Short-term cover might look like the cheaper option at first, But buying multiple short-term polices across the year often means you end up paying more. It’s like renting equipment every weekend instead of buying your own kit – convenient in the moment, but much more expensive in the long run.

Each new short-term police also comes with extra effort:

• New applications and paperwork
• Re-assessing cover terms
• Re-explaining your business model and risks
• Paying administration fees

Those cost and the wasted time quickly add up.

An annual insurance policy works like a season pass for your productions. Once policy, one premium, one set of paperwork. Whether you’re working on commercials, music videos, feature films, or episodic TV, you’re already covered.

The advantages are clear:

• Better Value: A single annual premium is usually more economical than piecing together multiple short-term covers.
• No gaps in protection: Avoid the risk of being uninsured between polices
• Time Saved: Less admin, less chasing paperwork, more focus on your work
• Stronger support: Building an ongoing relationship with your broker means better advocacy if you need to make a claim.

Productions move quickly, and opportunities often land with little notice. With an annual policy, you’re not scrambling to arrange cover at the last minute. You can take a new project knowing your insurance is already in place.

If you’re only filming once in a blue moon, hiring a camera makes sense. But as soon as you’re on set more than a couple of times a year, owning your own gear quickly becomes better value – it saves money, give you flexibility, and is always ready when you are.

Insurance works the same way. Short-term polices are like hired gear – handy for the odd project. But if you’re working even semi-regularly, an annual policy is the smarter choice: reliable, always in place, and usually far more cost-effective.

Short-term insurance is a temporary fix. Annual cover is the smarter, safer, and more cost-effective choice for anyone serious about working in film and television.

At Midland, they specialise in helping screen professionals simplify their insurance. They’ll work with you to set up an annual policy that protects your productions, save you time, and provide real value across the year.

– Written by Scott McMurtrie