LOS ANGELES — Over the weekend, calmer winds and robust firefighting efforts led to increased containment of the wildfires raging in and around Los Angeles. However, the impact of these fires continues to reverberate through the entertainment industry.
Several events and projects have faced delays, with the Producers Guild announcing that it would withhold its nominations on Sunday due to the ongoing situation caused by the fires. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has also decided to postpone the launch of her upcoming Netflix lifestyle series until March.
Firefighters managed to gain ground against the flames in Mandeville Canyon, a neighborhood home to many celebrities, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, located near Pacific Palisades close to the coast. Helicopters tirelessly lifted water to combat the encroaching fire as it surged downhill. While containment has improved in several populated zones, meteorologists predict strong winds will return this week and persist through Wednesday.
The devastating fires have resulted in the destruction of thousands of homes and claimed the lives of 24 individuals, with more people still reported missing, a figure expected to grow.
The wildfires are having a profound impact on various celebrities and the broader entertainment sector.
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has postponed the rollout of her Netflix series, originally set to debut Wednesday, in light of the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area. The streaming service expressed its support for her decision, emphasizing the need to focus on aiding those affected by the disaster. Raised in Los Angeles and currently residing in Montecito, California, with her husband Prince Harry and their two children, Meghan has demonstrated her commitment to the community. Last Saturday, the couple visited Pasadena to distribute food and water to those impacted by the fires and to express gratitude to emergency responders.
“With Love, Meghan” is designed as a lifestyle program where the Duchess engages in conversations with celebrity friends while showcasing various skills such as floral arranging and baking. “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,” Meghan shares in the show’s trailer. The premiere is now scheduled for March 4.
The fires have also claimed a significant piece of musical history, as original manuscripts and scores by composer Arnold Schoenberg have been irrevocably lost. The Belmont Music Publishers, based in the Pacific Palisades area, released a statement confirming the loss of their entire inventory for sales and rental materials. They expressed hope of eventually resurrecting their catalog in a digital format. There are some scores and performance materials for which they do have digital scans.
Schoenberg, who fled Austria during the rise of the Nazis, settled in Los Angeles, where he passed away in 1951. He garnered fame for his innovative 12-tone composition method and, alongside his pupils like Alban Berg and Anton Webern, formed the Second Viennese School. Among his renowned compositions are “Ewartung,” “Gurre-Lieder,” “Verklärte Nacht,” and “Pierrot lunaire.”
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) has also joined various entertainment organizations, including the Walt Disney Company and the Grammys, in pledging financial support for disaster relief. SAG has committed to donating $1 million to assist its members who have been affected by the wildfires. While media attention often focuses on well-known stars who have lost their homes, there are numerous lesser-known industry workers who have also suffered displacements or losses due to the fires.
