John Hart Insurance Top Five Insurance and Safety Ideas

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

1. Always carry E & O insurance - This 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. It also protects against alleged libel, slander, defamation of character or invasion of privacy. This coverage will usually be required by a distributor prior to the release of any theatrical or television production.
2. Mind your cables - With most productions, keeping cabling organized is critical. Solutions like rubber mats, cable ramps, and creating an audience free zone in the center of the auditorium can help to ensure safe cable runs.
3. Insure your props and wardrobe – This 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.
4. Most Common Rigging Mistakes – These include unrated hardware, incomplete installation, damaged equipment, and improper use.
5. Always call John Hart Insurance for the best possible combination of coverage and pricing.

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.

Film Production Stunt Insurance

Safety of performers is always the number one priority; whether it is maintaining a safe working environment or ensuring the physical safety of actors and stunt professionals. Many productions use stunts while filming their movie, commercial, or short film. Even training films often include stunts as part of the production.  However, many traditional insurance packages don’t automatically cover stunt work.

John Hart Insurance can provide special stunt coverage for any production you are involved in. Directors and production companies can attain coverage for the following... Stunts, aerial scenes, falls, fight scenes, recreational vehicles, water scenes, weapons, precision driving, and animals. 

Here are a few if the stunts that should be insured:

•          Aerial Work
•          Fight Scenes
•          Animals
•          Scripted Falls
•          Special Driving
•          Use of Weapons
•          Underwater Work

SAG-AFTRA established INDUSTRY WIDE LABOR-MANAGEMENT SAFETY COMMITTEE

 SAFETY BULLETIN #4 that provides guidelines for safe stunt sequences.

Call us today for more information.

Safety For Animals On Set

If you use animals in your production, you want to hear, ‘No animals were harmed in the making of this production.” That is not always the case. In the making of the first movie in the new "Hobbit" trilogy, 27 animals died at a farm where they were housed during the filming. HBO’s “Luck” had a hose that got frightened and ended up fracturing its skull; it had to be put down. As much as safety is observed accidents happen. The movie Evan Almighty uses over 85 species of animals and no animals were hurt.

Here are a few suggestions for you to consider as part of your safety plan. You may be required to have a representative of the American Humane Association on site.

• Have proper trainers on the set
• Animals must be trained, prepped and in appropriate physical and behavioral condition to perform the required work
• Lame or ill animals may not be used and may not resume work until the condition has been corrected, as determined by a veterinarian
• Have extra water
• Animals should have access to shelter
• Animals should  be checked daily for injury and/or illness
• Dogs should have a collar and be kept on a leash
• Owners must provide proof of the animal’s vaccinations as recommended for the species of animal
• Animals should never be left unattended
• No alcohol shall be used around animals at any time
• The American Humane Association offers resources for you. Remember that John Hart Insurance can insure your animal talent, call us today.