Production insurance
Production insurance protects a film, television or commercial shoot from the first day of prep through wrap. We write policies for a single project and annual policies for companies that produce all year, and we issue the proof of insurance that locations, rental houses and permit offices ask for before filming starts.
Anyone who must show proof of insurance to a location, a rental house or a permit office before the cameras roll.
What it covers
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every insurance company's policy is different.
Pays to re-shoot or recover footage lost to something covered: damaged cards or drives, faulty film stock, a lab mistake.
What to watchMistakes by the camera or sound operator, such as wrong exposure or focus, are usually not covered. Back up every card the same day; most policies expect it.
Pays the added cost of finishing the shoot when a covered event interrupts it: a damaged location, a destroyed set, a lost camera package.
What to watchIt responds to physical damage, not to bad weather, illness or an actor dropping out. Coverage for actors and weather is a separate add-on.
Damage to, or theft of, props, sets, scenery and costumes you own or rent.
What to watchCars used in a scene are usually insured separately. Tell us about them.
Cameras, lenses, lighting, grip, sound and drones, on set, in transit and in storage, usually at the cost of replacing them new.
What to watchTheft from an unattended vehicle is often excluded or capped. Rental houses expect to be named on the policy and will have a deductible they accept.
Damage to the places you film in and to other people's property in your care, including what it costs the owner while it is out of use.
What to watchCars, boats and aircraft are generally excluded here. The boat scene needs its own coverage.
Claims from people who are not your crew who are hurt on set or on location, and the proof of insurance locations ask for.
What to watchStunts, pyrotechnics, weapons, aerial work and animals need to be declared in advance. They do not get approved the same day.
Covers your liability when you rent production vehicles or crew drive their own cars on production business.
What to watchDamage to the rented vehicle itself may need to be added. Check what the rental contract makes you responsible for.
Pays medical care and lost wages for cast and crew you employ who are hurt at work, as state law requires.
What to watchIf a payroll service is the employer of record, it may already carry this. Ask who runs payroll before you buy it twice.
Covers claims about the content itself: that it defamed someone, invaded their privacy or used music, images or a title without permission. Distributors and broadcasters require it before delivery.
What to watchThe insurer wants to see your clearance paperwork, chain of title and signed releases. Allow at least a week.
How we work
We are appointed with national and specialty companies, so your policy goes where it fits rather than where we happen to have a contract. See who we work with.
Send your current policy and we compare it with what we would offer: what we would keep, what we would change, and why, in writing.
No coverage starts and no policy changes until a licensed agent confirms it with you in writing. You always know what you have. How we work, in full.
Exclusions
Every policy differs. Before you plan a scene around any of these, send us the schedule and we will tell you in writing what the policy does.
How to get it
A short-term policy covers one production, from prep through wrap, and can be written for a single day. An annual policy covers every production you run in the year, so proof of insurance comes off one policy instead of a new application each time. Companies shooting more than three or four projects a year usually land on annual.
DICE stands for documentary, industrial, commercial and educational. It is the annual production policy built for companies that shoot commercials, corporate video, documentaries and branded content repeatedly rather than one feature. It is the most common setup for a working production company.
If you already have a policy with us and the location just needs to be added to it, usually the same business day. A new policy with nothing unusual on it can often start within a day or two of a complete application. Anything with stunts, pyrotechnics, weapons, drones or water needs review by the insurer and takes longer. Tell us early.
Not for the shoot itself. You will need it before delivery to a distributor, broadcaster or streamer, and the insurer wants clearance documents that are easier to gather during production than after. Ask about it when you set up the policy.
Usually not. Rental agreements make you responsible for the gear from pickup to return. The rental house will ask for proof of insurance naming them, showing coverage for the full cost of replacing the gear, and a deductible they accept.
Yes, if you tell us about it. Aerial work needs the aircraft, the operator's credentials and the flight plan declared, and it is placed as its own coverage. A liability policy that was not told about the drone is unlikely to pay.
Related
Covers claims of defamation, privacy, copyright and trademark against agencies, publishers and content studios.
Media liabilityCovers injuries and property damage your business causes to others, and satisfies the proof of insurance landlords and clients ask for.
General liabilityPays medical care and lost wages for employees injured at work, as Minnesota law requires.
Workers' compensationProduction, media and professional liability are quoted by an agent. Start with QuickStart or an interview and we will tell you what we need.
