Certificates of Insurance

If you rent production equipment or shoot on someone’s property, there is a good chance you will be required to provide a certificate of insurance. Here are a few things to remember about certificates of insurance:

What is a certificate of insurance?

A document issued by an insurance agent/broker that is used to confirm the existence of insurance coverage. The document provides the effective date of the policy, the type of insurance coverage purchased, and the types and dollar amount of applicable liability.

Is there a cost?

A certificate of insurance does not cost anything to issue.

Can certificates of insurance change coverage?

No, certificates of insurance cannot modify insurance coverage. Certificates only provide information about policies that are in place. Certificates of insurance are designed to be informational. That is, they are not intended to confer any rights on the insurance company, policyholder, or the certificate holder.

What is usually on a certificate of insurance?

• Name of insured
• Company to which the certificate is issued
• Insurance company
• Policy dates
• Limits
• Type of coverage
• Any special policy terms
• Additional insured (with limitations) 

Additional things to remember

• Certificates issued incorrectly don’t necessarily bind the insurer.
• Additional insured issues must be addressed on the actual policy.
• When you receive a certificate, do not just file it away. Read it to see whether it complies with the contract’s requirements. If it does not, then do not accept it.

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TEN CLAIMS REDUCTION IDEAS

TOP TEN CLAIM REDUCTION IDEAS

Want to reduce claims? Try some of these ideas. 

1.    Spend the time to double-check the inventory on the returns to lessen the L&D.

2.    Treat it like you own it. Make sure the person who is dealing with very valuable equipment has the experience to use it.

3.    No Slurpees! – Never leave the truck unattended. A white box van on the street screams out, “Steal Me”.  There have been claims where the PA went in for a Slurpee and the truck was gone. Or the $15,000 camera in the van was stolen.

4.    Remember, Separate Occurrences follow as they happen. Just like your car insurance, if you smash the side of the car in the morning and wreck the rear at lunch, it is two separate occurrences and subject to two separate deductibles.

5.    Mitigate the Loss – act as if you didn’t have insurance. It will help you later when you go make the claim.

6.    A great film is when nobody gets hurt. Start every day with the safety meeting

7.    Repeat After Me – Counter to Counter. When shipping equipment, repeat the mantra as you go to the airline counter to ship and continue it when you pick up at the other end.

8.    Make sure you have two sets of eyes when backing up the 5- ton truck. Think of all the blind spots. When backing the truck out of the location parking lot, make sure there is someone outside the truck that you can see in your side mirrors watching your rear-end. Also think about this when pulling into a gas station and the roof.

9.    A little video goes a long way. When locking a location, take a video of the all the areas that the company will use. If or when a claim arises the video is proof that the crack in the wall was there before your crew set foot on the premises.

10. I am convinced that shows with good craft services have fewer claims. Don't skimp on the healthy snacks and munchies. A happy crew is a safe crew.

      While I can't guarantee you won't have any losses, you will have fewer losses and you will have a happy crew and production company. When everyone is happy you have a better time, and tend to get things done on time and budget. 

John Hart Insurance Coverage for Key Artists

The success or failure of your production is often tied to the artist or talent that you have selected. Usually the bigger the artist the bigger the risk and profit potential. Many artists also have a large fan base which can bring in additional revenue for the production. Insuring your investment often is a good way to protect your investment. We understand it is important to protect your assets and offer a variety of insurance products that address your issues.

John Hart Insurance offers cast insurance that protects your investment when the unexpected illness, injury or even death occurs. Cast insurance covers additional costs that may arise if a production loses a cast member, director, or scheduled personnel. Call John Heart Insurance today for more information. 

Completion Bonds

Many times some investors will have a contract that requires  the production to be completed. Completion Bonds are the instrument used to protect  the investors.

A Production Completion Bond monitors the production and  steps in if your production can’t be completed or is going over budget. These bonds are written by a special group of bonding companies. The bonding company will finish the film, so that it can be released allowing the investors the opportunity to recoup their investment and or profits. The bonding company can’t guarantee the production will be a “success” but rather it will be completed.

