Operational playbook

Feature Film — 60-Day Shoot, Base-Camp Protection

A 60-day feature film shoot splitting time between Mel's Studios in Montreal and Pinewood in Toronto, with 14 location days in public spaces. Principal talent had an active paparazzi pattern and a long-standing no-photo clause. Production needed a single security partner who could bridge Quebec and Ontario and manage both studio and location environments.

Request a proposal

At a glance

Production: Feature film, 60 shoot days
Provinces: Quebec (BSP) + Ontario (PSISA)
Contract type: Base camp + set + talent close protection
Team: Rotating 18-agent roster + 1 close-protection lead
Hours: ~1,900 post-hrs over 60 days

The challenge

Previous production had a trailer broken into at a Montreal base camp, a paparazzi photo of the principal leaked from a location day, and an IATSE Local 58 supervisor had flagged role-conflict concerns with an ad-hoc security vendor. We needed bilingual capacity, IATSE-aware conduct, and seamless handoff between studio and public-location shoots.

Our approach

Overnight base-camp standing guard

Guard on unit parking and trailer line from 20:00 to transpo-captain arrival, with hourly NFC-tagged perimeter walks. Written hand-off to the call-time supervisor — no ambiguity at 06:00.

Credential-tiered set access

A/B/C pass enforcement at the set entry, visitor-log sign-in/out and call-sheet cross-check. Tier lists refreshed the night before each shoot day.

Talent close protection

Named CP lead with touring experience, trailer-to-set escort, holding-room watch, and pre-walked media-avoidance routes at each new location. NDAs signed by every team member before principal's first day.

Location posture

Plain-clothes-light posture at location days (not tactical-black), neighbour-facing communication, OQLF-compliant French-first public communication in Quebec, and city film-office permit compliance support.

IATSE-aware conduct

Supervisors briefed on Local 58 / 667 / 873 conventions; no role-conflict with transpo, camera or grip. Coordination with on-set production-safety officer rather than unilateral action.

Outcome (60-day shoot)

0
Equipment / trailer losses
No camera, wardrobe or property theft over 60 days
0
Paparazzi penetrations to principal
Two ground-based attempts, both redirected at gate
0
IATSE role-conflict flags
vs. 1 in the prior production
0 minutes
Call-time delays attributable to security
Across all 60 shoot days
0
Wrap-party coverage escalations
Bilingual agents at both EN and FR wrap events

What we actually deployed

Rotating 18-agent base-camp and set roster (dual-provincial licensed where needed)
Named close-protection lead with touring credentials
Bilingual coverage on all Montreal shoot days
Plain-clothes location agents on public shoot days
Written tier-list, visitor log and shift hand-off for every day

FAQ

Can one security partner cover both Montreal and Toronto shoots?

Yes. We hold BSP (Quebec) and PSISA (Ontario) agency licences and deploy province-appropriate licensed agents. Productions straddling both cities get one account manager, unified reporting and one set of SOPs adapted per jurisdiction.

Do you sign NDAs before principal's first day?

Yes. Every agent and supervisor assigned to a principal's detail signs the production's NDA before first on-set contact. We also have a standard mutual NDA if production prefers ours.

How do you handle a paparazzi confrontation at a location shoot?

Lawful access control and redirection. We do not confiscate equipment, do not touch the photographer, and do not escalate verbally. We document behaviour, photograph vehicles, and pass evidence to the production's PR team for follow-up.

Have a similar problem? Let's talk.

Send us your context and we'll reply with a plan specific to your situation, backed by our PSISA and BSP licensing and $5M general liability coverage.

Request a proposal See licensing & insurance