Happy Spring Filmmakers! Welcome to the eleventh issue of the Johnsonese Brokerage's Film Production Insurance Newsletter. The goal of our newsletter is to provide useful information about insurance to the film and video production industry.
This week you can visit us in person at the 9th Annual Creative Chicago Expo. See below for details. And follow-us on Facebook for updates on insurance info for filmmakers between our quarterly newsletters.
At the Johnsonese Brokerage we're ready to find cost effective insurance solutions for all of your film projects. Our small business can work quickly to meet your production schedule! Contact us for all your film insurance needs. We provide same day turn around on most film production applications. And we can also issue the policy that same day!
Plus, we provide same day service for certificates of insurance. |
|
Louis Vuitton Sues Hangover II over Misidentified Bag | |
 In the Hangover II, Alan, a character played by Zach Galifianakis, says "careful, that's a Louis Vuitton," about a bag. The line went on to become a pop culture catchphrase. The trouble is that the bag used in the film is actually a knock-off.
Now Louis Vuitton has filed suit in New York against the movie's producers, and wants either a share of the profits from the film or for the bag to be altered in the DVD release.
-The High Low, December 23, 2011
This suit is an example were producer's Errors & Omissions insurance comes into play. This may be a weak lawsuit as the writer could have intended the bag to be a knock-off, using satire to highlight the character's vanity and ignorance. Nonetheless, the producer's insurance could help to pay for defending the lawsuit.
|
|
Do Filmmakers Need Cyber Liability Insurance? | |
People in the film industry may not think they have 'cyber' exposures. But what if hackers got into the server of an editing house and pulled down a copy of the next Christopher Nolan film? The hackers could put it on the Web for the world to see. This could cost the studio literally millions of dollars in opportunity costs from lost ticket, DVD, and download sales.
The likely lawsuit from this type of event could be covered by a cyber liability policy.
How about a real world example? In May of this year, a large number of music files of the late Michael Jackson were allegedly stolen from record company Sony Music by computer hackers. Sony Music had signed a $250 million deal with Jackson's estate in 2010 to release 10 albums covering previously unreleased material and his back catalogue.
If those files had been hacked from a service provider to Sony, it's very easy to imagine that the service provider could face a $250 million lawsuit.
-Chicago Tribune, March 5, 2012
|
|
Film History Lesson: Ben Hur (1907 film) |
 "Ben Hur" is a 15 minute long 1907 silent film, the first film adaptation of Lew Wallace's novel "Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ". The novel was one of the best-selling books at that time.
The movie is notable as a precedent in copyright law. The movie was made without the permission of the author's estate, which was common practice at that time. As a result of this production of "Ben Hur", the book's publisher and the author's estate brought suit against the studio and the screenwriter for copyright infringement. The US Supreme Court ultimately ruled against the studio in 1911. This ruling established the precedent that production companies must first secure the film rights of any previously published work still under copyright before commissioning a screenplay based on that work.
And this court decision also helped create the need for producer's liability (also called Errors & Omissions) insurance.
The photo is of the author Lew Wallace in his Civil War uniform.
|
|
"The Queen of Versailles" Defamation Suit |
"The Queen of Versailles" is a documentary film about the life David "the timeshare king" Siegel, his wife Jackie and their 7 kids, as they constructed their 90,000 square-foot mansion in Windermere, Florida. Trying to replicate royalty, the Siegel's home was to be a replica of Versailles - the famed palace on the outskirts of Paris.
Everything was going along great - and then the financial crisis of 2008 hit. The documentary became more about the Siegel's reversal of fortune. Original promotional material for the film included language suggesting that Seigel's business had "collapsed," the house was "foreclosed" on and the family was "destitute." Moreover, the film was described as a "rags-to-riches-to-rags" story.
Seigel, who claims his business is solvent, is suing the film's producers for defamation. The suit is asking for $75,000 in damages.
-Twin Cities Daily Planet, February 02, 2012
Errors & Omissions insurance can be especially important for documentary films because real people are portrayed, and of course they may not like the filmmaker's portrayal.
|
|
Upcoming Event: Creative Chicgao Expo 2012 | |
 For the third year running, Johnsonese Brokerage will have a booth at the Creative Chicago Expo.
Please join us March 23-24, 10am - 4pm for the two-day 9th Annual Creative Chicago Expo at the historic Chicago Cultural Center! This event brings together hundreds of arts organizations and thousands of artists across disciplines to connect, exchange information and share best practices. Admission is free--bring a friend!
Please stop by our booth with your insurance questions.
|
The Johnsonese Brokerage can assist you with most of your film and video insurance needs. To get started immediately call 773.857.0242 or Email info@johnsonese.com. Thanks, Christopher Johnson
(dba Johnsonese Insurance Agency LLC in CA)
insurance for the creative community
|
|
About the Johnsonese Brokerage | |
The Johnsonese Brokerage LLC is a licensed and bonded independent insurance agency focused on insuring creative businesses.
Who we insure:
-Production Companies
-Independent Films
-DICE Productions
-Short-Term Productions
-Editing Facilities
-Recording Studios
-Photographers
-Prop Companies
-Equipment Providers
-Costume Companies
-Film Festivals
-Special EventsWe are licensed in the states of Arizona, California (license #0G69323), Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.
How are we doing? Your feedback is always welcome! |
|
|
|
Common Insurance Terms
For property insurance policies we are required to determine the "construction type" of the building where your business is based. The options typcially are:
1. Frame
Primarily made with wood frames and joists
2. Joisted Masonry
Exterior walls are brick/ concrete/ stone but roof and floors are wood.
3. Light Non-Combustible
Exterior walls of light metal or other non-combustible material and with non-combustible floors and roofs
4. Masonry Non-Combustible
Exterior walls of masonry material and with non-combustible or slow burning floors and roofs
5. Modified Fire Resistive
Combustible materials have a fire-resistance rating less than two hours but not less than one hour
6. Fire Resistive
Combustible materials must have a fire-resistance rating of at least two hours
|
|
We Are a Trusted Choice ® Agency
Trusted Choice® agencies are insurance firms whose access to multiple companies and commitment to quality service enable us to offer our clients competitive pricing, a broad choice of products and unparalleled advocacy.
"You need an independent insurance agent"
|
Our Business Partners
-
AmWins -
AXA -
Berkley -
Chubb -
CNA -
Hartford -
Insurance Noodle -
Markel -
Philadelphia -
Risk Placement Services
|
|
We Appreciate Referrals!
As a service business, referrals are our biggest source of new clients.
If you know of any other filmmakers needing insurance, please let us know. We promise to give them the same personal and professional service that you've come to expect from the Johnsonese Brokerage. |
|
|
