan Weintraub, Jim Ganzer, Erica Simpson, and David Barton
Directed by - Orion Eshel
Produced by - Zack Raffin
Cinematography - Grant Duncan, Reyna Hope, Joseph Duerr
Edit - Orion Eshel, Justin La Turno
On Set Sound - Michael Figueroa