Make Sure the Project You're Hired for Has Insurance!

I showed up on set yesterday with almost 10,000 dollars worth of lighting and camera equipment for a small student/independent film shoot. Half of the equipment wasn't even mine, but a friend's who let me borrow it under the guideline that "Insurance must be present on set."

I asked the producer, before the production ever took place, whether or not "insurance" would be present to cover any damaged equipment. He told me "yes, we can have all the paper work ready for you."

Now remember, I do not own an insurance policy on my HVX. If I break it, I pay for it. That's a guarantee I am willing to risk (I am shopping around for my own personal insurance coverage rates..i dont want to risk it for ever!) I never bothered with an insurance policy of my own, because I always made sure one was present whenever its used on set. (big mistake)

Long story short, (YESTERDAY) I show up on set, and no one knew about any insurance policy. The producer i spoke with didn't show up until later in the day...and by that time..we had already wrapped. I called him this morning ( an hour before call time) to ask him if he had insurance. he said "Yes." Then I proceed in asking why everyone is telling me "NO?" He fired back with... "well uh..NO... we dont have insurance...but we can write up a document saying we are liable of your equipment?" (THE ALARM IN MY HEAD GOES OFF) . So, i told him that I knew he was lying. I refused to bring my equipment and work any longer on set for them. It was obvious BS.

If you dont have a contract with an insurance company to cover liability... you dont have insurance! Plain and simple! I don't have insurance on my camera...they knew this...I knew this. I told them that they needed liability coverage in case anything gets damaged. All they had to do was go through our film department here on campus and receive a student liability clause. THEY DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER.


Lessons learned...

1. Don't show up on set with your own equipment until you see documentation explaining Insurance Liability Coverage

2. Insure your camera YOURSELF...just in case they LIE to you about insurance coverage (then pray to god no one breaks it or loses it in a way that isn't insured)

3. When someone tells you they have insurance....ask that you SEE the insurance.

4. Surpisingly enough....people will lie in order to take advantage of your resources


I've never did anything that resulted in a project being shut down entirely.....however....you can't really blame me on this. I was clearly lied to and taken advantage of. They actually expected me to stay with the crew and help out if they were able to accomodate other equipment. What were they gonna do...lie to someone else about an insurance policy?

We get what we deserve....lesson learned