The short answer to this question is an obvious YES.

Film producers know that even with the best safety measures in place, accidents on the set can happen, If an employee gets hurt during production, your film company can be held responsible. Workers’ Compensation Insurance protects you and your film company from medical expenses, and lost wages of employees and actors hurt on the job.

California Film Companies Must Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance

California law requires that all employers carry Workers’ Compensation insurance, even if they have only one employee. Workers’ Compensation for the film industry covers essential benefits for workers hurt on the set.

• Cost for Medical Treatment
• Temporary Disability Payments
• Permanent Disability Benefits
• Supplemental Wages
• Death Benefits

According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, if your film company is based outside of California, but you plan to shoot inside the state, you can file for exemption as long as you do not hire California employees. However, you must provide a certificate of Workers’ Compensation insurance from a carrier in your home state.

Failing to have workers’ comp insurance in the state of California can result in one or all of the following:

• Up to one year in jail.
• A minimum penalty of $10,000
• State fines as high as $100,000

Even if there is not an accident, you can be charged if you cannot show evidence of coverage.

How to Limit the Number of Workers’ Comp Claims

Even though your Workers’ Comp insurance exists to protect your film company from injury claims, accidents can still cost you money. Insurance companies charge higher rates to those film companies with more claims. If your production company has been claims-free for a significant amount of time, then you could receive a discount.

To reduce the number of claims, make sure you train your employees in safety protocol.

Where to Purchase Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Film Companies

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 Workers’ Comp Insurance, you can rely on their quick and knowledgeable assistance to meet all of your production insurance needs.

As technology advances, drones have become increasingly high-tech and are consequently gaining popularity among photographic hobbyists and professionals. Yet, there is a lot of misunderstanding about drones and whether or not they require insurance.

Are Drones Classified as Aircraft?

According to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), drones do indeed fall under the category of “aircraft.” On paper, they are typically referred to as “UAVs” (unmanned aerial vehicles). Classified as such, drones are not protected by General Liability Insurance and instead require Aircraft Liability Insurance.

Since drones are relatively new compared to commercial aircraft and are constantly updating and changing models, there is not one consistent safety statistic for determining insurance costs. That is to say, there is no “one and done” guide. UAV insurance varies depending on the type of drone, the experience of the user, etc.

Aircraft insurers typically look for the following 2 items in drone owners:

1. Training

There are plenty of training courses that teach drone owners how to properly care for, protect, and operate their equipment. These can be taken online or through special in-person training. Understanding how to operate a UAV is the first step towards avoiding damage.

2. Maintenance/Safety

To ensure safe flights, drones must be maintained and examined by the owner before each operation. Careful equipment management can prevent problems before they happen. Safety manuals for drones can be located online.

What else do you need to know?

It is important to remember that all drones are considered aircraft, no matter how big, small, or inexpensive they are. It is equally important to remember that Aircraft Liability Insurance is vital should a drone crash and cause damage to a third party. Often, a drone owner is not even legally allowed to film on public locations without purchasing the proper insurance.

Avoid costly problems by investing in your Aircraft Liability. You should always be prepared. Give us a call to talk about drone insurance. There are plenty of insurance options out there to cover damage to your drone and any damage your drone might cause. Call or email me with any questions, and don’t fly uninsured.

 

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 Workers’ Comp Insurance, you can rely on their quick and knowledgeable assistance to meet all of your production insurance needs.

The holiday season is upon us! There is nothing like a clear, beautiful autumn day here in Southern California, which makes everyone want to get outdoors, enjoy it and take it all in…

And of course, shoot some pics and videos! 

The majority of film producers know they need film insurance, but what about producers of live productions? Do you know which types of insurance coverage is required and where to get it?

Let’s take a look at the most common types of production insurance…

Are your actors part of the Screen Actor’s Guild?

Many actors and actresses participate in both live and filmed productions. SAG requires at least $1,000,000 of General Liability and $1,000,000 of Workers Comp coverage whenever you are using SAG actors.

It doesn’t matter if you only plan to do a 30-second video for a Facebook ad or a six-week run at the local playhouse. If you use a SAG actor, then they must have coverage through a Workers Comp policy. This covers the actor if they injure themselves. General Liability insurance covers injuries or property damage to third parties caused by the actor.

Do you have adequate General Liability Coverage?

General Liability insurance covers injuries to people that are attending your production and the venue where you perform. For instance, if a patron trips and breaks a leg, liability insurance protects you from litigation. If your set falls over and damages the stage, you won’t have to pay for repairs out of pocket.

Plus, keep in mind that the SAG New Media contract requires General Liability as a protection for their actors.

Are you performing in California?

If your live production plays in California, then you are required, by law, to have Workers’ Compensation for your cast, crew, and everyone else, including interns, volunteers, etc.

And it doesn’t just apply to companies based in California, but to everyone that performs within the state. You can file for exemption as long as you do not hire California employees. However, you must provide a certificate of Workers’ Compensation insurance from a carrier in your home state.

Failing to have workers’ comp insurance in the state of California can result in hefty penalties and fines.

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 Workers’ Comp Insurance, you can rely on their quick and knowledgeable assistance to meet all of your production insurance needs.

Wishing you and your family and happy and safe holiday season!