The majority of film producers know about Liability Insurance, but many don’t think it’s really necessary for short films. After all, if you are only shooting for a few hours, the odds of something happening are pretty small.
Right?
Why do you need liability insurance for short films?
OK, I get it. You and your friend are out shooting a short film or documentary. He gets hurt, but that’s not a problem. You are friends, and he isn’t going to sue you.
The problem is that liability insurance has NOTHING to do with injuries to the people shooting your short film. Instead, it covers third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage. These are claims made by people who have nothing to do with your production.
For example, let’s say you are getting the perfect shot of a beautiful sunset and as you slowly back away with the camera, you fall. Your camera flips through the air and lands on a car… a very expensive car. The owner is irate and wants you to pay for the giant dent in the hood.
Liability Insurance will take care of that.
Liability Insurance usually pays not only for repairs but also the cost of investigation and any legal fees that arise from an issue.
- Attorney Costs
- Court Fees
- Witness Fees
- Settlements
- Medical Expenses
- Replacement or Repair of Property
Liability Insurance and Sag New Media
Guess what? If you use a SAG actor in your short film, you are REQUIRED to have liability insurance.
Errors and Omissions Insurance
Liability Insurance covers damage to a 3rd party of a physical nature, but Errors and Omissions Insurance protects you against third-party claims that are more abstract.
- Invasion of Privacy
- Copyright Violations
- Infringement of Trademark, Slogan, or Title
- Plagiarism
- Libel or Slander
What if a trademarked product accidentally appears in your short film and you did not get the proper permission to use it? That’s the type of “damage” that E&O covers.
Together, Liability Insurance and E&O Insurance protect filmmakers from “accidents” that result in lawsuits. Whether it’s a full-length movie or a short film, you need to contact your insurance agent and get the proper protection. A small amount of money now can save you a lot in the future.
Where to Purchase Film Insurance Policies
For more information on production insurance in California, contact Equipment & Production Insurance. The team at Equipment and Production Insurance are film, photographic & entertainment industry insurance specialists. Whether you need short-term, annual, post, documentary, commercial, equipment, rental house, or E&O, you can rely on their quick and knowledgeable assistance to meet all of your production insurance needs.