John Hart Insurance does not write the Completion Bond.  We work very closely with the Bond company making sure the production is sufficiently covered and professionally underwritten.

Production Company Safety

Production companies have very unique safety issues. One of the most important is keeping the crew and actors safe. Production companies often use senior citizens and the disabled as part of the overall production. Some of your productions may include children as well. You will need to make sure you have looked at and manage the special needs of all these groups. Managing the special needs of these group increases the need for general set safety. Here are some general safety tips.

• Have at least one crew who is trained in first aid, and have a first aid kit handy
• Observe strictly the producing company/venue’s workplace policies in respect of:

           1. children in the workplace, including when they are part of a performance
           2. animals, including pets (but excluding companion animals) in the workplace

• Ensure that the systems, ropes, slings, barrels, safety chains, etc are in good order
• Appropriate fire extinguishers must be available
• Don’t remove safety guards from and equipment
• Keep all areas clean
• Hold safety meetings with the crew to review safety concerns
• Containers shall be provided for collection and separation of all refuse
• Lighting equipment likely to reach high temperature shall be suitably guarded with a clearance maintained from flexible cords to prevent overheating
• Don’t allow smoking on the set
• At no time shall any illegal drug/s be brought into or consumed in the working environment
• Make sure cables and other wiring is not in places where they can cause trips and falls.

These are in no means all the safety guidelines you must follow. Safety should be the responsibility of everyone engaged on the film or TV production.

Entertainment Equipment Insurance

Production companies have made a significant investment in lighting, costumes, cameras and props. The entertainment industry has specific needs which often require a customized insurance program. Your ongoing success depends on having the kind and quality of equipment your customers need. If equipment inventory is damaged or destroyed, your customer base and bottom line could suffer. We work to learn the unique exposures and risks associated with your entertainment company. We then work hand in hand with you to develop and design an insurance program to meet your specific needs

One way to avoid this kind of loss is to purchase appropriate Entertainment Equipment Insurance. John Hart Insurance specializes in providing insurance to the film industry. Some of the equipment you should consider insuring is:

• Editing Production Equipment
• Recording Studio Equipment
• Location Recording Equipment
• Musical Instruments/Band Equipment
• Camera Production Equipment
• Rented Equipment
• Wardrobes

Entertainment Equipment Insurance provides all risk coverage, subject to policy terms. Coverage is designed to repair or replace lost or damaged property.

John Hart insurance can also provide coverage for:

• Reshooting your lost or damaged data or film stock
• Production office
• Rented vehicles
• Rented props, rented sets, rented wardrobe
• Cast

Please call me for more information. 

What Coverage Do I Need for My Special Event?

Whether you are a production company, studio, independent film company, event planning company, or a private firm planning a client event, Special Event Insurance should be part of your planning. Special Event Insurance can provide the necessary security to ensure that if something does go wrong, you and your guests are protected.

What is Special Event Insurance?

There are many different kinds of Special Event insurance.  Special Event Insurance is designed to protect the event sponsors or planners against liability claims associated with the event. Claims can come from participants, vendors, and other third parties. Depending on your event, there is insurance coverage that addresses the specific risks. Here are a few of the different kinds of events that require insurance

Festivals - Music/Concert Events - Holiday Festivals - Private Business Events –Cast Parties – Media Events – Special Showings and more

What Kind of Insurance Should I Have?

Here are the different kinds of insurance that you should consider when holding your event. There is other coverage that you may need, but I wanted to identify at least three:

General Liability- General Liability insurance provides bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury to third parties arising out of the negligence of the event sponsors or organizers.

Liquor liability- If you are serving alcohol at your event, you need to make sure there is Liquor Liability coverage in place. Liquor Liability Insurance provides protection from claims relating to the sale, distribution, serving, or use of alcoholic beverages.

Event Cancellation- Event Cancellation Insurance is one of the most important items to consider. Event Cancellation Insurance protects the event planners or hosts from an unforeseen circumstance that requires the event to be canceled. It would provide funds to cover deposits and other costs that you may have already paid. Unforeseen circumstances could be related to weather, construction at the venue, or illness of the featured speaker or entertainer.