No, the short shoot insurance (Canada) online program does not include cast insurance. Short shoot policies are intended for smaller projects that can be completed within 15 days and only require minimal coverage. Cast insurance is available for larger projects through a full production insurance package.
Cast insurance is a specific coverage available on a production insurance package. It isn’t really insurance for the cast members themselves; rather, it is coverage for the risk that cast members pose to production. Cast insurance covers budget overruns from production delays due to injury, illness, or death of a declared cast member.
For example, if you are halfway through principal photography and a cast member dies, there may be additional costs associated with completing the project. You might need to recast the role and reshoot several scenes. These extra, unanticipated costs are insurable under cast coverage.
Another, less dramatic example is cold sores. If you are shooting a romantic comedy, and your lead gets a cold sore, you may have to halt production temporarily until the cold sore heals. There are extra costs involved in the shutdown and delay (paying for locations, equipment rentals, crew, etc.) These budget overruns are insurable under cast insurance.
The names of cast can be declared to the insurance company for accident-only coverage (e.g., if the person is hit by car, fall downstairs, etc.) To obtain full cast coverage, including coverage for illness, however, cast members need to complete a medical form. The insurance company needs to understand the state of the person’s health before they will consider extending coverage. The insurer reviews the cast members’ medical, and they may provide illness coverage with some exclusions. For instance, if the actor has a known heart condition, the insurer might exclude production losses related to that condition.
Cast insurance losses can be quite large – the additional costs can be as high as the full production budget. That is why cast insurance typically comes with a minimum $10,000 deductible. On smaller budget, short shoot projects, this deductible may be prohibitive, and producers may be comfortable without cast insurance. However, if you will be producing a project where the injury, illness, or death of a cast member could result in significant budget overruns and may jeopardize your ability to complete the production, you should consider applying for a full production insurance package.
— David McLeish | Account Executive, Front Row Insurance
Adaptation courtesy of the BIPOC Credits podcast: https://shows.acast.com/bipoc-credits
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About: Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc. is an independent insurance broker that specializes in the entertainment industry – specifically, the film industry. Front Row works hard to provide insurance protection for a very low cost. Should a claim occur, Front Row works diligently with clients and insurers to expedite the payment.
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