Like any business venture, making a feature film, television show or commercial brings liability and risk. Accordingly, before starting an application for a film permit, one needs to start shopping for insurance. But how much insurance should filmmakers buy and who/what does it have to cover?
FilmL.A. and the City of Los Angeles are working to accelerate permit processing by making film insurance requirements easier to understand. Starting last month, FilmL.A. introduced new sample ACORD 25 Certificates preloaded with the different coverage requirements for FilmL.A. and the many jurisdictions we serve. The new sample forms join long-maintained lists of Film Insurance Guidelines and Film Insurance Providers available on the FilmL.A. website.
The City of Los Angeles has also made its own strides in simplifying insurance planning, review and approval. The City recently implemented Track4LA, a self-service insurance verification system. Track4LA is intended for use by insurance brokers and allows online submission of film company insurance documents on a 24/7 basis. Documents submitted using Track4LA also receive instant electronic approval from the City’s Risk Management office.
“With insurance requirements becoming increasingly complex, we realized that there was more we could do to assist permit applicants,” said Susan Angrisano, FilmL.A. VP of Permit Administration. “Customers have called us just to say how happy they are with the new sample forms and City process; they’ve been called time-savers — and even life-savers — but whatever you call them, we’re glad they make getting a permit to film even easier.”