Per Hallberg is one of the greatest in sound design in Hollywood and is in Sweden to, among other things, celebrate at the Guldbagge Gala, where he is one of the presenters.
While he was in Sweden, the news came that his home had burned down. Hallberg himself has not been home yet and seen the devastation with his own eyes.
No, I was on Öland. And no one could get up to the house. So I didn't know for a while how it looked. But now I've seen both film and pictures, and there's nothing left.
It's empty.
Three Oscars
Per Hallberg has received three Oscars, for "Braveheart", "The Bourne Ultimatum", and the Bond film "Skyfall". He has lived in Los Angeles for 40 years.
Now everything is gone.
It's quite hopeless, of course. Because it's a lot of things you think about that you've lost, which have a value that's hard to put into money and economics. I've always liked art, so I had good stuff that I've collected over many, many years. It's gone, it's heavy. It can't be replaced.
Not even his Oscar statuettes are left.
Both they, and my Baftas, the British Academy's prizes, are gone. And a lot of prizes I've received over the years. Everything is gone. So it's sad.
"Have to start over"
Per Hallberg's two daughters were not at home, and his partner lives in Sweden, so no one was injured in the fire.
Everyone is safe, and that's of course the most important thing.
There are hundreds of thousands of people who are now homeless in Los Angeles after the fires. Per Hallberg has managed to get an apartment through contacts.
So I'm coming with a suitcase. That's all I have. It's completely incredible. You have to start over in life. You have to do that. The question is what it will be.
The film industry in Los Angeles has been hard hit in recent years. First by the pandemic and then by the long strike in 2023. Now Per Hallberg fears that the fire will be a knockout blow.
It was already tough before. Because of what we have. It feels like it never ends in some way. This is another blow. So we'll see how it goes.
Despite the personal catastrophe, Per Hallberg decided to come to the Guldbagge.
At first, it felt a bit strange. But I decided it was good to have something else to think about.
Born on Öland in 1958. Has worked for 40 years as a sound designer in Hollywood.
Has received three Oscars: "Braveheart" (1995), "The Bourne Ultimatum" (2007), and "Skyfall" (2012). Was also nominated for "Faceoff" (1997).
