Film production is a very different experience to film watching. Creating the entertainment we love is full of risks, stress and filming accidents. Anyone involved in the filming industry will agree things never go as planned, and there are always hiccups on the way.
Safety on set is crucial, but no matter how safe the crew, cast and production team are, filming accidents still occur. Filming accidents can ruin projects or disturb the timeline, resulting in financial loss and possible set shutdowns.
Film producers and the team should understand and be aware of possible filming accidents and how to avoid them. Every filmmaker should consider investing in an adequate risk management plan to help prevent and deal with unpredictable threats.
One of the best filming risk management includes insurance. Hence, this article will discuss common filming accidents and how film insurance can protect filmmakers against these risks.
What is Film Insurance?
Film insurance, also known as filmmaking insurance, is a policy that focuses on financially covering film accidents that result in injuries, damage and lawsuits. The insurance covers various filming projects such as movies, television series, commercials, documentaries and music videos.
Film production companies can purchase short-term policies that cover one project or annual policies that cover numerous projects in a year. The filming business should purchase the insurance before the shooting begins.
Additionally, the film production team must communicate everything about the project to the insurance company to ensure all film risks are covered. Most film insurance policies cover the possible common film accidents that may occur on any set.
But what are these filming accidents, and could they occur on your set?
Common Filming Accidents
Equipment Accidents
A typical filming set involves a long list of equipment that is either rented or owned by the production team. Essential filming equipment includes cameras, microphones, lights and more. Each piece of equipment can be costly, and the crew must handle it carefully.
When filming equipment breaks, the film producer must replace or repair the equipment as soon as possible to avoid a long delay. Quick repair or replacement can result in a hefty bill and disturb the budget.
These costs may be too high to continue for new filmmakers or small production teams, which leads to indefinite delays. Unfortunately, they can occur at any point of filming due to negligence, human accidents, weather and more.
Fortunately, when filmmakers purchase film insurance, they don’t need to worry as much about the financial loss due to equipment damage. The policy will cover when equipment is damaged, lost or even stolen. The insurance will reimburse the costs of repair or replacement. However, the insurers must have a list of all the equipment the film will use on set. If a piece of equipment is not on the list, it may not be covered.
Third-Party Accidents
Many filming projects shoot in different locations and work with the site to get their shot. When filming in different areas, they must get permission before shooting. The permission contract communicates that none of the property must be damaged.
The site, property and the public not owned or hired by the company are known as third-party. Unfortunately, when filming, there can always be the chance of damage to a third party, which can lead to third-party lawsuits.
The filming accident could include the shooting injuring a member of the public or damaging the location. For example, an action movie explosion can do both, and the film producer is liable for medical, compensation and settlement costs.
These situations are devastating and accidental; fortunately, film insurance can help resolve these accidents. The insurance will cover the costs of claims resulting from third-party injuries or property damage. The insurance will reimburse medical, compensation and legal expenses. Film insurance can increase the chance of getting permission to shoot in various locations.
Crew Accidents
The crew is the backbone of the set; without the right crew, the project may not succeed. There are always possibilities a crew member will get injured or ill due to the film set and activities. The film producer and production team are liable for the crew and must ensure they are cared for.
Crew accidents can include crew members tripping over wires, getting hit by falling props, or handling risky equipment. The injuries are always unpredictable and, can occur to any crew member. They are at as much risk as the cast and maybe more due to the amount of excessive work.
When the crew accident occurs, the project will be disturbed, and the production business will have to pay medical expenses and compensation. A crew member may also sue the production company if they believe the injury was due to negligence.
Film insurance is the ideal risk management cover for such filming accidents. The insurance will cover crew injuries or illnesses by reimbursing the medical and compensation costs. The insurance will also cover legal fees if the crew member sues the production team. Film insurance can save the filmmaker financially and help care for their crew.
Cast Accidents
A film cast is any actor or actress who helps convert a script into a visual reality through acting. Much like crew liability, film producers are liable for the safety of the cast. Cast safety is typically a top priority when shooting a project, but sadly, things always go wrong.
There are countless examples of cast injuries on actual movie sets. Cast injuries could occur due to stunts, faulty equipment, or freak accidents. Even with the best stunt coordinator, these film accidents can still occur. Cast member injuries cause the filming to pause and delay. The delay results in significant financial loss plus medical costs.
A cast member may be unable to work on their other projects due to the filming injury, which may force them to sue the production company for compensation.
Film insurance is the perfect protection when there are cast film accidents on set. The insurance will cover the costs of cast injuries, such as medical expenses, compensation, project delay, and financial loss. Film insurance helps take care of the injured cast and the production delay. The insurance will also help battle any lawsuits that result from cast injuries. However, the insurance may not cover some high-level stunts and types of action projects.
Copyright Infringement
Filmmakers have the duty to create something unique unless they have the correct rights to an existing project. However, as said, “great minds think alike”; there is always a chance a filmmaker accidently copies an existing project.
When another creator or business feels that a filmmaker has copied their project, they can take legal action. Film production companies may face copyright claims alleging unauthorised use of titles, characters, ideas, formats, or media.
There are various cases where famous movies and production companies have been sued for copyright. Even if the filming accident is minimal, the company will still be liable and must pay hefty settlements.
Film insurance will cover copyright claims and the following legal costs. The insurance will reimburse legal fees and settlements to help the film production company recover. However, film insurance will not cover any claims if the plagiarism was intentional.
Why Does Every Filmmaker Need Film Insurance?
Film accidents can occur at any point in the movie or after. Production companies must be aware of these possible accidents and have film insurance beforehand. Insurance is always the best risk management in the industry to cover unforeseen situations.
Insurance will protect not only the film producer’s budget but also the project and the members involved. It is the perfect financial protection to deal with the accident and recover to create the best project.
Additionally, when a company has film insurance, its reputation automatically increases. The insurance provides an image of care for the cast, crew, equipment and third party. Companies will be more lenient to rent out equipment or allow shooting in their location.
When filming any type of project, there is always a risk of things going wrong and costing too much, but with insurance, filming accident stress can be reduced and dealt with efficiently.
To learn more about film insurance and protect your projects from film accidents, contact Red Asia Insurance.
