Film Producers Insurance Check List 2015

Film Producers Insurance Check List

Movies, films, documentaries and short films entertain us and may even bring a tear to our eyes. But for film producers, an uninsured loss can bring tears to their eyes as well. John Hart Insurance Agency offers a check list for film producers to make sure the right insurance is in place.

“So you say I have a chance?”

If you are involved in any of these kinds of productions, you need to have a comprehensive entertainment policy.

• Television or film productions
• Commercials
• Documentaries
• Music videos
• Educational films
• Corporate productions
• Commercial photographers

“I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.”

These are common risks shared by most productions

• Cast insurance
• Production errors & omissions
• Damage to props and other equipment
• Copyright infringement
• Intellectual property
• Rented and leased vehicles
• Animal mortality

“Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”

We have 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. Call us today for more information.

Our Top New Year’s Entertainment Insurance Issues

The following information may not make the lineup of any late night TV show, but it can help your entertainment company become more profitable.

• Production insurance will continue to be an important part of every production. We provide policies for all budgets sizes; from low budget film production shoots to large studio budgets.  One day shoot or annual blanket production coverages are also available. 
• Entertainment Equipment is expensive to replace and is easy to insure. We provide all risk, worldwide coverage for scheduled entertainment related equipment including Cameras, Production, Editing, Musical, Theatrical and Miscellaneous items.
• Event Cancellation can shut down your production company. Event cancellation insurance protects revenue or expenses from an event against cancellation or postponement of the event for reasons beyond the control of the event organizer.
• Reality TV and Film Productions. This is a very growing segment of our industry. Types of programming including game shows, variety shows, webisodes, and documentary filming. With the rapid growth of “reality programming”, it is important to have a broker who understands the needs of the entertainment industry.

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.

Now Is The Time To Review Your Entertainment Insurance

Benefits of an Insurance Review

Everyone, at some time, should have entertainment insurance reviewed by an independent insurance agent. If it has been more than a year since your last review, now may be a good time. We review all our clients’ insurance needs on a regular basis. There are many benefits to an insurance review including:

1. Prices change and a review can determine if you are getting competitive rates on your personal insurance.
2. Your coverage needs may have changed and your policy should reflect these changes.
3. There may be new insurance companies to which we have access.

Why Review Entertainment Insurance Policy?

We have identified a number of questions that might indicate your personal insurance is out of date.

1. Have you started a new production?
2. Are you planning a foreign work?
3. Have you invested in new camera equipment?
4. Are you developing any partnerships?
5. Have you signed any new talent?

We live in difficult financial times and making sure we save money wherever we can is very important. Having us preform an insurance review might just be what is needed to protect your assets while putting money back in your pocket. 

How To Produce Entertainment Insurance

Entertainment Insurance

You are in the entertainment and education business. You create and design products that truly amaze us all. In doing so, you also create risks for your company, employees and others. We can produce an entertainment insurance policy that fits your needs. John Hart Insurance produces entertainment insurance that will match your risks. We work with many of the leading insurers in the entertainment industry.

To protect your firm you should consider the following kinds of insurance:

• Worker’s Compensation- Covers injury to employees.
• Business income - If you have a loss and can’t operate, this insurance provides replacement income for period of time.
• Cast Insurance- Reimburses the production company for any extra expense necessary to complete principal photography of an insured production due to death, injury or sickness of any insured performer or director.
• 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 or piracy.
• Props, Sets and Wardrobe- Provides coverage on props, sets, scenery, costumes, wardrobe and similar theatrical property against risks of direct physical loss, damage or destruction occurring during the production.

The entertainment industry is a very competitive and complex business that comes with uncommon exposure risks. Entertainment insurance can help protect against many liabilities and we are ready to help you. 

Equipment Theft On Production Sets

Entertainment Insurance

One risk faced by production companies is the loss of equipment on sets. Even when sites are secure, there seems to always be a way for thieves to get in and create a loss. In a recent case, the thief actually took an entire 1300 pound metal fence. Some losses may be covered under the commercial insurance policy, but there could be high deductibles.

Here Are A Few Tips On How To Reduce Theft:

•          Have a sign in for all vehicles.
•          Have security.
•          Complete background checks on all employees.
•          The control of keys is essential on a site.
•          Keep all equipment locked.
•          Mark all equipment.
•          Encourage employees not to keep personal equipment on site.
•          Post signs that video cameras are located on site.
•          Post “keep out/no trespassing” signs.
•          Lock all vehicles at night.
•          Stamp ID numbers conspicuously on all large equipment 
•          Require all subcontractors to have commercial insurance, workers’ compensation and       employee dishonesty insurance.

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 business.

Production Companies Need Replacement Cost Insurance

Entertainment Industry & Replacement Cost Insurance

You purchase insurance to cover losses you may have to your commercial buildings, equipment, cameras, props and other property. There are a number of decisions you make regarding your coverage that will determine how the loss will be viewed by the insurance company. According to the latest surveys by major insurers, many in the entertainment industry have a critical gap in their insurance coverage. The reasons vary from; not fully understanding how certain coverage applies to their business, buying insurance from an agent who does not understand entertainment insurance, thinking their commercial coverage provides the coverage, and finally believing they don’t have the risk.

What Is Replacement Cost Coverage?

Replacement cost coverage essentially means that the insurance company will replace the damaged or destroyed property with new property up to the policy limit, as long as it is with like kind and quality.  This may seem simple, but it's not quite that simple in every case. If the value is not accurate, your loss may not be fully covered.

Replacement cost insurance can be purchased to protect buildings, props, cameras, production equipment, machinery, office equipment and more. This insurance pays the full amount needed to replace the asset or property up to the policy limit. Any gradual reduction of the asset value or depreciation is not taken into account for insurance claim purposes.

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.

Why Insure Animals During Your Production

The use of animals as onscreen performers creates many interesting legal, risk and insurance issues for production companies. Animals are used in almost every kind of production including; movies, advertising, documentaries, print and more.

Technology has allowed production companies to use fewer animals such as; the 2011 movie The Rise of The Planet of The Apes starred no real animal’s actors. In addition animal rights groups have continued to urge film makers to follow current rules regarding the treatment of animals during production.

Can You Insure Animals?

Animal Mortality insurance will pay an agreed value for your animal if it dies from any accidental or natural cause. This coverage protects you against loss as a result of a variety of perils, including fire, lightning, windstorm, hail, theft, collision, upset while in transit, accidental shooting, and drowning.  Plus, it pays the agreed value of the animal actor if death was caused by one of the perils listed on the policy.

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.