Conducting a film shoot is a challenging undertaking, no matter what type of film is being created. Documentary producers can often feel left out of larger conversations about the film industry since much of what they do is different than something such as shooting an action movie. However, just like any other type of film production, documentaries benefit from robust, comprehensive insurance coverage.
Here is what you should know about how annual production insurance can protect documentary producers, including some of the unique risks faced by this niche of the industry.
Do Documentary Producers Need Insurance?
In short—yes, documentary producers need insurance in the same way that any type of film production must carry certain protections. For example, general liability insurance is mandatory when shooting for film. However, documentary productions tend to include certain practices and challenges that place them in the face of risks not commonly faced by other types of film projects.
For example, documentaries are almost always shot outside of a studio set. When venturing into the world, engagement with the public is essentially guaranteed, and with this exposure comes increased risk.
Similarly, documentary producers also face a slightly elevated chance of logistical hurdles during production. Anything from an involved party withdrawing consent to losing access to a critical filming site can hinder or even completely stop filming from continuing. In these situations, the production company will be facing a significant financial loss without the protection offered by insurance.
Because documentaries are prone to certain types of costly risks, it is wise to secure insurance before shooting begins. However, this can become even more complicated if the producers are shooting more than one project per year.
Annual Production Insurance Policies For Documentary Production
For many documentary producers, annual production insurance is the most convenient and comprehensive option for insuring their films. Annual production insurance is meant to cover all productions within a year, which gives producers the freedom to work on multiple projects simultaneously. As a bundle product, annual production insurance combines coverage across multiple spectrums, such as:
Workers’ Compensation
If an employee is injured during filming, workers’ compensation insurance protects the production company from liability and can pay for their recovery. This may include compensation while they take time off to covering the costs of physical therapy while they heal.
Errors & Omissions
Documentaries can be at particular risk of liability through misrepresentation, negligence, and violation of good faith. Errors & omissions insurance offers protection against certain situations, such as when the family of an involved party claims that the documentary misrepresents their living family member or invades their privacy. In some instances, including film reel of a person in the background who did not consent to be videoed or included may fall under this umbrella as well.
Equipment Insurance
Due to the public nature of filming documentaries, equipment is at greater risk. Many expensive items are required to remain in public view, and in areas with significant foot traffic, it is easier for bad actors to poach items than it is on a private set. Equipment insurance secures against such financial losses for replacement.
General Liability
A must-have for any film production, documentary producers should invest in general liability insurance because documentaries are more prone to liability issues with the public. For example, the cords attached to filming equipment can cause a bystander to trip when filming on-site. Most locations that provide film permits will not issue those permits until the producer can provide evidence of sufficient coverage under a general liability insurance policy.
These are just a few of the many types of insurance coverages that are critical when shooting a documentary. Because annual production insurance works as a bundle, it is important to review the specific coverages in any production insurance package that you are considering.
Make sure that all of the basic risks are covered. Then, work with an expert insurer to obtain additional protection for areas that are unique to your project. For example, if you need protections for specific vehicles that are being used during production, it may be possible to add a rider to compensate for this need.
Get Comprehensive Insurance Coverage For Your Production
Whether you are filming your first documentary or you are working on multiple projects simultaneously, be sure to insure them properly to safeguard your studio from unnecessary risk. Our experts work closely with film industry professionals to create the ideal blend of annual production insurance coverage for their unique needs.
Contact us to discuss our film insurance products and share the concerns that are specific to your documentary shoots.