Los Angeles is a global hub for the film industry. More films are shot on location in this bustling metropolis than anywhere else in the world. As a result, the city itself has developed a streamlined approach to ensure that the many productions seeking to shoot there have a clear and comprehensive set of rules to follow when it comes to insuring their films. That is where FilmLA comes in.
In order to comply with LA’s regulations on film insurance, your production will need to follow the guidelines from FilmLA if you are working in any of the areas in which it operates (which is most of them).
The requirements will differ slightly based on the jurisdiction in which the production is being shot, but overall, here is what you need to know about how to comply with FilmLA insurance requirements for your next film shot in the city.
What Is FilmLA?
FilmLA is a non-profit organization that helps film productions coordinate the proper permits to shoot on location in multiple California jurisdictions. From sending notifications to communities impacted by upcoming shoots to proactively educating producers on filming restrictions and conflicts, FilmLA works to serve the greater entertainment industry.
Alongside its many services, FilmLA requires that productions shot within any of the areas in which it operates comply with minimum levels of insurance coverage. Productions that do not have at least this level of protection not only expose themselves to financial risk by maintaining minimal coverage but may also encounter conflict with FilmLA itself.
Insurance Policies Required Before Submitting An Application
Because FilmLA assists with acquiring the permits necessary to shoot at certain locations, it requires that the production companies with which it works provide proof of proper insurance coverage. These permits cannot be acquired until sufficient insurance evidence is presented, so FilmLA makes this process mandatory in order to streamline and speed up the permit process.
Before FilmLA will begin to review an application for a filming permit, the applicant must show proof of insurance for the following policies:
Additional Insureds
FilmLA and its officers, agents and employees must be added to a company’s film insurance through an ACORD 25 Certificate of Liability Insurance adjustment. This also includes an additional endorsement requirement for FilmLA’s directors and officers unless the production is covered by a blanket policy.
Workers’ Compensation
Every film production must come with workers’ compensation insurance. FilmLA requires employers’ liability coverage that protects no less than $1 million in losses per accident. This complies with California state law and is mandatory anyway.
General Liability
Commercial general liability coverage is required, but the coverage value depends on what sort of shoot is being conducted. For still photography only, $500,000 in protection is the minimum. However, filming (called “motion capture”) necessitates at least $1 million in coverage, and this number goes up to $5 million when aircraft are used during production.
Auto Liability
Any instance in which a production company intends to use a motor vehicle for the project makes automobile liability insurance mandatory. This is not just true of stunts involving vehicles or scenes in which characters are driving. Even the use of complementary autos such as camera cars require that the production carry auto liability coverage of at least $1 million per accident.
Cancellation
FilmLA requires that a cancellation provision be included, typically when FilmLA is added as an additional insured. This cancellation provision must include at least a 30-day notice, or 10 days in the case of non-payment for the premium required to maintain the certificate.
Insurance coverage that complies with FilmLA’s requirements must be secured from an insurer that is permitted to perform insurance services in California or comes from a broker that is licensed to write insurance policies in the state.
Acquire The Necessary Filming Insurance Policies Today
Ensuring that your next film or photo shoot complies with FilmLA’s requirements and the state’s regulations is one of the most important parts of securing proper insurance. However, your production already has a significant number of tasks and responsibilities to manage, which is why most companies will opt to rely on the expertise of a film-specific insurance company.
At MFE Insurance, we work specifically within the film production industry to ensure that our clients maintain the proper coverage to comply with FilmLA requirements. We examine the risks and scope of your project to recommend coverage levels that are right for you while remaining in compliance with FilmLA’s own stipulations, and we can guide you through the process of comprehensively insuring your production so that the risks you face are covered.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help or to get started on securing the insurance coverage you need.