Officials from the Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences (LIMS) announced Wednesday plans to introduce a new element of safety instruction — and the corresponding certifications — into their job training program in all trades of the entertainment industry.

LIMS officially entered into a partnership with Ron Dahlquist, author and architect of the safety programs currently mandated by the major entertainment union IATSE, on Tuesday after several months of discussion, according to Jimmy Lifton, the institute’s owner.

“It’s a huge deal that (Dahlquist) wants to get involved with us,” Lifton said. “It’s extremely, extremely important to have this kind of safety knowledge, and we’re honored and proud to associate ourselves with Ron Dahlquist.”      

Related: LIMS Veterans Job Training Program Helps Vets Start Second Career In Film Industry

The safety training and certifications are set to be offered at LIMS starting with the next 10-week job training session in August, which offers immersive, hands-on training for veterans and non-veterans alike.

Participants in all departments will have the opportunity to receive their basic certification in safety, with additional certifications offered corresponding with each individual department.

“It’s being entwined into our current curriculum,” Lifton said. “For anyone who comes through our program, what it does is, it allows them to have that much more not only knowledge and safety knowledge, but opportunity and expertise to go get even better jobs in the industry.”

Lifton noted that this type of safety instruction and certification through an entertainment industry job training program is “unheard of.”

“The most important thing is, we’re training our guys and women to be the most qualified people to walk out there and get a job on a real TV show or movie, which we are already doing,” he said, “but this takes it a whole notch further.”

The Lifton Institute of Media Arts and Sciences, or LIMS, not only offers full-service movie studios Los Angeles filmmakers can use, but also doubles as a film production school. While LIMS students usually have never worked in the industry before, President Jimmy Lifton says that most people have skills that can be easily translated into the production trade. LIMS offers 10-week film production training and veterans job training programs designed to prepare students to go out and get a paid job on a movie or TV set.

Vet 200 Program

Lifton Institute of Media Arts & Sciences (LIMS)

27567 Fantastic Lane

Castaic, CA 91384