Calling all agents! Have you got your head around who is responsible for what cover on and off set? Do you know which liabilities you need in place for yourself, and what cover your artists should have? We are here to help. Today we talk you through all the considerations for both yourself and those on your roster, to make sure everyone’s business keeps running smoothly and hassle free.

Firstly, here’s the cover every AGENT should have in place:

Cancellation / Reshoot

If you are the principal producer on the shoot, in most cases, the responsibility to cover any costs incurred if the shoot has to be partially or fully reshot lies with you. Your client or the advertising agency you are working with may have cover but unless they specify that to you, it is safer to assume that the responsibility for insuring this lies with you.

Cover is split into three main areas:

Cast. This includes the non-appearance of essential crew in your budget. Media Production insurance covers you in instances of sickness, accident or death. Commercial Producers’ Indemnity covers you should a problem occur with your cast for any reasons beyond your control. 

Production Media. As the name suggests, this covers you in instances of loss or damage to production media, for examples theft or corruption of a memory card.

Extra Expenses. This includes loss or damage to key equipment, props or the location.

Liabilities

If you are the principal producer handling the shoot, in most cases liability claims will be made against you because you are ultimately responsible for everything that happens on set. You will be responsible for carrying out risk assessments and ensuring that everyone is kept safe at all times.

Employers Liability. If you have any employees or freelancers under your care, for example assistants or runners, Employers’ Liability protects you should they be injured at work. 

Public Liability. This protects you if anyone is injured on set, or someone’s property is damaged. 

Equipment & Props insurance 

In the majority of cases, the agency running the shoot will arrange cover for any hired property brought in for the shoot.

Professional Indemnity insurance 

This covers you for any claims alleging you have been professionally negligent. It includes complaints including the quality of your work, copyright infringement and breach of copyright.

Travel insurance

For overseas shoots, you will need travel insurance in place for yourself and all of your employees. If you are arranging the travel and accommodation for all of the crew, it is also possible to arrange travel insurance for the whole crew under one single policy.

Cyber insurance 

This covers you for any costs you incur as a result of a cyber attack on your systems.

First party costs protects you should you incur costs associated with business interruption, breach response or data recovery.

Third party liability protects you in instances of needing to reimburse clients or suppliers after being unable to provide your services, after transmitting a virus or losing their data. 

Secondly, these are the covers your ARTISTS must have in place: 

It’s important to note here that an agent’s policies will not extend to cover claims against your artists if they are negligent in their work. They should have their own insurance in place. Making sure your artists are suitably protected also ensures that your clients do not pursue claims against you when your artists make a mistake which will cost you both time and money.

We suggest your artists have the following covers in place, as a minimum:

• Public Liability
• Professional Indemnity
• Employers Liability (if they have employees or hire assistants)

They should also look to arrange the following cover:

• Equipment. To cover their own kit whilst at home, stored in a studio and on shoots.
• Travel. If they are working overseas on a job and this is not provided by the production company or agency organising the shoot.