Security on set

[Guest Daniel J. Ashley-Smith]

One thing I've been wondering is how they manage to keep impostors off set.

 

What kind of security do these big production sets have? And is it possible to prosecute anybody that sneaks on set, or would they even bother prosecuting them?

 

I mean it's not like anyone on set has any legal power. Unless of course they called the police, then it's a different matter.

 

But how easy is it to actually sneak onto one of these large scale sets?

[Brent J. Craig]

I've worked on sets in Toronto where we either:

 

1. Had a big burly security guard check for our names on a call sheet before we were allowed in

 

or

 

2. Wore laminated access tags like you see at rock concerts

[Kevin Zanit]

Most of the security on stuff I have been on is off duty police/ retired police. Then they also have private security companies for the equipment over night.

 

 

Kevin Zanit

[John Pytlak RIP]

"Star" talent may have their own security personnel as well, especially with recent concerns about stalkers.

 

Studios may not want any detail of a production to "leak" out to the press, or at least want to control it, leading to very tight security.

 

Trespassers on studio property can certainly be charged with trespassing.

[David Mullen ASC]

It's near impossible to just walk into a studio soundstage lot with all of the security these days.

 

But if you're talking about shooting on the streets of a city, passerbys can get pretty close to the filming, but there are usually off-duty police there. Anyone making trouble could be escorted off the city-permitted filming area, but generally there is some public access allowed if you are filming in public spaces. Obviously when you are filming inside a private home, strangers can't just walk in without permission. There are plenty of PA's with walkies usually looking out for things like that.

[GeorgeSelinsky]

Security can stop certain things, but it can't stop others. For instance, if someone is out to sabotage you (i.e. the Teamsters see you're getting by without a contract and you haven't cleared through their local) they can make noises to screw up your sound, i.e. honk horns, set off fireworks, or even get into an adjacent building (somehow) and start playing with the lights to screw up your shot, flatten your truck tires, even threaten your drivers.

 

Illegal? Some of those things are, some of them are in a gray area. Besides, something may be illegal but it's a matter of whether or not it's enforced, if you get my drift...

 

I hear the Teamsters have relaxed these days (esp. after there was a huge drama out in Hawaii several years ago), but everyone's still cautious enough to call up the locals and plead their case. If your production has a truck, you wanna put in that call.

[Brent J. Craig]

...if someone is out to sabotage you...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I believe the city of Toronto actually has a bylaw that makes it illegal to 'mess with filmcrews'. This has put a big damper on the neighbourhood idiot that just absolutely needs to mow their lawn as soon as they hear the words "roll sound".