Insurance: Who Provides It?

Necktie Boy

Well-known member
I was reading another thread about having insurance and who provides insurance for a production. These were sound mixers working on projects. They all have insurance to cover their equipment, but the question came up about who should cover damages to the equipment if something happen. Most of the that board agreed that the Producer or Production Company's insurance should pay out, not your insurance.

Let me step back, most of these sound mixer have a contact in place. May it be one day or 30 days, they have the producer or production company provide a COI(Certificate Of Insurance) to cover their equipment. If the producer or company cannot provide a COI, they will not work for the company. In other words, if something breaks, it comes out of their pocket.

Some producers and production company try to pass in the contract that it's the responsibility of the sound mixer to pay for damage equipment. Most catch the clause and cross it out.

We do carry insurance to protect us, but what about when working with a producer or production company? Is it written in your contract that if equipment is damaged, the producer or company will pay for repair or replacement? Does the producer or company freeload on our policy? What about liability? It's our policy, and will go up if when there is a claim? Is the producer or company get a free ride?

Some producers and production companies should have insurance, and should it cover you and your equipment? If not why? Shouldn't they provide coverage for us?

Some suggested to add the cost of insurance to the invoice. "Uninsured Fee of 12% of the rental total." This is from a rental house. Also the deductible is paid by the producer or company, not you, if something goes wrong.

The sound mixers are freelancers like us, working for different clients on different projects. Have you ever ask if the Producer or Production Company will cover your equipment? Asked for a COI? Liability?

Thanks
 
Also for those of you answering yes or no please list what types of jobs you are working. my experience is film type jobs are more likely to be covering equipment for those working the set. But also more likely to go with a bulk rental from a rental house instead of a freelancer.

But then again I like necktie am curious if that is what others here see.
 

Capt. Slo-mo

Well-known member
Interesting. In nearly two decades of freelance production work for a variety of production companies, I've only once had a formal contract, and it didn't mention insurance at all. Everything else has been of the nature of "hey are you available for a shoot during the week of April 5 in Passaic? Great!"

That being said, it's always been my understanding that the production company expects you to have your own insurance coverage on the gear...and some will require you to hold liability insurance as well. I've never had one offer or supply a CoI for my gear.

Of course, if a producer or other crew member supplied by the production company (or client) runs a forklift over my camera, we'd have a long conversation before any claims were submitted to my insurance company.
 

Cameradude

Well-known member
The "renter" is responsible for insurance on gear on all rentals. That's not up for debate.

On shoots where I am hired to operate my gear, I, as the contractor, am responsible for all gear I am working with when I am hired "with gear". It is my call when something is "out of bounds" and requires discussion. That is where you need to have your ducks in a row, and a waiver or your car keys in hand.
 
Top