Security Takes Center Stage

Terrorists leveled threats against Hollywood's major film studios last week, prompting each to seriously reconsider existing security measures that suddenly seemed far too mild for the current political climate.

Internal memos, usually in the form of an e-mail issued by high-ranking studio executives, buzzed throughout Hollywood on Thursday, warning of threats of mass destruction, presumably from Islamic terrorists.

Some memos outlined strict new security steps that would be taken, but most sought simply to reassure employees of their safety, a strategy that sometimes backfired.

"It's so stupid," one studio employee said. "That e-mail is scaring people half to death."

A Fox staffer echoed the sentiment, saying, "After everything else that's gone on, people are really freaked out."

Insiders said studio heads first learned of the threat from MPAA president Jack Valenti, who was briefed by U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft.

An FBI statement released late Thursday was vague about the exact nature of the threat. The threat's purpose, though, was specifically laid out by the FBI: If the U.S. attacks Afghanistan, a studio will be bombed.

"The uncorroborated threat states that a film studio in California could be the target of a terrorist bombing attack in retaliation for any possible bombing attacks by the United States against Afghanistan," FBI spokesman Matt McLaughlin said. "In an abundance of caution, the FBI has provided this threat advisory. The FBI is working closely with the studios regarding this matter."

Although individual employees at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Studios said they were evacuated for parts of the day, no studio confirmed that, though some said they were allowing nervous employees to go home.

"Nobody has felt the need to go home," an MGM insider said. "The mood around here is not panic."

20th Century Fox and Warner Bros. were immediately laying out new security procedures.

Fox said it would be "severely restricting access to the lot" and warned employees that they would "be subject to long delays entering the facility." It also said barricades and an armed guard presence would be increased, incoming packages will be X-rayed, only the main entrance of each building would be accessible, and all illegally parked vehicles would be towed.

Warner Bros. posted guards, increased its day and night patrols and closed gates 5 and 6. It will search vehicles, parcels, coolers and lunch boxes and install metal detectors. It also said it would X-ray deliveries. The studio also canceled VIP tours and screenings.

"The entire country is learning to live in an era of uncertainty, but again, I want to assure you that we will be doing everything in our power to make your work environment as safe as possible," News Corp. president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin wrote to employees.

Gregg Kilday in Los Angeles and Brooks Boliek in Washington contributed to this report.