Productions move fast, and insurance often becomes an afterthought-until something goes wrong. These mistakes can lead to costly delays, damaged reputations, and unexpected expenses. Here's why they happen and how to avoid them.

Undervalued Equipment

Many production companies assume their gear is adequately insured under a basic policy. Cameras, lenses, lighting, & grip can easily total tens of thousands of dollars. An unexpected theft or accidental damage could lead to insufficient coverage and a costly out-of-pocket expense. Tip: Keep an updated inventory with accurate replacement values (including sales tax) and schedule periodic reviews with your insurance broker for continued accuracy. Verify if a co-insurance penalty exists and understand its impact in the event of a loss. Confirm the "valuation" that is attached to your property/inland marine policy, which is typically either "Replacement Value" or "Actual Cash Value." Replacement value preferred.

Skipping Liability Coverage

The motivation to secure General Liability is largely centered around compliance. Fulfilling insurance requirements with a rental house, studio, or client, is a function of your role as a creative, but the impact of costly litigation should also be considered as you explore various insurance solutions. Commercial General Liability insures against costly litigation resulting from 3rd party bodily injury and 3rd property damage. Without it, a single mishap-like a light stand falling over and damaging the floor and/or injuring talent-will often result in litigation and reputational harm. Tip: Secure Commercial General Liability and explore limit options of $1,000,000 occurrence and $2,000,000 occurrence. A Commercial Umbrella should also be considered. The price difference between an annual GL policy and a short-term General Liability is not as significant as one might think! Speak with an insurance specialist that knows your business and can provide you with a thorough walkthrough of your options.

Ignoring Certificates of Insurance (COIs)

While its common to issue "Additional Insured" certificates to your vendors, subcontractors, and certain crew members, you should be the one collecting them too. If you don't and something goes wrong, you could be held responsible for someone else's mishap. Tip: Speak with your insurance broker about the different ways you can mitigate the risk over the course of a production. While an additional insured/loss payee COI is a powerful method of risk mitigation, a production services agreement (MSA) with favorable language is equally as effective at keeping you out of the courtroom.

Overlooking Workers' Compensation

Crew injuries are just as common on small sets as they are on large scale productions. Without Workers' Comp, medical bills and legal claims fall on you. This applies to both W2 and freelance crew members. Tip: Verify your state's legal definition of an "employee" vs an "independent contractor." Example: California - https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/faq_independentcontractor.htm .

Assuming Personal Policies Apply

Personal auto or homeowner policies rarely cover business activities. Using your own car for gear transport or storing equipment at home without proper coverage leaves you exposed. Tip: Confirm business-use endorsements or secure separate policies for production needs. Unless you're a hobbyist, it is strongly advised to purchase a Commercial Entertainment insurance policy. Productions thrive on creativity and efficiency, but overlooking insurance can turn a smooth shoot into a financial nightmare. Before your next project rolls, take the time to review your coverage with a knowledgeable broker. A few minutes now can save you thousands later.

TCP Insurance helps productions stay protected and compliant

Reach out to us at sales@tcpinsurance.com or 1-800-726-3701 to get a quote, ask a question, or explore how TCP can support your creative business. Learn more at www.tcpinsurance.com | Sales@tcpinsurance.com

