Every film production faces risks, regardless of how careful the team is or how minor the project’s scope is. To secure your studio against financial harm due to unexpected accidents, damage, and more, investing in comprehensive insurance for feature film production is essential.
From overarching production insurance to more specific policies, choosing which types of coverage are relevant can feel confusing. However, with the help of an expert insurance agency, it does not have to be.
Here’s an overview of the basic insurance coverage your film production needs so that new and veteran filmmakers can protect themselves against the most common risks in the industry.
What Is Film Production Insurance?
The foundation of any shoot is robust film production insurance. This type of coverage is a blend of multiple underlying protections, such as general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, and more, depending on the policy.
Film production insurance can cover a broad potential range of protections, so always read the coverage carefully to understand what is included and what needs to be supplemented.
The Most Important Insurance Policies for Every Film Production
To fully grasp the level of protection that your team will enjoy from a film production insurance policy, you should examine whether some baseline protections are included. In many cases, these elements may be wrapped into film production insurance.
Still, they may need additional riders and supplementation to bring coverage up to a level suitable for your project, or you may require additional policies to cover gaps in protection.
The core insurance coverages that every film production should invest in are:
- General Liability Insurance
- Equipment Insurance
- Errors and Omissions (E&O) Insurance
Understanding General Liability Insurance
General liability protection is the cornerstone of any good insurance strategy. It covers harm to third parties and their property, such as if filming equipment falls on someone’s car, they injure themselves, or they trip on a camera cord.
General liability insurance does not protect cast and crew. Still, it shields the public from potential harm caused by a shoot. Most venues will not allow filming until a studio demonstrates that it has a baseline general liability insurance policy.
Filmmakers Need Equipment Insurance
Equipment insurance is another essential protection for the tools that make the shoot happen. It can protect cameras, lighting, sound equipment, and more. The policy details will dictate whether only owned equipment is secure or whether rented tools are also protected.
Most equipment insurance will defend a studio against the most common perils facing equipment, such as theft, malfunction, and total loss.
Additional Insurance To Consider For Filming
Conducting a film shoot while carrying only basic coverage is not the recommended method of approaching production. Additional protections are highly encouraged and sometimes even mandatory, depending on the work’s nature and location.
Additional insurance policies that most film production studios carry include:
- Workers’ Compensation: If a worker is injured while filming, their medical bills, rehabilitation, and time off work can be covered by workers’ compensation insurance. Many states and venues require this coverage when teams exceed a few people.
- Auto: For film studios that travel frequently between sets, auto insurance can be helpful. This protects company vehicles from damage and theft while securing the drivers against liability for injuries and damage they cause in the event of an accident. In some cases, the materials they are transporting may also be covered, or the studio may need to purchase inland marine insurance to secure film equipment in transit.
- Cast: In many cases, the key talent that makes a film possible must be protected using a separate insurance policy from workers’ compensation. Cast insurance can cover financial losses should an essential star become injured and unable to film or if they leave the project. Costs for finding a replacement, reshoots, and more may also be included in cast insurance. However, evaluate the coverage limit when hiring top-tier talent to ensure enough protection.
Protect Your Film Production with MFE Insurance Brokerage
Any film production can encounter problems, and even minor challenges may place significant financial burdens on a studio that does not have appropriate insurance coverage.
Whether you are filming a documentary with top talent or a film heavy on risky stunts, insurance protection can mean the difference between success and financial insolvency.
The experts at MFE Insurance offer tailored insurance solutions for feature film production so that you can secure coverage that is customized to the unique risks your studio is facing.
Contact MFE Insurance Brokerage for expert guidance and comprehensive film production insurance as well as additional riders and protections based on the challenges your next film is facing.