Documentary ‘Big Rock Burning’ Reveals Community’s Struggle After Wildfires

Malibu, California – A new documentary, ‘Big Rock Burning’, tells the harrowing stories of families affected by the devastating wildfires that struck Los Angeles earlier this year. The film highlights the experiences of residents in the Big Rock neighborhood, who felt abandoned and alone during this crisis.

Mark Hamill, best known for his role as Luke Skywalker in the ‘Star Wars’ series, and his wife Marilou York are executive producers of the documentary, which underscores their deep connection to the community and the traumatic events they faced. The couple has lived in the Big Rock area since 1978 and were forced to evacuate as the fires approached.

“I planned to stay, but I was really angry when we left,” Marilou shared. “After a few days, I was thankful we didn’t. I was more worried about toxins than dying.” The couple activated their fire defense system, which helped save their home and potentially protected nearby houses.

“Nearly every home around us burned, but one,” Marilou said, attributing that survival to their fire system. Although their house remains standing, it has been deemed uninhabitable due to chemical contamination.

Mark and Marilou are uncertain when they will return to Big Rock, a neighborhood they cherish. “It’s a special property where we raised our family,” Marilou explained. “But I didn’t realize the ramifications of surviving the fire until now.”

Alongside their neighbor and director David Goldblum, the Hamills are shedding light on the lack of government response during the disaster. Residents in the community felt neglected, with Goldblum documenting their struggles after losing his own home.

“We were just fighting fires with garden hoses,” Goldblum recalled. “We have to get our stories out there.”

Following the outbreak of the fires, community members used a WhatsApp group to communicate and prepare for the worst, leading Goldblum to begin filming just days after the fires started.

Some residents took risks by staying behind to protect their homes. Arno Koch, who lost his house, described a heart-wrenching moment: “I took a last picture of my burning house and said, ‘Okay, I want to see my family now.’”

‘Big Rock Burning’ has gained attention and will host a preview screening on August 29 at Malibu City Hall, followed by a theatrical run from September 12 to 18 at Laemmle in Santa Monica. Marilou hopes the film will inspire better disaster preparedness in communities.

“It’s devastating for us and our neighborhood,” she stated. “I hope people get a chance to see it.”