One of the most appealing elements of film production is that creating a film can take you almost anywhere in the world. From the top of a mountain to deep into the ocean and everywhere in between, the only limit on a film’s location is imagination.
However, insurers don’t always see this issue in the same way. In fact, many will specifically exclude dangerous locations from their film insurance coverage because the risk level is deemed too high.
The good news is that only some insurance agencies are this rigid, and working with a team experienced in the industry can help you secure coverage that generalist agencies cannot provide.
One such type of coverage is film production insurance, customized explicitly for dangerous film shoots. To avoid costly gaps in protection, it is essential to fully understand what is included in your film insurance policy and how to secure additional coverage to address any exclusions.
What Is Considered a “Dangerous” Location?
Before a film studio can determine what types of insurance it needs, it must carefully consider its anticipated filming and production process. A shoot on an owned set in the middle of New York City vastly differs from a production that shoots on-site in a war-torn country.
Locations can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. In general, an insurance agency will consider production to be filming in a “dangerous” location if the shoots occur in:
- Countries with political or civil unrest, such as war or frequent gang violence
- Areas prone to natural disasters, such as some parts of Asia during typhoon season
- Natural areas that are hazardous to maneuver, such as underwater shoots or those in remote locations (e.g., mountains, rainforests)
These are just a few production sites that an insurance agency may consider dangerous. Always review any potential insurance policies before purchase to secure that nothing has been excluded due to the danger of the shoot.
The Main Components of Film Production Insurance
If insurance is hard to obtain for dangerous filming locations, what can major production studios do to secure their projects? Film production insurance is an umbrella product that can help. This type of coverage offers multifaceted protection wrapped into a single policy. Some of the primary inclusions are:
Equipment insurance: A film will not get far without its equipment, and a good production insurance policy will include strong protection for filming equipment. From physical damage to a lighting rig to camera theft while shooting on location, equipment insurance can keep the production running smoothly and shield the studio from the financial consequences of their loss.- General liability insurance: Every film studio needs general liability insurance. In fact, most sites will not assent to filming there until the studio can demonstrate that it has such coverage. General liability protection covers the financial burden of paying for property damage or harm to a third party caused by the film production.
- Workers’ compensation insurance: Protecting the people who keep the film shoot running keeps the production on track. If someone is injured on the job, workers’ compensation insurance can pay for things such as their medical bills and recovery costs.
Each film production insurance policy is exclusive, so always read the fine print to understand what is included.
Why an Experienced Team Is Irreplaceable
When filming in dangerous locations, it is almost impossible to acquire protection that adequately addresses a studio’s needs without collaborating with a team experienced in the film industry. Anyone can provide a production insurance policy, but only film-savvy insurance agencies understand how to bridge the common gaps associated with dangerous shoots.
For instance, the equipment insurance element of a film production policy might cover theft unless production occurs in a location with frequent criminal activity, which makes theft more likely.
Professional insurance agents can advise on securing a rider or additional sub-policy to cover this gap and others that arise when a film production insurance policy does not offer the complete protection it should.
Get Your Film Production Insurance From MFE for Dangerous Shoots
Major productions strive to bring their visions to life to share with the world, and this can sometimes take them to dangerous locations that pose a greater risk than usual. Do not let a fear of inadequate insurance keep you from creating the film you’re passionate about.
The professionals at MFE Insurance have extensive experience insuring productions, no matter where they are located and what additional protections they may need to secure.
Contact MFE Insurance to receive your customized insurance recommendation and discuss ways to bridge any potential gaps in coverage.