For the past several months, we've been putting this Armored Truck , dubbed "Atlas", through its paces on a wild variety of productions. Restored in August; we gave the truck a much-needed major refresh, with extensive repairs of many major components, mechanical repairs & the restoration of factory functions before it was able to be road-worthy. The truck began its first production with a promotional campaign for the Amazon Prime movie "The Pickup", where we wrapped it in a one-off livery, customizing it from "head-to-tow", and brought it to every major event around California for nearly a month. After "The Pickup" project, Atlas was called upon again to promote the release of Nike's Kobe 8 Protro sneaker, on "Mamba Day", August 24th. As an organization with Southern California deep within its DNA, Malibu Autobahn was honored to honor the Lakers legend, wrapping the truck in a tasteful white & yellow livery with Kobe's logo emblazoned on the sides. In October, the armored truck was put through a long-range durability test, as we were tasked with driving the truck from Los Angeles to Las Vegas to use it as the centerpiece for the clothing brand Seventh Heaven's pop-up store at this year's ComplexCon. With the truck now in white and featuring Seventh Heaven's slime-green logos on the side, we took the truck through the Cajon Pass and the Mojave desert before we positioned the truck at their booth as the ultimate promotional tool. Ready to hit the road, this armored truck is ready for your next production, visit our armored truck page (link) to learn more. "Atlas" is just one of many vehicles in our inventory at Malibu Autobahn Picture Cars , we specialize in picture vehicles of every type and every era. From rentals, stunts, transport and more, we've got you covered on your next picture car project. Let's build something iconic. malibuautobahn.com/picture-cars Contact us: (310) 776-5163 contactus@malibuautobahn.com

We're closing out the year with our biggest event yet with over 1,250 lots of top-quality production gear up for auction. Get ready to bid on top-tier Broadcast and Cine Equipment! Whether you're gearing up for your next production or upgrading your studio, you'll find everything you need. Highlights Include: • Cameras: 12K, 6K & 4K models • Lenses: Broadcast & Cine, including 4- Fuji Cabrio 20-120's, a Fuji 24-180mm PL 4K+    Cine Zoom & a Fuji 18-85mm PL 4k+ Cine Zoom Lenses • Production Trailer: 53' Expando unit • Audio: 350+ lots featuring 100 Shure wireless mics • Monitors: OLED, Graphics, Color Critcal & CRT selections • Projectors: Multiple high-end models • Lighting & Grip: 350+ lots, with grip gear making up nearly half • Terminal Gear: Several Tricaster panels and much more Bidding Opens: December 5th Live Online Auction Closes: December 10th starting at 8am PST • Bidding opens: Friday, December 5 • Live auction closes: Wednesday, December 10 starting at 8 AM PST Don't miss your chance to score unbeatable deals on professional gear. Jump into the action and discover your next production upgrade at Broadcast Video Auctions! www.BroadcastVideoAuctions.com

Check out the latest additions to our store! Ice Skating Snowman Family Set of 4 $4,679.00 Shop now Gingerbread Family Statues Set of 4 $2,799.00 Shop now Santa's Sleigh Photo Op Over Sized Statue $3,999.00 Shop now Comic Christmas Turkey Statue $1,369.00 Shop now Santa's Mailbox on Stand Life Size Statue $1,369.00 Shop now

Back In-Stock

Our most popular items are back White Royal Stag Deer No Base Life Size Statue $1,599.00 Shop now Silver Reindeer Standing Life Size Statue $1,149.00 Shop now Red Trumpet Toy Soldier Statue $1,349.00 Shop now Nutcracker Candy Cake Statue $1,599.00 Shop now Green Lamp Post Life Size Statue $949.00 Shop now

Los Angeles, CA - October 20, 2025 - SmartSource, a leading provider of production technology and IT solutions, has relocated its Los Angeles branch to a larger facility at 13920 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061. The move provides the team with significantly more warehouse capacity to stage, prep, and turn around gear for time-critical productions across Southern California and beyond. Located just a few miles from the company's longtime Hawthorne site, the new space doubles the local footprint, supporting faster service, deeper inventory, and parallel configurations for multiple clients. SmartSource supports studio lots and location shoots throughout the U.S. and Canada for major studios such as Warner Bros., with the rapid deployment of production laptops and workstations, tablets, high-speed printers/scanners, networking, and onsite/remote IT services. Offerings include custom imaging at scale, white-glove delivery, and 24/7 support designed for the pace of production. "Our goal was simple: move into a space that matches the scale and speed our clients demand," said Cesar Cadena, Operations Manager, Los Angeles. "With expanded inventory and streamlined logistics, we can turn orders faster, support more concurrent projects, and keep productions moving." Cadena added, "Huge thanks to the LA team-this transition happened while we stayed heads-down serving clients. With more room to grow, we're ready for what's next."

