Entertainment & Production

Overview

Entertainment & Production

The entertainment business has unique challenges when it comes to properly insuring domestic and international films and productions. Global Underwriters understands that equipment gets lost, damaged, or stolen, and that talent and crew can be injured or become ill while filming on location. We have highly customizable insurance solutions to respond and protect the special needs of the entertainment industry. Over the years, Global Underwriters has insured films and productions in some of the most dangerous and remote places in the world. Whether you are shooting a commercial in the Himalayan mountains, filming a documentary in a war zone, or producing a new reality show in the United States, Global Underwriters has you covered. We look forward to working with you on your next film or production.

Domestic Productions

Guild

SAG AFTRA and other Union guilds require that Production companies provide Travel Accident insurance if you are utilizing their personnel.

• The Guild policy provides coverage for travel to and from the production site.
• For Guild members, it also covers hazardous activities that are performed in association with the production and that are a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Accident Medical and Accidental Death & Dismemberment

• We cover location and studio shoots for any production location in the United States
• During the filming of any type of Production, Film, Commercial, or Concert Tour, there is always a risk of a medical injury and the possibility of an accidental death or dismemberment during a shoot or production.
• Coverage would be especially warranted for shoots that include Hazardous Risk exposures, such as stunts, underwater shooting, filming with live animals, weapons, pyrotechnics, etc.
• This type of policy can provide insurance coverage for Talent, Crew and/or Participants

Emergency Medical Evacuation, Repatriation, Family Reunion, and 24 Hour Multilingual Worldwide Travel Assistance Services

• Included with all packaged policies at no extra premium

General Liability

• Protects production companies from third-party claims for property damage, and personal and advertising injuries.

International Films & Productions

Guild

SAG AFTRA and other Union guilds require that Production companies provide Travel Accident insurance if you are utilizing their personnel.

• The Guild policy provides coverage for travel to and from the production site.
• For Guild members, it also covers hazardous activities that are performed in association with the production and that are a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement

Customized International Medical (Accident & Sickness), Med-Evac and Accidental Death & Dismemberment

• Worldwide coverage for any location shoots outside of the United States, including War Risk countries
• During the filming of any type of production/documentary, commercial or concert tour, there is always a risk of an accidental injury or sickness, and the possibility of an accidental death or dismemberment during a shoot or production.
• Coverage would be especially warranted for shoots that include remote locations and hazardous risks, exposures – such as stunts, underwater shooting, filming with live animals, weapons, pyrotechnics, etc.
• Optional coverage for War Risk, Political Security & Natural Disaster coverage are available.
• This policy will provide insurance coverage for Talent, Crew and/or Participants

Emergency Medical Evacuation, Repatriation, Family Reunion and 24 Hour Multilingual Worldwide Travel Assistance Services

• Included with all packaged policies at no extra premium

War Risk (Optional Addition)

• This exclusion can be removed from the customized International Medical and Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy if coverage is warranted. Underwriters must approve all locations and territories that requite war risk coverage.

Foreign General Liability & Foreign Voluntary Work Comp

Most US-based Production companies understand the legal exposures that they face while filming in the US.  However, while shooting outside of the US, production companies can face a myriad of unfamiliar laws, languages, and customs. Foreign General Liability coverage provides a defense against costly legal actions from events occurring outside of the United States borders.

• Foreign General Liability: Coverage can protect the Production Company in the event that a member of the cast or crew faces a foreign lawsuit or injury. It will protect assets that may be seized, allow for the continuation of the production, and may allow foreign judgments to be satisfied in the US.
• Automobile Liability provides contingent insurance for automobiles, including owned, non-owned, and hired.  This would provide coverage for third-party damage, damage to a vehicle, and medical bills for an injured individual.
• Foreign Voluntary Work Comp provides state-of-hire or country-of-origin Worker’s Compensation benefits to employees working outside of their Home Country or within their Home Country (if not USA).  If purchased, this benefit may pay for medical bills related to a work injury during filming, lost wages, and usually includes an Employer Liability benefit to protect the Production Company in case of a suit brought by an employee.

Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion (Crisis Management)

Global Underwriters offers customized Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion plans (group and individual) specifically designed for the entertainment industry. Film and production companies have a responsibility to protect against financial loss and liquidation, when they travel to hostile regions of the world or pursue sensitive subject matter(s) that may put them at high risk for an attack. Film and production companies also have a “duty of care” obligation to protect talent and crew by having a sound crisis management strategy that will help to prevent Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion situations and properly respond to such threats.

• Production shoots usually draw attention from the public while filming on location outside of the United States. This attention has the potential to make U.S. Nationals and/or Third Country Nationals targets for Kidnap, Ransom or Extortion, particularly in countries where there is political instability (e.g. Mexico, Middle East, South America).
• KRE insurance provides coverage for all cast and crew. This also includes access to a Crisis Management company who will manage any occurrence that may arise prior to or during the process of filming a production

Crisis Response

Global Underwriters’ Kidnap, Ransom & Extortion policies include access to 24/7 Emergency Crisis Response Services. KRE coverage is only as good as its response team, so make sure your policy includes this vital benefit/service.

Should an incident occur, the crisis response company should be the first point of contact, and they will manage the case as it unfolds. Some of their invaluable services include:

• Professional Negotiation & Communication Team.
• 24/7 Access to a multilingual operations center
• Strategic and tactical advice throughout the entire incident
• Design & implementation of crisis management response.
• Family support
• Assisting in communications with local and U.S. government officials
• Media support
• Post-incident victim support and repatriation

Our Enhanced Coverage further extends and adds several benefits/services that are unique to the KRE insurance market:

• Express Kidnap (covers kidnaps involving victims and their ATM withdrawals as ransom)
• Disappearance Investigation (covers investigation when someone goes missing)
• Travel Evacuation (covers evacuation for political or security reasons)
• Threat Response (covers expense responding to a threat of any kind)
• Business Interruption Expenses