The film industry is home to artists in every niche—from documentaries to action films, musical adaptations, and everything in between. Each of these myriad types of projects requires special consideration when it comes to insurance coverage because what might threaten the financials of an action blockbuster may not be relevant for a local documentary.
Insurance for documentary production is one part of the planning phase that every documentary filmmaker, producer, and production manager should secure before the project starts. Documentaries often face unique risks compared to other types of productions.
For instance, they may not need to worry as much about stunts as using drones to secure footage from difficult locations. To ensure your team remembers all-important protection, here is a checklist that filmmakers can refer to when planning their insurance coverage, ensuring they recognize all essential policies.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance protects staff (typically non-actors) from injury and medical issues during their work on set. If a team member breaks their arm and needs to go to the hospital, workers’ compensation insurance can not only cover their medical bills but also address the expenses related to physical rehabilitation to regain the use of their limb.
It can even compensate them for their time away from work, providing a safe and supportive environment that leaves employees able to do their jobs with confidence.
General Liability Insurance
General liability insurance is the backbone of many documentary productions. In fact, most sets and venues will not permit a studio to begin filming there until it can demonstrate that they are carrying an acceptable minimum of general liability insurance protection.
This is especially important for documentaries, which are often shot in public places such as parks, where the local government must ensure that no harm comes to nearby people who are not involved in the production.
General liability insurance is also essential for documentaries that rent spaces. Most rentals will not deem a studio safe to rent if they do not carry general liability insurance should something go wrong.
Equipment Insurance
The equipment that a documentary team uses is just as valuable as the talent they recruit. Without it, their project would stop in its tracks. Equipment insurance covers cameras, sound, and lighting gear, among many other potential tools of the trade that can be damaged throughout filming.
If these items need to be repaired or replaced, or if they have been stolen or vandalized, equipment insurance coverage can cover the cost to get things back in working order so the production is not delayed.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Everyone makes mistakes, and this is even more likely in documentary production. Documentaries often require more natural or “uncontrolled” set pieces and public participants, leaving studios open to making mistakes in what is displayed and included.
E&O insurance can safeguard production against intellectual property claims. It is essential for distribution agreements so the studio can ensure its final project is legally viable and can be shown to the public. Should something go wrong, E&O can cover legal fees and other costs associated with fixing the issue.
Automobile and Transportation Insurance
Most documentary teams will be traveling throughout the filming; sometimes, this travel is limited to a local area due to the topic of the film, and in other instances, their project may take them around the world.
Throughout this process, auto and transport insurance can provide coverage for rented vehicles and equipment transportation to ensure the costs of accidents and losses are not factored into a studio’s budget. This coverage is non-negotiable for location shoots, which typically require equipment (either rented or owned) to be moved away from the studio’s property.
Drones and Special Equipment Insurance
In the current age, more documentaries than ever are utilizing high-risk and unconventional equipment, such as drones, to secure the footage they need. Insuring these elements is essential and may be difficult without partnering with an industry expert, as drone coverage is still relatively new.
If something happens to the studio’s drone, replacing it (and the footage it could secure) may be costly without insurance protection. Drones are not typically covered under standard equipment insurance and may need their own policy or rider.
Secure Your Documentary with MFE Insurance
Documentaries are important in helping people understand the world around them. It is important to seek expert guidance on matching coverage to risks to give your team the best chance of success.
The team at MFE Insurance has worked closely with documentaries to identify their most pressing risks while keeping their coverage in line with their budgetary constraints. Contact MFE Insurance to ensure your project is fully protected.