Blog Archives

Planning for Problems in Filmmaking

August 15, 2026 by Luke Gelineau

If you have worked in film for any length of time, you know you must be prepared for anything, or should I say EVERYTHING, especially in today’s work climate. Unexpected problems in filmmaking occur, so staying one step ahead of potential issues is vital if you want a successful film career!

What types of things go wrong during filming?

You can anticipate some of the issues that might arise on the set. Is the weather where you are filming unreliable? Is it a high-traffic city?

Yes, bad things happen more often than you might think!

1. Foul weather ruins a shot.

Invest in a plan B if you can. Schedule outdoor shots for the first half of the day, and indoor shots for the second half. That way you won’t lose all your time if the outdoor set gets rained out.

2. Film equipment breaking.

Having the proper moving picture insurance is incredibly important. Should necessary equipment break (whether it fails on its own, or it is damaged by a worker), the right insurance saves the day.

3. Rental vehicles involved in accidents.

Accidents happen. Even if your rental vehicle suffers damage away from the actual shoot. For instance, if an intern or another worker running an errand had an accident, you can quickly rack up some expenses.

What type of insurance do you need to cover rental accidents?

Moving picture insurance does not come as “one-size-fits-all.” It comes with a lot of compartments and necessary “extras” depending on what type of filming you plan to do. For instance, if you are using drones, you will need drone insurance.

If you plan to use vehicles, then rental car accidents could cause a lot of damage that regular insurance will not cover. That’s why it is important that every filmmaker invests in Hired Auto Liability Insurance.

What is Hired Auto Liability Insurance?

Hired/Non-Owner Auto Liability (HNOAL) is insurance that covers any damage your rental car causes to others. This differs from hired Auto Physical Damage Insurance, which is responsible for damage to the rental vehicle itself. HNOAL insurance ensures that if a third party vehicle or person suffers harm from your rental, the rental company is safe from claims. Consequently, many rental companies make HNOAL insurance is a requirement for filmmakers.

Often, filmmakers believe HNOAL insurance is only necessary for on-camera rentals; however, it is just as necessary for the rental that you use to pick up lunch for your crew. All rentals need protection.

Many people use cars for their productions. To ensure your peace of mind, make sure that you and your company have the necessary insurance.

Contact us at Equipment & Production insurance today to ask us about Hired Auto Liability Insurance for your next shoot. Or call me directly at (818) 295-2266 and let me show you how I can be of assistance!

Luke Gelineau

Happy 4th of July! Celebrating 250 Years of America

July 2, 2026 by Luke Gelineau

This year, Americans across the country are celebrating a remarkable milestone – 250 years of our nation’s history. It’s a perfect time to honor those who came before us, appreciate the freedoms we enjoy today, and look we forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.

In observation of the holiday, our offices will be closed on Friday, July 3rd.

From all of us here at Insured Production (a division of United Agencies), we wish you, your family and loved ones a very happy and safe 4th of July filled with fond memories, spectacular fireworks and great fun. Happy 250th Birthday, America!

What You Need to Know About Liability Insurance for Short Films

June 15, 2026 by Luke Gelineau

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.

I already have film insurance, but I’m unable to add the right coverage I need!

May 6, 2026 by Luke Gelineau

Typically I get calls from people who haven’t purchased film insurance for their production. They need me to write a film insurance policy from scratch. We discuss the coverage they need and find the most comprehensive coverage for the lowest price. However, recently I’ve noticed an uptick in phone calls from people who already have insurance but their agent won’t or can’t add the additional coverage they need.

Can you add personal insurance to your film insurance policy?

I’m not referring to business owners who want to add personal or general business insurance to their film insurance policies. That happens also but if you need a completion bond, health insurance, or even homeowner’s insurance, we have people who can help you with those and I will hook you up. No, what I am seeing is an increase in people who pay for “film insurance” that isn’t really film insurance.

What is the difference between business insurance and film insurance?

Here is what happens.

I get a call from someone who says they already have their own insurance policy, but their agent says they can’t add additional coverage that should be standard fare for those in the film insurance industry. I’m talking about things like Rented Equipment, Hired Auto Physical Damage, and Workers Comp.

If your agent cannot add a simple, production-related coverage to your policy, then chances are that you are not properly insured. More than likely, they did not write an actual production policy for you. Sometimes an agent will knowingly write you on a “non-production” policy simply to save you some money. They want to make the sale, and they know that if they give you a valid quote that you would probably think it’s too high. Or maybe you showed them a competing quote and they knew they had to fudge the numbers to beat it.

So, what happens if you have to make a claim? There is a chance you won’t be covered

If your agent can’t help you add a simple production-related coverage, then that’s a red flag. Give me a call right away and ask for them to send you a copy of their policy. I can check your policy and let you know if you’ve been properly insured or duped.

How to Get the Best Film Insurance Coverage

For more information on film insurance packages, 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.

3 Film Insurance Policies Every Filmmaker Needs

April 10, 2026 by Luke Gelineau

We’ve spotlighted several different types of insurance policies for filmmakers and rental houses. Each of them protects you from issues that could arise on your set. We recommend them all, but we know that some films are on strict budgets and need to reduce premium costs as much as possible. So, here is what we consider the Top 3 Film Insurance Policies every filmmaker needs, and why.

General Liability Insurance

General Liability sits at the top of the list of ‘must-haves.’ This type of policy covers damages or injuries to third parties caused by your filming.

What does this mean?

Say somebody is walking by your set, and they fall over a cord and break their leg. They decide to sue you for damages. That would be a General Liability claim.

The same goes for the location, as well. Let’s say you are filming and you have a light set-up to shine through a window. Then, that light falls backward and breaks the window of the building next door. That is also a General Liability claim.

Accidents happen, and if you are not covered, a single incident can shut down your project. If you want a real-world example of why you need General Liability Insurance, click HERE.

Workers’ Compensation

This is one of the film insurance policies required by law, so there is no getting out of it. If you’re found involved in a claim without a valid Workers Compensation policy, then you’ll pay for the hospital and rehab bills out of your pocket. You even risk getting a fine from the state for hiring employees without Workers Compensation Insurance.

And you have to cover ANYONE working for you, even if they are contract labor.

I understand the confusion. If they just work for you for a few hours or a few days, and you’re paying them as an independent contractor, they’re not really your employee, right?

Anybody who works for you, whether they’re an independent contractor, volunteer, intern, part-time employee or full-time employee, are required by California law to have Workers Compensation coverage. It also doesn’t matter how you pay them. Pay them in cash, check, a payroll service, or don’t even pay them at all, they still need coverage under a Workers Comp policy.

And if you think you can play the odds, read this real-world story where Workers’ Compensation coverage came into play.

Errors & Omissions Insurance

General liability insurance covers damage to a third-party or their property, but what about less tangible things, like libel? E&O Insurance protects you against claims of a less tangible nature.

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

It just takes a single copyrighted photo or undocumented quote, and suddenly you find yourself in court.

Errors and omissions insurance policies typically cover the business owner, employees, and subcontractors. Each policy is industry specific. In other words, a film producer will need a different type policy than a distributor. Contact your agent to find out what type of coverage you need.