Insurance for Library?
 

I am shooting a short, and I scouted out a public restroom at a small public library here in Seattle to use in my short. I have a friend who works there, so he requested permission for us to use their bathroom for about 8-10 hours.
They told him we would need insurance.
Since this is my first attempt at making a film, I have never experienced this aspect. Does anybody know where I could look for insurance for a crew of two people who are probably only using 2 lights in a super-small production?? I don't suppose my renters' insurance covers this?
I really wnated to shoot this weekend, so I am frantically searching for a solution. Thanks!

Talk to the "they" and find out what insurance is needed. Most likely it would be liability insurance and perhaps workmen's comp for your crew so the library woudn't be responsible for injury to anyone occuring on their premesis as a result of your being there. Its very doubtful your renters insurance will do it. Then call your insurance agent.

I've worked in libraries for about four years now and have shot in them numerous times. I would recommend that instead of your friend you should see if you can set up an appointment with the branch manager and just politely explain what you are doing and if you can do it after-hours in a supervised setting. Since you want the weekend and the library doesn't open until ten and closes at six this should make it easier.

Many times they won't mind letting you in before the library opens to shoot your scene and somtimes people are excited by the aspect of "being a part of a movie."

Good luck.

Alec,
That's very encouraging...and a wise idea. I probably need a good 8 hours of filming in the bathroom, though.

And they're going to close off the bathroom for 8 hours during business hours? I can just see it - just as you call "action" someone rushes in singing to themselves "Gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now ..." LOL

You might have better luck arranging to shoot during hours the library is otherwise closed. Way back when, did a shoot in a busy shopping mall. We came in a couple of hours before the mall closed and were locked in for the night at closing time. Once the customers had left and we had a quiet set we began shooting, wrapping the next morning at 9am just before they reopened.

When it comes to insurance, you can never have enough. I personally like using http://www.aeinsurance.com/ for my needs.

heath

if you need to shoot in the bathroom of the library why dont you find another bathroom that is similiar to what you're looking for. if you have problems with permission form the library just look for a school that might let you.. the finished product would be the same.

I agree--I shoot exteriors of one place and it cuts nicely with interiors of another. We were shooting at one college years ago for a film, but the bathrooms weren't private enough, so we shot at a community college, and it cut together nicely.

hwm