Covering your Assets

As cash-strapped doc-makers scrutinize their budgets for places to trim costs, the legal/insurance line seems to present some potential. On some projects, these expenses account for only three to four percent of the total; on others, they run as high as 15%. The conundrum is assessing what's essential and what's not. Is E&O insurance a necessity in all territories? Should a lawyer oversee all contracts? When is kidnap and ransom insurance a wise investment? RealScreen talks to producers in three territories - the U.K., the U.S. and Australia - about what they've learned from their experiences.

May 1, 2002

As cash-strapped doc-makers scrutinize their budgets for places to trim costs, the legal/insurance line seems to present some potential. On some projects, these expenses account for only three to four percent of the total; on others, they run as high as 15%. The conundrum is assessing what's essential and what's not. Is E&O insurance a necessity in all territories? Should a lawyer oversee all contracts? When is kidnap and ransom insurance a wise investment? RealScreen talks to producers in three territories - the U.K., the U.S. and Australia - about what they've learned from their experiences.