Film Production Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a film production business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for production companies and single productions. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against each project's budget, hazards, and distribution requirements.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability | Covers third-party injury and damage on locations and sets; required by permit offices and locations. | Core | |
| Equipment (Owned & Rented) | Covers cameras, lighting, and grip; rental houses require it with loss payee status. | Core | |
| Third-Party Property Damage | Covers damage to locations and property in the production's care — GL often excludes it. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Covers cast and crew in every shooting state; required by unions and most contracts. | Core | |
| Errors & Omissions (Media Liability) | Covers copyright, defamation, privacy, and clearance claims; required by virtually all distributors. | Prevalent | |
| Cast Insurance | Covers extra expense if essential cast or the director can't work; often required by financiers. | Situational | |
| Faulty Stock / Negative & Data | Covers the cost to reshoot after lost or corrupted footage. | Prevalent | |
| Extra Expense | Covers added costs to finish after a covered loss (reshoots, delays). | Prevalent | |
| Hired & Non-Owned Auto / Picture Cars | Covers rented production vehicles and picture cars. | Prevalent | |
| Stunt / Pyro / Aviation / Watercraft | Specialty coverage for hazards many packages exclude. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The most commonly missed gap for this class is the difference between the production package and E&O. The package covers people, equipment, and locations during the shoot; it does not cover a claim that the finished work infringed a copyright, used an unlicensed song, or defamed a real person. Distributors require E&O, and insurers price it on the clearance file — chain of title, music licenses, and releases — so clearance should start in pre-production, not at delivery. Hazard elements such as firearms, stunts, and pyrotechnics are the other gap: they usually need to be disclosed and specifically covered, and underwriters focus on who controls them.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your film production coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Film Production Insurance · Film Production Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a film production business need?
The core coverages for a film production business are Commercial General Liability, Equipment (Owned & Rented), Third-Party Property Damage, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my film production coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.