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Ontario to allow film celebs to bring their own private guards
Friday July 29th 2011TORONTO – Movie stars visiting Ontario may now bring their own private security guards, after an amendment to the law that film industry experts say will help keep the Toronto film industry alive.
The province’s Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections posted a proposal to its website last Friday seeking exemptions for security guards hired by those in the music, film and television industries.
The amendment, if approved, will come into effect on Sept. 2, less than a week before the first red-carpet appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“There would be nothing worse than having an A-list Hollywood star being told, well, you can go and your family can go but the security personnel that have been with you for 10 years will be illegal,” says Eric Jensen, manager of the Toronto Film and Television Office.
Under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, those working in security must be licensed in Ontario, a process that includes 40 hours of in-class training and certification in Emergency Level First Aid.
When the International Indian Film Academy Awards brought Bollywood to Toronto last month, some stars brought their own security. The Ontario Provincial Police laid 142 charges in connection with violations of the existing law, which can carry a fine of up to $25,000.
“I think that there was an unfortunate situation that took place there. A lot of people just brought their own people in,” said OPP Const. Peter Leon. “We don’t know that individual from the next person walking down the street so it’s nice to know that the people that are licensed and certified to be private security persons in Ontario have gone through the proper checks.”
The amendment would allow for celebrities to travel with their own staff.
“This is about protecting a billion-dollar-a-year industry that employs tens of thousands of people in Ontario,” says Jim Bradley, minister of community safety. “Incidentally, by exempting a handful of personal bodyguards, we are protecting a much larger number of movie jobs for Ontario-licensed security personnel — people guarding sets, vehicles, crowd control, etc.”
Sunil Ram of Executive Security, which provides security for celebrities at TIFF, welcomes the chance to have his team work with senior security staff who know the client well.
“You need that they know the threats, the faces, the body language of the clients, when they aren’t feeling comfortable.”
Christopher Yeates, speaking from the Canadian set of Suits, an American dramatic series, agrees.
“It means better security and makes it easier for the protector and protected to bond.”
Toronto’s film and television industry ranks third in North America and contributed $903 million in direct spending to the local economy in 2010.
Source: Montreal Gazette
Front Page, Industry News
Ontario to allow film celebs to bring their own private guards
Friday July 29th 2011TORONTO – Movie stars visiting Ontario may now bring their own private security guards, after an amendment to the law that film industry experts say will help keep the Toronto film industry alive.
The province’s Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections posted a proposal to its website last Friday seeking exemptions for security guards hired by those in the music, film and television industries.
The amendment, if approved, will come into effect on Sept. 2, less than a week before the first red-carpet appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“There would be nothing worse than having an A-list Hollywood star being told, well, you can go and your family can go but the security personnel that have been with you for 10 years will be illegal,” says Eric Jensen, manager of the Toronto Film and Television Office.
Under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, those working in security must be licensed in Ontario, a process that includes 40 hours of in-class training and certification in Emergency Level First Aid.
When the International Indian Film Academy Awards brought Bollywood to Toronto last month, some stars brought their own security. The Ontario Provincial Police laid 142 charges in connection with violations of the existing law, which can carry a fine of up to $25,000.
“I think that there was an unfortunate situation that took place there. A lot of people just brought their own people in,” said OPP Const. Peter Leon. “We don’t know that individual from the next person walking down the street so it’s nice to know that the people that are licensed and certified to be private security persons in Ontario have gone through the proper checks.”
The amendment would allow for celebrities to travel with their own staff.
“This is about protecting a billion-dollar-a-year industry that employs tens of thousands of people in Ontario,” says Jim Bradley, minister of community safety. “Incidentally, by exempting a handful of personal bodyguards, we are protecting a much larger number of movie jobs for Ontario-licensed security personnel — people guarding sets, vehicles, crowd control, etc.”
Sunil Ram of Executive Security, which provides security for celebrities at TIFF, welcomes the chance to have his team work with senior security staff who know the client well.
“You need that they know the threats, the faces, the body language of the clients, when they aren’t feeling comfortable.”
Christopher Yeates, speaking from the Canadian set of Suits, an American dramatic series, agrees.
“It means better security and makes it easier for the protector and protected to bond.”
Toronto’s film and television industry ranks third in North America and contributed $903 million in direct spending to the local economy in 2010.
Source: Montreal Gazette
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Front Page, Industry News
Ontario to allow film celebs to bring their own private guards
Friday July 29th 2011TORONTO – Movie stars visiting Ontario may now bring their own private security guards, after an amendment to the law that film industry experts say will help keep the Toronto film industry alive.
The province’s Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections posted a proposal to its website last Friday seeking exemptions for security guards hired by those in the music, film and television industries.
The amendment, if approved, will come into effect on Sept. 2, less than a week before the first red-carpet appearances at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“There would be nothing worse than having an A-list Hollywood star being told, well, you can go and your family can go but the security personnel that have been with you for 10 years will be illegal,” says Eric Jensen, manager of the Toronto Film and Television Office.
Under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, those working in security must be licensed in Ontario, a process that includes 40 hours of in-class training and certification in Emergency Level First Aid.
When the International Indian Film Academy Awards brought Bollywood to Toronto last month, some stars brought their own security. The Ontario Provincial Police laid 142 charges in connection with violations of the existing law, which can carry a fine of up to $25,000.
“I think that there was an unfortunate situation that took place there. A lot of people just brought their own people in,” said OPP Const. Peter Leon. “We don’t know that individual from the next person walking down the street so it’s nice to know that the people that are licensed and certified to be private security persons in Ontario have gone through the proper checks.”
The amendment would allow for celebrities to travel with their own staff.
“This is about protecting a billion-dollar-a-year industry that employs tens of thousands of people in Ontario,” says Jim Bradley, minister of community safety. “Incidentally, by exempting a handful of personal bodyguards, we are protecting a much larger number of movie jobs for Ontario-licensed security personnel — people guarding sets, vehicles, crowd control, etc.”
Sunil Ram of Executive Security, which provides security for celebrities at TIFF, welcomes the chance to have his team work with senior security staff who know the client well.
“You need that they know the threats, the faces, the body language of the clients, when they aren’t feeling comfortable.”
Christopher Yeates, speaking from the Canadian set of Suits, an American dramatic series, agrees.
“It means better security and makes it easier for the protector and protected to bond.”
Toronto’s film and television industry ranks third in North America and contributed $903 million in direct spending to the local economy in 2010.
Source: Montreal Gazette
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