Established Documentary filmmakers ... HELP!!! "E & O Insurance" ... Do I call for it? How can I acquire it?
I would love to talk to a documentary filmmaker who have had their work distributed & made profit from it ... who know all going on for "E & O Insurance", and could help me to know if I stipulation it ... and if so, how to go in the region of getting it for my documentary.
If you think you can be of greater assistance and would approaching to chat in detail in the order of the topic ... please post your email address & I'll get backbone with you. THANKS!
Answers:
E&O insurance is errors and omission insurance. It simply covers you against liable, slander and all those other wonderful lawsuits that will come to bite you contained by the butt if your film is successful.
Do you entail it? Depends on what you plan on doing with the picture. If your documentary is a class project for a grade, don't sweat it. If it's a show your making for film festival... again, you probably don't have to verbs about it. It's when you want to put up for sale it that you will need it. (And I regard you can purchase it at the time of sale.) This will protect the distributor from lawsuits contained by case things be improperly portrayed within your film.
How soon you should be thinking of this also depends on your subject event. If you're doing a film almost your family, later you probably won't have a problem next to complying with E&O. But enunciate you did a film just about Jim Morrison... oh boy, that's one fun estate you'll love to negotiate with!
From what I recognize, a rep will go over the completed motion picture and find every and any possible problem with your audio and optical composition. Did you get clearance to use "Super freak" that's overheard during the interview? Or do you enjoy the okay to show the Budweiser sign behind the guy conversation?
Documentary filmmakers who have made a profit? Wow, that should demarcate your possible suspects to just a handful. Most doc filmmakers do docs because they can find funding from a foundation, because they can practice their craft, or because they have a commitment for the material. Doing it for a profit is thoroughly, very difficult. hope this help.
see link for more info.
OK, I've sold tons of this stuff.
You solely "need" it if you want a station to pick up and/or air it. Or if anyone is charging entrance to show it.
A couple of places you can go to bring this coverage:
http://www.mediaprof.com/
http://www.dewittstern.com/
And Chubb has a GREAT little bunch, if you fit their qualifications.
You will own to work through an agent licensed to do business in your state. I've get a GREAT PA connection, if that fits - www.kelins.com super promptly response time, but they're ONLY licensed in PA.