Essential Takeaways
- DICE insurance covers Documentary, Industrial, Commercial, and Educational projects, making it widely applicable across the film industry.
- Standard DICE policies typically include general liability, equipment coverage, and errors & omissions protection, safeguarding against third-party claims, gear loss, and legal issues.
- The region’s specific risks, such as earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, snowstorms, and varying jurisdictional requirements, make DICE insurance especially valuable for productions across the U.S. and Canada.
- Business interruption coverage, drone use, underwater shoots, pyrotechnics, and stunt work may require supplemental riders or customization to establish full protection. These add-ons are often overlooked.
- Working with a specialized insurer allows filmmakers to customize DICE policies to their specific production risks, establishing compliance with local regulations and financial security in the event of unexpected setbacks.
Are you filming on-site somewhere in North America? If so, you may experience some distinct challenges that are not present in other areas of the world. From targeted insurance requirements to obtain filming permits to specific natural disaster types that could threaten your project, addressing the many production risks is essential for long-term success. The good news is that DICE insurance offers a thorough mixture of coverages to help you address the problem from multiple angles.
DICE insurance is a common type of protection in the film industry due to its versatility and accessibility. Through its proper blend of coverage and customization (with the right insurer), film studios can secure the protection they need to address the difficulties that North American sets and venues may pose. Here are the basics to help you make a wise insurance decision for your next project.
The Basics of DICE Insurance
DICE insurance stands for Documentary, Industrial, Commercial, and Educational, which are the types of film projects most commonly covered. This addresses a large swath of the film industry, making coverage accessible to many teams.
The purpose of DICE insurance is to provide multiple essential coverages in a single place. Most DICE insurance will include:
- General Liability: This overarching insurance type is often non-negotiable for film crews, as many venues or locations will not permit filming without it. General liability insurance protects against financial losses if the film crew’s activities harm a third party (or their property).
- Equipment: Equipment insurance can help pay for damage or loss of essential filming equipment. Whether due to breakdown, irreparable damage, theft, or something else, DICE can help.
- Errors & Omissions: Even carefully laid plans can go awry, and a film might accidentally run into issues with copyright, plagiarism claims, accidental trademark violations, and more. E&O insurance within a DICE policy can help address financial costs, such as legal fees.
Some DICE policies might even include protections beyond these; it depends on what you and your insurer create together.
Why North American Shoots Need DICE
North America is one of the most common places to film for many reasons, from its diversity of set and location options to the favorability of some locations for the business and logistics aspects of filming. However, this region also poses particular threats, which DICE insurance can help address.
Perhaps the most salient example is the expansive range of potential disasters that may befall a production. If your team is filming in California, you will need to consider the possibility of earthquakes and wildfires. Hurricane risks could impact a shoot in Louisiana, and a Boston backdrop might mean being snowed in or losing equipment to car crashes on icy roads.
In addition, because North America is split into many distinct jurisdictions (both within the U.S. and in other countries, such as Canada’s many provinces), a broad coverage policy such as DICE can help address multiple types of basic insurance requirements that vary by location.
Easily Overlooked Coverage DICE Can Address
DICE insurance can be customized to your needs, but many teams may overlook basic protections unless they work with a skilled insurance partner specialized in the film industry. Be on the lookout for the three primary coverages mentioned earlier that are often neglected. Another essential coverage for film productions is Business Interruption insurance.
Should your production grind to a halt due to weather, venue damage, or other unexpected delays, you could quickly lose money. Business interruption insurance can help to pay your crew while they wait, address bills such as rental extensions, and more until you can get back on track.
Similarly, many productions do not realize that certain behaviors or elements are excluded from basic policies. If you use drones, you may need enhanced coverage. If your production will go underwater, climb mountains, or require pyrotechnics and dangerous stunts, additional protections may be necessary. These can be added to DICE insurance as riders or supplemental policies, as long as you work with a reliable insurer.
Get the Insurance Your Film Project Needs
If you are planning to film in North America, it is prudent to establish that your insurance is in place beforehand. The professionals at MFE Insurance can help you understand how DICE insurance fits into your approach. Our experienced team will create a customized plan that addresses the needs of your production so that you can film with confidence. Contact MFE Insurance to get a personalized insurance strategy that covers your most significant areas of risk and makes filing claims easy.