34 PRODUCTION SOUND & VIDEO – Winter 2026
The Lost Bus is the story of school bus driver Kevin McKay, played by Matthew
McConaughey, and schoolteacher Mary Ludwig, portrayed by America Ferrera,
who saved twenty-two children during the 2018 Campfire in Paradise, California.
The Campfire was one of the deadliest disasters in the state's history, killing 85
people and destroying more than 150,000 acres.
Directed by Paul Greengrass who also co-wrote the script with Brad Ingelsby,
is based on a portion of Lizzie Johnson's book of 2021, Paradise: One Town's
Struggle to Survive an American Wildfire.
by Richard Lightstone
Lisa
Piñero
and
The
Lost
Bus
