general liability insurance Archives

FilmLA: Helping Locals (& Anybody) Who Wants to Shoot in Tinsel Town

May 5, 2021 by Luke Gelineau

FilmLA Website

Our friends at FilmLA have been helping local Angelenos (and anybody else who wants to shoot in Tinsel Town) for decades, but their insurance requirements can be pretty difficult for the typical film producer to understand. General Liability, Auto Liability, Workers Comp, Primary and Non-Contributory Wording, Waivers of Subrogation… It’s a lot to try to figure out by yourself.

That’s Where We Come In!

We’ve basically memorized the FilmLA insurance requirements back to front, and can provide an instant, over-the-phone quote estimate to let you know the cost of getting that insurance! Once you get your policy, we can even send out certificates and endorsements for FilmLA AND submit proof of insurance to the City of LA through their KwikComply online system for FREE!

Feel free to request a quote here: https://www.insuredproduction.com/ch/

If you’d like to check out FilmLA, check them out here: https://www.filmla.com/

Have questions or want to discuss coverage?

Feel free to contact me online or by phone at (818) 295-2266. I’m happy to be of assistance.

Making the Move from Actor to Producer

October 18, 2020 by Luke Gelineau

Many actors and actresses have moved from in front of the camera to behind the scenes. In fact, as far back as 1900, Mary Pickford not only produced films, she also co-founded United Artists Studio. Success for these people is dependent on a number of things. It goes without saying that they need creativity, but they also need knowledge of the business side of things.

And this includes film insurance.

Errors and Omissions Insurance

For instance, an actor who wants to produce their own films would benefit from errors and omissions insurance. For a small investment, they are safe from unintentional copyright infringement and misinformation.

Movie producers are not the only ones who should consider Errors and Omissions Insurance. This type of coverage is appropriate for all kinds of productions. Any project that relies on a written script should have Errors and Omissions Insurance as a supplement to their general liability policy:

Movies
Documentaries
Short Films
YouTube Videos
Marketing Videos and Commercials
Radio
Theater
Television

Keep in mind that you must get Producer Errors and Omissions Insurance BEFORE distribution. You cannot obtain coverage if you are already facing litigation.

The Difference between E&O and General Liability

General liability insurance covers damage to a third-party or their property but does not cover less tangible things like libel or copyright infringement.

You need to add Errors and Omissions to protect against the following:

Infringement of Copyright
Invasion of Privacy
Infringement of Trademark, Slogan, or Title
Plagiarism
Defamation of Products
Libel or Slander

Your Errors and Omissions policy will cover the business owner, employees, and subcontractors. Each policy is industry specific. In other words, a film producer will need a different type of policy than a distributor.

Luke Gelineau

For more information on production insurance, 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, E&O, or rent your own insurance, you can rely on their quick and knowledgeable assistance to meet all of your production insurance needs.

Myth & Fact: Third Party Property Damage & General Liability

October 14, 2020 by Luke Gelineau

Myth: General Liability Insurance covers damage done to my locations during filming.

Fact: Damage to your locations is NOT covered by general liability insurance. Instead, it falls under Third Party Property Damage.

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of statements from my customers just like this:

“I’m really only concerned about damage to my locations. So, can you write up a General Liability policy? That way they will be covered.”

I always have to break the news to them that General Liability does NOT cover damage to their locations. What they really need is Third Party Property Damage Insurance.

What is Third Party Property Damage Insurance?

Third Party Property Damage covers damage done to locations over which you have the care, custody, or control. For example, if somebody is letting you film in their house, restaurant, or studio, they have given care over to you. Once you have custody and control, you assume the responsibility for any damage.

From my previous blog on General Liability Insurance, you know that it covers damage to third party sites. The difference is subtle, but once you take control of a location, it’s no longer a third party. The building next door to your location would be a third party and covered by General Liability. The locations upstairs or downstairs from you would also be covered by General Liability. However, the actual location where you are filming is NOT covered by General Liability.

Why do locations ask for General Liability if it doesn’t cover damage to their property?

Well, there’s a couple reasons for that.

First, they ask for it because they need coverage for any General Liability claims brought to them because of your filming operations. If somebody is walking by their location and they tripped and fell on an extension cord, they could sue the location themselves for allowing you to film there. Your General Liability coverage would extend to them in this case. If you set up a light outside their window and it falls backward and damages the building next door, that building owner might go after your location owner for damages. It is very important that you provide General Liability coverage for your location.

The second reason that locations ask for General Liability is misinformation. They ask for it because they think it covers their property. The person who owns the home where you’re filming is obviously not an insurance expert, so they just ask for the most popular type of insurance coverage. Most of them mistakenly think that it’s what they need to cover damage to their house.

It’s up to you as the carrier of the insurance to be clear that the policy you’re providing does not cover damage to their location. They might ask that you add the coverage, which you can. The cost is actually very small. Once you do, sit back and rest easy knowing you own the proper coverage.

Call me and let me show you how you can add Third Party Property Damage to your General Liability policy.

Luke Gelineau