Film Production Insurance

Film producers face unique circumstances in the uncertain and highly competitive world of cinema. If you've ever been involved in the production of a film, whether a short or a feature-length movie, you know that a lot can go wrong, from expensive equipment malfunctions to actors falling ill. There are also liability risks from injuries to people and damage to property on location or in the studio. Film production insurance can be the key to protecting your investments.

Fortunately, a local independent insurance agent can help you find the right film production insurance to help cover your work in progress. They'll get you set up with a policy that includes the appropriate amount of coverage for the right duration. But first, here's a breakdown of film production insurance, what it covers, how much it costs, and more.

What Is Film Production Insurance?

Film production insurance is designed to protect videographers and other professionals involved in making films against several risks that can arise during production, such as accidents involving the cast or third parties. 

Whether a filmmaker specializes in documentaries or purely entertainment pieces, film production insurance can help reimburse for lawsuits that relate to damaged property while shooting on location, as well as injuries to others. The liability protection included in film production insurance can cover the costs associated with third-party lawsuits, such as attorney, court, and settlement expenses.

Film production insurance is sometimes referred to as annual production insurance, film producer insurance, or entertainment insurance. It can cover the cost of bodily injury and property damage, including for non-owned property and rentals. It can also cover accidents involving any talent or other assistants you've hired to help with production.

Famous Film Industry Lawsuits

The film industry is a notorious source of lawsuits, which can affect film production companies of any size. For example:

These situations created significant expenses for the production companies involved. Fortunately for those involved who had film production insurance, many of these expenses could be reimbursed, saving the film from having to be canceled. 

Who Needs Film Production Insurance?

The wide exposure of films, the number of people involved in the production, and the physical nature of film production generate an exceptional number of lawsuits. Most of those targeted by these types of lawsuits have no way of predicting the resulting fallout. 

You could benefit from having film production insurance if you work on any of the following:

Film production insurance can also help protect still photographers who work in the film industry, such as commercial still photographers. An independent insurance agent can help you find the right coverage for your unique profession.

What Does Film Production Insurance Cover?

Regardless of the types of projects you work on, you need the right coverage to protect yourself from the cost of potential liability risks and to protect against losses to your equipment from accidental breakage, theft, and vandalism. Your film production insurance policy will likely need to include a number of different coverage types, such as:

• General liability insurance: This can reimburse you for expenses due to incidents and lawsuits related to injuries on the set to anyone associated with the production besides direct employees, as well as any damage your production may cause to other people's property. 
• Commercial auto insurance: This can reimburse you for expenses involving any vehicles owned by your film production crew that are used specifically for business purposes. Covered expenses can include accidents, theft, lawsuits, and vandalism.
• Equipment protection: This coverage will provide protection for your valuable photographic and digital recording devices against many threats like theft, vandalism, and fire damage.
• Professional liability insurance: This coverage can be particularly important to the film industry and can reimburse you for expenses related to various liability risks like libel, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement, and defamation of character.
• Inland marine insurance: This can reimburse you for incidents that lead to the loss, damage, or destruction of your film production equipment and tools while they're in transit, including if it's stolen.
• Workers' compensation insurance: This can reimburse employees for medical expenses and partial lost wages for time off work due to injuries or illnesses sustained on the job or due to work conditions.
• Commercial umbrella insurance: This provides excess liability protection and extends your existing liability coverage limits to $1 million or greater to protect against the cost of especially hefty lawsuits.
• Media liability insurance: This is a special type of professional liability coverage that's often needed by those in the film production industry.

An independent insurance agent can help you assemble a complete film production insurance policy to protect against accidents and other mishaps caused by special events.

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How Much Does Film Production Insurance Cost?

Every film is unique, and there are a number of risks associated with different filming formats, techniques, and locations. Some productions require the use of highly technical and expensive equipment, and others can be produced with little more than a compelling script and a video camera. 

These and other variables will affect your film insurance rates. If you produce films full-time, your needs will be different from those of someone who does a one-time project and only needs short-term film production insurance. An independent insurance agent can help you find affordable film production insurance near you.

How Do I Get a COI for a Film Production?

Obtaining a Certificate of Insurance (COI) for a film production may be necessary before the actual work can begin. If you're shooting on location, the owner of that business, land, etc., may demand to see proof of insurance coverage from your film production team. This can help ensure that your crew will be able to pay for any injuries, property damage, or other incidents that may occur while you're shooting there. 

Getting a COI can be easy. You can often find these on your film production insurance company's website with your policy information, or you can ask your independent insurance agent or broker to help you get a copy of your COI. If you're still unsure of how to get this document, you can call your insurance company directly.

An Independent Insurance Agent Can Help You Compare Film Production Insurance Rates

Unlike many other forms of business insurance coverage, entertainment insurance must cover some unusual risks. Whether you produce films for a living or just need short-term film insurance for a one-time project, you can benefit from the assistance of an experienced local independent insurance agent who can advise you on the best coverage options within your budget. Your agent can shop and compare policies from multiple film production insurance carriers for you and present you with quotes that represent the best blend of coverage and cost.