What the bulletins say
The Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, administered through Contract Services, publishes safety bulletins on specific hazards. The stunt bulletin says an on-site safety meeting including all participants must precede the performance of all stunts, and should include a walk-through or dry run. The firearms bulletin calls for a safety meeting covering equipment, custody and control of the weapons, introduction of the medic, and questions from cast and crew, with another meeting if the sequence changes. The bulletins are guidelines rather than statutes, but union productions, studios, and insurers treat them as the standard.
Productions attach the relevant bulletin numbers to the call sheet on days with that work, so a line might read: "Safety Bulletins #1, #4 attached. Safety meeting at 7:15A on set before rehearsal."
How one runs on the day
A car stunt day on a residential street:
- At 7:15A the 1st AD gathers everyone who will be on the street: cast, stunt performers, camera, grip, the precision driver, locations, and the police officers on the job.
- The stunt coordinator walks the route of the car, shows the stopping point, and marks where nobody stands.
- The camera team explains which positions are locked-off cameras with no operator.
- The set medic raises a hand. The 1st AD states the nearest hospital from the call sheet.
- The AD explains the abort word and who can call it, then asks for questions and waits for real ones.
- Rehearsal at walking speed, then at shooting speed without cameras.
The 2nd AD writes the time of the meeting on the daily production report.
What makes a bad one
Rushing it because the company is behind. A meeting that takes ninety seconds and ends with "Any questions? Great" doesn't meet the intent of the bulletins, and people who weren't sure will stay quiet.
Holding it before half the relevant crew has arrived. If the second camera team or the background actors crossing the street weren't there, repeat it for them.
Not repeating it when the plan changes. If the director moves the car's stopping point after lunch, the bulletins call for another meeting. The stunts and effects breakdown guide covers how to flag this work early, so the schedule has room for it.