The Universal Studios lot in Hollywood is one of the most carefully guarded, high-security places in the city. After 9/11, security was beefed up to what some believed to be a ridiculous extent, with guards stationed at every gate checking under cars with mirrors and multiple forms of ID needed to get across the Universal threshold.

So, it’s kind of surprising to hear that— for the past 27 years— virtually anyone could have wandered onto the Universal lot if they’d just use the magic phrase: “I’m a friend of Bill’s”. Anyone that’s ever attended an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting will recognise that phrase but now that the breach has been identified, it will not be easy getting in.

Studio security is a big concern. Some years back, the Paramount/Dreamworks production offices where Steven Spielberg was putting together ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the terrible sequel’ were broken into and robbed of a treasure-trove of behind the scenes photos and knick-knacks.