Film and documentary producers—particularly those new to the role or taking on more responsibility for the business side of production—must make many important decisions that can determine the success or failure of a project.
Among these essential choices are which types of insurance coverage to secure, how much coverage is right, and which insurance agency to partner with.
Insurance for feature film production is best left to insurance professionals with experience in the entertainment industry, so always choose your coverage from experts.
Selecting an insurance agency is one of many decisions. All productions are unique, as are their risks, which means determining which policies to purchase and which to skip is part of a producer’s job. Among the most important choices are workers’ compensation insurance and liability insurance.
Here’s a breakdown of these two policy types, including how these policies work together to protect against workplace injuries and liabilities.
What to Know About Workers’ Compensation for Film Producers
Workers’ compensation insurance is a type of protection targeting the non-actor staff of a film project. Individuals such as light and camera operators, the sound crew, makeup artists, and others who make the film successful are considered workers and can be protected by this policy. (If you want to cover your actors, you will need other types of protection, such as cast insurance).
Workers’ compensation aims to secure a film crew against potential injuries by supporting their medical needs while reducing the financial impact of such events on the studio’s budget.
For instance, suppose that while setting up a lighting system, an employee on a ladder fell because the ladder failed, and they broke their back. Workers’ compensation would cover their medical bills due to the work-related accident.
It can also support them by addressing rehabilitation costs and time off work to recover. This way, the production studio does not need to fund these elements.
It can maintain its intended budget without compromising the quality of care for its injured workers. Suppose tragedy strikes and a worker passes away due to an injury on the job. In that case, workers’ compensation insurance can financially support their family.
The Role of Liability Insurance for Film Producers
Liability insurance is the backbone of most successful film productions. This type of coverage protects projects from legal action and the resulting financial consequences if a third party is injured due to the film’s processes or if such elements damage a third party’s property.
For instance, suppose a film is capturing footage in public, but they do not clearly delineate a row of cables passing through the grass in a park. Suppose a person walking through the park tripped over the cable and broke their arm during the fall. In that case, liability insurance can do multiple things to assist.
- Pay for legal representation if the injured decides to sue.
- Cover legal fees throughout the process.
- Pay for the person’s medical bills to have their arm placed in a cast.
- Compensate the injured party for physical therapy costs to restore their arm to normal function.
However, this coverage typically comes from general liability insurance, the most common liability policy. (Most venues will not permit a shoot unless a studio can produce proof of sufficient general liability coverage.)
Other variants of liability protection also exist, such as professional liability insurance. Also known as errors & omissions or E&O coverage, professional liability insurance can shield a studio from legal costs and other expenses associated with a mistake in the film or production process.
Suppose, for instance, a film includes a wide shot of many background actors who are encouraged to act naturally however they wish. One chooses to stand and enjoy a beverage with a friend.
The studio does not notice until the film reaches theaters that this background actor is holding a branded beverage for which they did not pay for the rights. E&O insurance can cover the penalty for this oversight so that the film can continue to be displayed or assist with re-edits and the resulting staff costs.
Protect Your Filming Crew With Feature Film Insurance by MFE Insurance
The insurance protection you choose can make or break the financials of your film should something go wrong. Tailored insurance solutions for film producers can address the most pressing needs for your project by offering comprehensive coverage that fits within your budget.
The experts at MFE Insurance have worked with film production studios to secure their projects, whether they are filming a small local documentary or a large international endeavor. Contact MFE Insurance for a personalized consultation.