The Risks of Using Animals in Productions

Entertainment Insurance Update

John Hart insurance offers entertainment insurance for films that includes unique coverages specific to movie making and other productions, including; cast coverage, animals, props, sets and wardrobe coverage; extra expense coverage; third party property damage coverage; miscellaneous equipment coverage; faulty stock coverage; and negative coverage

Animals have been used in movie-making, advertising, documentaries and other print, films and production functions since the early days of the industry. 

We can offer special entertainment insurance coverage for the animals used in your production. This coverage protects you against loss.  Plus, the policy will pay the agreed value of the animal actor if death was caused by one of the perils listed on the policy. Animal Extra Expense would provide a “cast-type coverage” for insured animals that would reimburse the out-of-pocket expense incurred as a result of the interruption, postponement or cancellation of the production resulting from injury, death or illness to the animal so insured.

We get the resumes on the animal actors and their wranglers.  We can then write Animal Mortality coverage (life insurance) on the animals for a predetermined value.

The staff at John Hart Insurance has over 60 years combined experience in the field of entertainment insurance.  We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.

A Little Preparation Can Get Your Entertainment Business Running After a Loss

A Entertainment Insurance Update

No one wants to think about an event so severe that it would cause your business to close.  However, disaster planning needs to be part of your ongoing business plan.  Major events can include floods, storms, data breach, fires, accidents, death of an owner, or lawsuits.  Whatever the risk, a little pre-planning can go a long way toward getting your business up and running again.

A key part of your plan should be a review of your business insurance program.  Your business insurance should include the following:

Property insurance: Covers your buildings, equipment, machines, and other property from loss or damage. Coverage should include business income coverage.

Commercial Liability Insurance: Provides coverage for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others.

Commercial Auto Insurance: Covers your company vehicles if they are involved in an accident. It can also cover your business if you, or an employee, uses a personally owned vehicle on behalf of the business.

Cyber Liability Insurance: This insurance can protect your business from a data breach.  If your business stores sensitive or non-public information about employees or clients, you are responsible for protecting that information. 

Management Liability Insurance: Management Liability can encompass these important business insurance coverage’s; Professional liability, and Directors and Officers Liability.

Having the right kind of entertainment insurance is not the only thing your business should consider. You need to develop a plan in the event your business is shut down.

The staff at John Hart Insurance has over 60 years combined experience in the field of entertainment insurance.  We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.

How To Hire Part Time Seasonal Workers

Entertainment Insurance update 

Many entertainment companies may be hiring part time workers to fill production needs. For the most part, you will not need to modify your business insurance, but if you add new classifications or payroll, it may affect your workers’ compensation insurance.  Now might be a good time to have us complete a review of all your business insurance policies.

Here are few tips to help you manage seasonal employees

• Make sure part time employees get the same training as all other employees.
• Conduct background screenings on part time candidates.
• Unless the job requires it, it is not a good idea to give seasonal employees access to computers or other secure information.
• Don’t allow seasonal employees to work alone.
• Remember the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to properly classify workers, pay the legal minimum wage, and pay overtime if applicable.
• Part time employees should also read and sign the employee handbook.
• Your business is legally required to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage, as most fair-employment laws cover seasonal employees. 
• If you notice cliques or bad habits forming, don’t assume that they will self-correct. 
• Employers with 15 or more employees are subject to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other federal and state employment laws. This means your seasonal employees, just like your regular workforce, must receive adequate training on what conduct is illegal, how to report it, and how to request a reasonable accommodation.
• Maintain a detailed account of where each employee works, the kinds of tasks they are assigned, number of hours completed, and their rate of pay.
• When it is time to end the part time employment, follow the same procedures as you would with a full-time or permanent employee.

The staff at John Hart Insurance has over 60 years combined experience in the field of entertainment insurance.  We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.

Can Entertainment Companies Reduce Workers’ Compensations Costs?

It is a fact that many employers actually overpay for their workers’ compensation premiums.  Workers” Compensation Coverage provides medical, disability or death benefits to any cast or crew member who becomes injured in the course of their employment. Coverage usually applies on a 24 hour per day basis whenever employees are on location away from their homes. Individuals who call themselves "Independent Contractors" will usually be held to be employees as far as Workers' Compensation is concerned, and failure to carry this insurance can result in having to pay any benefits required under the law plus penalty awards.

The experience mod is a factor unique to each employer. In simple terms, this formula is designed to compare a specific employer’s historical claim and payroll data, to other employers with similar business operations. An individual employer’s experience mod is calculated using claims data compared to premiums from the three most recently completed years, excluding the expiring term.

