Make Sure The Project You're Hired for Has Insurance !

D

Domis Entertainment

Active member
I showed up on set yesterday with almost 10,000 dollars worth of lighting and camera equipment for a small student/independent film shoot. Half of the equipment wasn't even mine, but a friend's who let me borrow it under the guideline that "Insurance must be present on set."

I asked the producer, before the production ever took place, whether or not "insurance" would be present to cover any damaged equipment. He told me "yes, we can have all the paper work ready for you."

Now remember, I do not own an insurance policy on my HVX. If I break it, I pay for it. That's a guarantee I am willing to risk (I am shopping around for my own personal insurance coverage rates..i dont want to risk it for ever!) I never bothered with an insurance policy of my own, because I always made sure one was present whenever its used on set. (big mistake)

Long story short, (YESTERDAY) I show up on set, and no one knew about any insurance policy. The producer i spoke with didn't show up until later in the day...and by that time..we had already wrapped. I called him this morning ( an hour before call time) to ask him if he had insurance. he said "Yes." Then I proceed in asking why everyone is telling me "NO?" He fired back with... "well uh..NO... we dont have insurance...but we can write up a document saying we are liable of your equipment?" (THE ALARM IN MY HEAD GOES OFF) . So, i told him that I knew he was lying. I refused to bring my equipment and work any longer on set for them. It was obvious BS.

If you dont have a contract with an insurance company to cover liability... you dont have insurance! Plain and simple! I don't have insurance on my camera...they knew this...I knew this. I told them that they needed liability coverage in case anything gets damaged. All they had to do was go through our film department here on campus and receive a student liability clause. THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER.


Lessons learned...

1. Don't show up on set with your own equipment until you see documentation explaining Insurance Liability Coverage

2. Insure your camera YOURSELF...just in case they LIE to you about insurance coverage (then pray to god no one breaks it or loses it in a way that isn't insured)

3. When someone tells you they have insurance....ask that you SEE the insurance.

4. Surpisingly enough....people will lie in order to take advantage of your resources


I've never did anything that resulted in a project being shut down entirely.....however....you can't really blame me on this. I was clearly lied to and taken advantage of. They actually expected me to stay with the crew and help out if they were able to accomodate other equipment. What were they gonna do...lie to someone else about an insurance policy?

We get what we deserve....lesson learned
 
Even if you DO have insurance, be cautious about working on an uninsured production (aside from standard videographer work), in case property gets damaged or an injury occurs, where someone may go after YOU by the mere fact that you were the only one with insurance to begin with! I turned down a project yesterday for this reason- I'll cover my own equipment if I'm the sole user, but will not take responsibility for the rest of the production.
 
We have our own insurance and it's not uncommon for a facility to ask for a copy of YOUR insurance rider as well.
But yeh, the fact that they lied is a sign of more potential slimyness! :(
 
Our insurance covers not only equipment but liability and medical expenses for injury. We are also covered if we rent any of our stuff out. The coverage is only good within North America at the moment. There are exclusions for fungi and fungal derivatives, asbestos, pollution, cyber risk and terrorism.

So if a pollution emitting, cyber hacking terrorist in a fungi covered asbestos suit is injured on our set while trying to steal our gear, we're screwed!
 
You can request either a declarations page (proof of their insurance, including coverages, theoretically in-force) or a certificate of insurance naming your interest(s) as loss-payee.

Asking questions will net you no guarantee and does not make a contract.

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Please read my post on my stolen equipment, covered by hotel insurance.

It would be interesting to poll, DVXUsers about this insurance topic, and make a survey of efficient mobile pro grar equipment both in the US and Europe.

I precisely described the security protocol t obe applied by local organizer/hotel, and was present to all doors locking/unlocking...
... Except one, unattended, where responsability was clearly transfer to organizer (Written conditions before flying there).

It was no discussion, Insurance is about to re-imburse me very quickly.

Based on that, I will add some anti-theft gear to my mobile stuff, and written security & policy agreement will be even more tight.
 
1st mistake you made....allowing them to even shoot that first day.

Gotta put your foot down. NO gear will be used until paperwork is seen. The producer will feel really stupid when they get outed like that in front of their crew.
 
So who insures you and what type of policy is it? Can I just call my State Farm insurance agency, or are there specific insurance companies that specialize in covering "on site" type stuff.
 
I've got a simple "renters insurance" through Erie Insurance that gives me full coverage up to $16k (I don't have much gear yet). The cool thing about the insurance plan I've got is that it covers the replacement cost, not depreciated value of all the equipment. It also covers the equipment if its stolen, dropped/broken, destroyed by lighting, fire, flood, etc. And they cover my equipment regardless of where it is: doesn't have to be in the studio or at my house. It could be in my truck, someone else's vehicle, in the field, anywhere. Even covers it if I'm not the one using it... Total cost to me for this insurance: $12/month! (It helps to have a really good friend who's an insurance salesman!)
 
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