When Paramount Pictures shot "Runaway Bride" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in suburban Baltimore, the movie crew and stars drew a lot of attention. Although most people were just curious about what was going on, others were in search of valuable items like computers, electrical equipment, and tools to walk off with. In need of a vendor who could provide security during the filming, Paramount contacted Alarm Company of Maryland.
As security coordinator during location shooting, Alarm Company of Maryland was responsible for asset protection at the downtown Baltimore location and for electronic smoke detection at a pair of suburban warehouses where Paramount built four sets for interior shooting. The assets include the millions of dollars worth of movie lighting equipment, cameras, electricity generators, set decorations, a wardrobe trailer, actors' personal trailers, construction materials, and building tools.
Alarm Company installed a pair of Security Pro® 3000 control panels and supervised wireless smoke detectors monitored by Alarm Company's UL central station. The system was able to be installed quickly and has wireless panic capability as well as telephone control for status checks. The system has the ability to expand quickly in the event they needed light control, additional sensors, or keychain touchpad control. The company installed the two panels, with line seizure and eight smoke sensors, in two hours.
The wireless smoke sensors have a pre-alarm feature that prevents false alarms. The system includes a portable panic sensor for use by construction crewmembers walking the perimeter of the warehouse and the parking areas. Both GE Security Pro 3000s are programmed to listed for the same wireless panic, so the monitoring station knows which of the two warehouses is in alarm.
