Production Safety

At California State University, Northridge's Department of Cinema and Television Arts (CTVA), safety is our top priority. We are dedicated to ensuring the well-being of all students involved in film, television, documentary, and emerging media productions. We recognize that the creative process in these fields often involves complex and potentially hazardous situations, from working with specialized equipment and locations to managing large crews and sensitive materials. Our mission is to provide students with the knowledge, resources, and oversight necessary to conduct their productions safely and professionally.

Through a combination of comprehensive safety protocols, on-set training, and on-site supervision, we strive to instill a culture of safety that empowers students to make informed decisions throughout their creative endeavors. Whether you're planning a short film, documentary, or a television pilot, the Safety Production Coordinator is here to support you every step of the way, ensuring that your projects are completed without compromising the health and safety of everyone involved.

(You MUST start this process 3 weeks before your tentative filming dates) 

SAFETY & INSURANCE PROCESS – Step by Step 

1. Faculty Preliminary Script/Treatment Greenlight 

• Obtain approval from your faculty on the script or treatment. 
• The faculty instructor must email the Production Safety Coordinator (elizabeth.soto-lara@csun.edu) a list of project titles that have received preliminary greenlight approval in their class. 

2. Register Your Project for Safety Production Review 

• Student Producers for each project must scan the QR code and fill out the form to register their project. 

3. Complete the Mandatory Canvas Course 

• All students who will be on set must complete the required safety course on Canvas. 

4. Initial Safety Notes Delivery 

• The Production Safety Coordinator will provide initial safety notes no later than one week after project registration. 

5. Submit Risk Assessment Forms 

• Script-Based Risk Assessment (instructions): Submit this form to address the red flags highlighted in your script by the Production Safety Coordinator. Scripted courses only. 
• Location-Based Risk Assessment (instructions): Submit one form per location, including photos of each locked location. Scripted & Documentary courses. 

6. Attend a Safety Meeting (If Applicable) 

• If your project includes any conditionally approved or conditionally excluded activities, the core team (Producers, Director, 1st A.D., and DP) must attend a safety meeting to obtain the safety greenlight. 

7. Excluded Activities 

• Projects including any excluded activities will be denied and sent back for rewrites. 

8. Obtain Insurance for Your Project 

• Once the project is greenlit for safety, Producers must complete a Certificate of Insurance (COI) form for each vendor, location, and permit municipality. 

• Note: COIs require up to 10 business days for processing. Plan accordingly. 

• If you have questions about types of insurance, waivers of liability, or location agreements, check the CTVA Production Resources website for more information. 

9. Insurance Review 

• Once all safety protocols have been met and any required specialized crew has been secured, the CTVA Production Safety Coordinator will review and approve the insurance for your project. 
• The coordinator will also submit the completed COI Request Forms provided by the project’s Producers and will send the issued Certificates of Insurance (COIs) to the Producers within 10 business days of approval and submission. 

10. Your Project is Greenlit for both Safety & Insurance. 

• After your project is greenlit for both safety and insurance, you may finalize your equipment reservations with the ARRI Resource Center (ARC). 
• Note: Initial equipment reservations must be made beforehand. This step allows you to complete the reservation process. 

Safety is our top priority when it comes to handling weapons on set or on campus. The Weapons Protocol has been developed to guide student productions through the correct clearance procedures and ensure that all safety regulations are strictly followed.

Firearms with operating parts or any type of explosive weapons in any CSUN student films are prohibited. Only non-functional prop weapons will be approved after completing the clearance process.

For a detailed breakdown of the 10-step clearance process and essential weapon usage protocols, please download the PDF below. The PDF will cover:

• Clearance process for non-functional prop weapons on set and campus
• Proper handling and storage of prop weapons
• Required approvals and permissions
• Safety procedures during production

Download the PDF

The Permission Firearms Weapons Approval Request form can be downloaded here. You must fill out this form before proceeding to step 3 (making an appointment with CSUN Police Services).

Other Prop Weapons 

• Prop weapons other than firearms (e.g., knives, hammers, pocket knives, syringes) must complete Step 10 of the Prop Weapon Clearance process through the CTVA Production Safety Coordinator. 

By following these steps, we aim to maintain a safe and professional environment for all our productions.

Elizabeth Soto-Lara, CTVA Safety Production Coordinator

Email

Phone: 818.677.5869 | 818.677.7939

Office: Manzanita Hall 165