60 Years of Contract Services
Grounded In Our Past, Focused On The Future - Celebrating 60 Years of Contract Services
This year, Contract Services proudly celebrates 60 years of service to the motion picture industry. Established in 1965 through collective bargaining between industry Unions and Producers, the Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF) was originally created to administer a brand new “industry experience roster” — a function that remains a cornerstone of our work today.
Over the past six decades, our mission has grown to encompass a wide range of critical services. Most prominent is the Safety Pass program, which provides essential safety training for the film and television production workforce and fosters a strong culture of on-set safety. We also coordinate a number of industry-specific initiatives, including hosting the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, which publishes key Safety Bulletins and other vital safety resources.
Getting the Industry Back to Work During the Pandemic
Contract Services is uniquely positioned to bring the industry together when the unexpected happens. When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit in 2020, this industry (like many others) faced an unprecedented shut down. Within weeks, a special Task Force of the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee, along with Contract Services, facilitated the creation of the COVID-19 Return-to-Work White Paper which put in place protective measures for the production workforce and allowed governmental agencies to approve the motion picture industry returning to work. The White Paper was released in June 2020, and by October 2020, we deployed a COVID-19 Prevention Training Course (C19), which was used by motion picture productions across the country. With our help, the motion picture industry was able to quickly get productions back to work by the Fall of 2020.
New Technologies to Improve our User Experience
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, our commitment to meeting the needs of the industry continued with our Digital Transformation initiative. Beginning in 2020, our goal was to make our services more user-friendly, transparent and efficient. After years of development, in 2023, we launched the new Industry Hub. The Hub replaces the old “Online Roster,” allowing motion picture Producers to verify the roster and training compliance of tens of thousands of Industry Professionals all in one place. The Hub also serves as a gateway to a brand-new Portal experience for Industry Professionals and local unions. The new self-service Portal makes it easy to apply to the roster and stay up to date with training requirements and other deadlines. It also enables our dedicated staff to process materials much faster and more efficiently than before. As we continue to evolve our technology, we always keep the user experience at the forefront of our efforts.
Supporting California Productions Through Tax Credit Compliance and Safety Training
The work continues in 2025. The ever-changing industry landscape requires new levers to increase motion picture productions in California. In March 2025, we launched Safety Advisor Training, a program developed by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee to help productions comply with the new Safety on Productions Pilot Program established by the State of California. Under this pilot program, productions receiving a California motion picture tax credit must employ a Safety Advisor who meets certain minimum qualifications (including this training). Working closely with the Safety Committee, we launched the training ahead of schedule and now, we provide training for potentially hundreds of safety professionals who will work as Safety Advisors in the coming years. It may be a small piece of the puzzle, but we’re proud to contribute to this aspect of the California production tax credit program, and to ensure Hollywood remains the center of the motion picture production industry.
As we honor our past, we remain focused on the future. Our role will continue to be an industry unifier, bringing together producers and unions to tackle new challenges and find the solutions that ensure the motion picture production workforce is safe, knowledgeable and informed - the best in the business. We look forward to continuing to support the motion picture industry for the next 60 years and beyond.
-
1965
1965 - CSATF IS ESTABLISHED
Contract Services Administration Trust Fund (CSATF) is established as a non-profit to manage regulatory and legal requirements arising from collective bargaining agreements between the West Coast Studio Local Unions and the AMPTP.
-
1965
1965 - SAFETY COMMITTEE CREATED
Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee founded to address industry safety issues, and to develop industry guidance through Safety Bulletins, Guidelines, and Fact Sheets.
-
1991
1991 -
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM (IIPP)
California requires all employers to have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP). This course content is now incorporated into Contract Services A Course – General Safety and Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
-
1994
1994 - CSATTF IS FORMED
CSATTF (Training Trust Fund) is established to further Contract Services’ mission as a training organization.
-
MID1990s
MID-1990s -
SAFETY PASS INTRODUCED
An industry-wide training program is presented to the motion picture production industry, that would later become what is now known as the Safety Pass program. This new and improved safety training program was designed to increase safety awareness and training of all studio employees involved in physical production.
-
2003
2003 - TRAINING TIMELINE ESTABLISHED
The Safety Pass program begins its two-year timeline to complete all mandatory training courses.
-
2009
2009 - NEW BURBANK CAMPUS
Contract Services breaks ground on a new Burbank campus at 2800 Winona Ave.
-
2012
2012 - Passcard Introduced
The Passcard is introduced to Industry Professionals, replacing the Safety Passport.
-
2015
2015 - 50th Anniversary
Contract Services celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
-
2016
2016 -
BURBANK CAMPUS EXPANDS
Contract Services expands its Burbank campus and moves into 2710 Winona Avenue.
-
2017
2017 -
ONLINE SERVICES EXPANSION
New technology enables Contract Services to release an online version of the Harassment Prevention courses, additional safety courses, and kiosks in the lobby.
-
2020
2020 -
INDUSTRY RETURN-TO-WORK
In June 2020, a special Task Force of the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee submitted a “Return-to-Work” White Paper to state and local governments. This directive, led by Contract Services, detailed health and safety guidelines for resuming motion picture production during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contract Services simultaneously developed the COVID-19 Prevention Training Course (C19) to provide general health and safety guidelines for the industry. Together the White Paper and C19 course helped the industry quickly return to work during uncertain times.
-
2022
2022 - CS ACCESS LAUNCHES
The CS Access Mobile App is launched to enable Industry Professionals, productions and unions the ability to access Safety Bulletins and Hotlines anywhere in the world, at any time.
-
2023
2023 - 20th Anniversary
20th Anniversary of Safety Pass! Contract Services surpasses 2 million training hours.
-
2023
2023 - INDUSTRY HUB LAUNCHES
Contract Services launches the Industry Hub changing the way the motion picture and television industry access essential services provided by Contract Services. The Hub, which replaced the Online Roster, is now the primary way to search roster and training records of nearly 60,000 Industry Professionals working in Hollywood. It also serves as a self-service portal for these Industry Professionals, giving them access to all their important information (like training deadlines, course requirements, and more). It simplifies the Contract Services experience for the entire industry.
-
2025
2025 -
SAFETY ADVISOR TRAINING LAUNCHES
In March 2025, Safety Advisor Training, a program developed by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee to help productions comply with the new Safety on Productions Pilot Program established by the State of California, launches.