Key points to consider

• If your losses are increasing, your mod most likely will go up even if your payroll goes down.
• The frequency of losses hurt you more than the severity of losses.
• It is important to check the calculations on the experience modification worksheet each year.
• The most common errors are incorrect or incomplete payroll data.
• Your workers’ compensation mod is the single most important factor insurers use to identify your risk.
• Your mod can be reduced through effective safety and loss control programs.

How to reduce your mod?

• Develop a safety program.
• Reward safety in the workplace.
• Start a return to work program.
• Investigate every accident and make corrective actions if needed.
• If you suspect fraud, immediately inform the insurance company.
• A disciplinary program also should be incorporated into the safety program; it should hold employees accountable for breaking the rules.

The staff at John Hart Insurance has over 60 years combined experience in the field of entertainment insurance.  We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.

The Value of Having The Right Kind of Entertainment Insurance

Entertainment companies have very unique risks. John Hart Insurance Agency offers customized insurance products specifically to the entertainment industry. We have years of experience in covering musicians, entertainers, live events, artists, stage productions, motion pictures, and foreign productions.

While each production is different, we have found these entertainment insurance coverages can address many of the risks associated within the entertainment industry.

• Film & Video Production Insurance
• Special Event Production Insurance
• Professional Liability Insurance
• Equipment Floaters
• Case & Crew Insurance
• Copyright infringement Insurance
• Negative Film & Videotape Insurance
• Props, Sets and Wardrobe Coverage
• Theatrical Production Insurance
• Rigging, Lighting Technician And Sound Technician Insurance
• Property Insurance Specifically For Drones
• Animal Mortality Insurance

John William Hart III Insurance Agency, presents a brief description of the various types of insurance coverages available to the Motion Picture and Television production company. These descriptions are general in nature and are not a complete explanation of the policy terms. We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.

Does The Entertainment Industry Need TO comply With State And Federal Laws?

The regulatory climate is always changing for businesses including every firm in the entertainment business.  Almost every month there is some new law, regulation, or statue that your business now must comply with. We want to share a few of the latest regulatory trends to help with your business planning. All entertainment firms must comply with California and Federal laws.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is cracking down on employers who misclassify independent contractors who really should be employees. If you are an employer who hires contractors, the DOL has issued new guidelines to help you. If your entertainment firms hire part time production assistants, camera men or others, you need to understand have use review your worker’s compensation program.

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The federal definition of marriage has changed and employers must modify health insurance and benefits packages to comply with the law

The new workers’ compensation coding system went into effect in 2016. All businesses covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) will be required to use the International Classification Coding Systems (ICD-10) to report injuries and illnesses to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Whistleblower investigations are on the rise. The SEC’s whistleblower program continues to have an impact on businesses. The single biggest issue has been “Corporate Disclosure and Financials,” which accounted for 18.2% of all submissions.

In response to immigration reform, employers will need to monitor changes to the immigration system that may impact their hiring; particularly Form I-9 procedures and work authorization documentation

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Your Entertainment Company Needs To Understand These Three Risks

Entertainment Insurance

Every entertainment business has risks and most professionals have an understanding of their risks. But there are a few business risks that can be addressed by commercial entertainment insurance that you may not have considered.

Business Interruption- The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than 40% of businesses never reopen following a disaster such as a fire or earthquake. Is your business prepared to weather the storm if disaster strikes? If a fire causes your facility to be temporarily unusable, what would you do? To mitigate this risk, consider adding Business Interruption coverage to your Property Insurance policy.

Employment Practices- From the moment you begin the pre-hiring process until the final goodbyes at the exit interview, you are at risk for a lawsuit. In fact, three out of five employers will be sued by a prospective, current or former employee while they are in business. Although many lawsuits are groundless, defending against them is costly and time-consuming. Your business should take a hard look at whether it can afford to defend itself against accusations of wrongful employment practices. Employment Practices Liability that will protect your company against wrongful termination, discrimination (age, sex, race, disability, etc.) or sexual harassment lawsuit.

Errors and Omissions - Covers legal liability and defense for the production company against lawsuits alleging unauthorized use of title, format, ideas, characters, plots, plagiarism, unfair competition.

The staff at John Hart Insurance has over 60 years combined experience in the field of entertainment insurance.  We focus exclusively on understanding the unique needs of motion picture, television, video, music and theatrical companies.  This knowledge base allows us to structure an insurance program specifically for each client that will be a balance of the best coverage and most economical solutions to help them manage the risks inherent to their unique businesses.