Extra Security Will Stay for ‘Boyz’ in O.C.

Though the film has sparked no violence here, extra security guards will remain on duty at the four Edwards movie theaters in the county where “Boyz N the Hood” is being shown, the chairman of the 120-screen theater chain said Tuesday.

James Edwards Sr. said that because violence has been reported in other markets, he will keep using four to five additional guards at each theater for the rest of the film’s open-ended run, as a precautionary measure. “Boyz N the Hood” deals with teen-age gangs in South Central Los Angeles.

Edwards is not paying for the extra guards, however. Instead, he said, he has taken advantage of an offer by Columbia Pictures, the film’s distributor, to foot the bill for any theater operator in the country who feels added security is needed.

Edwards would not say how much his extra security is costing. Normally, he uses one or two guards at the theaters in El Toro, Costa Mesa, Mission Viejo and Westminster.

“Boyz N the Hood” also is being shown at six other theaters in the county. Spokespersons for two have said no changes in security are planned. A spokesperson for a third would not answer questions, and spokespersons for the others could not be reached.