It was an incredible experience bringing our widebody airliner set to New Mexico for a couple months of shooting on Vince Gilligan's PLUR1BUS. Check it out now on Apple TV. Have a project involving airliners, private jets, or helicopters? Reach out to Shoot Aviation US, we have what you need. Shoot Aviation U.S (818) 398 - 6791 www.shootaviation.com

San Francisco, CA - In early October, 4Wall Entertainment and Metro Media Productions teamed up to bring California Nurses Association's vision to life at the 2025 Global Nurses Solidarity Assembly with a large-scale lighting, video, decking, and technical services package. CNA, which hosts gatherings to promote nurses' values and celebrate unionization initiatives, partnered with Metro Media Productions to transform its mission into an invigorating experience across San Francisco's Marriott Marquis hotel and Yerba Buena Gardens. "Event themes are developed based on strategic goals for the union, its place as a leader in the union movement, and the daily experiences of nurses in the workforce," Metro Media Production Manager Paul Tisa said. "Concepts like 'resistance' and 'resilience,' which were the thematic cornerstones of their 2025 convention, reflect those positions." Tisa spearheaded the approach with 4Wall to create a vibrant atmosphere that embodied CNA's vision throughout the event, from keynotes, discussion panels, and general sessions held at the hotel, to live performances and a cocktail party. "We collaborate with our technology partners to create an experience that enhances the client's event and communication goals," Tisa explained. "4Wall's lighting and video designers are critical to the process of equipment selection and system design." Essential to the event's immersion was an animated sequence that played across numerous LED walls with Absen PL2.5 Pro LED Panels and a full-video system. "The client, in conjunction with the production team, developed a thematic animation linked to a spoken-word song that anchored the event," Tisa explained. "The animation was used to introduce keynote presentations and discussion panels. A key part of the event's success was the visual experience of watching the animation on the wall-to-wall video display installed by the 4Wall team." In addition to the video walls spanning across both venues, themes of resilience and resistance shone through a warm color palette with CHAUVET Professional Maverick MK3 Wash, Maverick MK3 Profile, Color Strike M, and Vari-Lite VL3600 Profile fixtures. 4Wall utilized Elation Artiste Monet Profiles and Chauvet Maverick Force S Spot LEDs to bathe the Marriott Marquis' atrium in gold, red, and white while illuminating the break rooms with deep shades of red and pink. For Yerba Buena Gardens' stage and dance floor setup, the crew incorporated Maverick Storm 2 BeamWash fixtures, ACME Pixel Line fixtures, LED panels, and a steel deck package. "Lighting design, in conjunction with the video wall display, was central to creating an immersive guest experience," he said. "Our 4Wall LD [INSERT NAME] did a fantastic job working with our color and branding themes throughout the event space to create a unique and memorable space for our client." The installation of a larger citywide event posed a challenge for the crew, as it nearly impacted delivery schedules. Because 4Wall's logistics teams were operating both events, coordination with local IA and Teamster unions was crucial in preventing potential delays. "I love logistics, so a standout moment was watching the results of pre-production planning by the production team and 4Wall designers lead to a successful, on-time installation of the general sessions, despite a challenging timeline and load-in schedule," Tisa expressed. Tisa attributed 4Wall's expansive resources, expertise, and positivity throughout the endeavor as integral parts of the event's success. "One of the reasons we selected 4Wall is because of their prep work before arriving on site. Our timelines are tight and critical to our success, so prepared lighting systems, like Tyler GT Truss, were prepped, addressed, and programmed prior to site arrival," Tisa concluded. "The video wall team that vetted the system components and prepared to integrate the design with our crew ensured a quick and seamless installation. The entire team was professional, positive, and committed to being our partner." Lighting Design: Devin Cruickshank Programming: David Dibbs Photography: Queens Candid Photography Further information about 4Wall Entertainment: 4wall.com