Aon/Albert G. Ruben Releases Global Risks in Filmmaking Map

Aon/Albert G. Ruben, an insurance broker for the entertainment industry, released its Global Risks in Filmmaking map that measures major risks, including crime, organized crime and corruption, kidnap and ransom, disease risk and medical care, and assigns an overall risk-level to countries around the world.

“We have all heard horror stories about productions that were caught in political unrest or encountered extortion that delayed the project and in some cases forced relocation of the film,” said Chris Palmer, director of risk control for Aon/Albert G. Ruben. “This map is a guide to help filmmakers identify potential threats before choosing locations.”

The map was created by risk experts at Aon/Albert G. Ruben who measured global risks specific to filmmaking by compiling data from a variety of sources, including U.S. Consular Affairs, Overseas Security Advisory Council, Diplomatic Security Services, CIA personnel and publications, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization and other public information.

The Risks in Global Filmmaking map measures the following risks:
* Crime: including theft, robbery, street crime and assault.
* Organized Crime and Corruption: reflecting the likelihood that business will be affected by bribery, extortion or threats from organized crime elements or government corruption.
* Kidnap and Ransom: identifying the kidnap and ransom risk participants in filmmaking may encounter.
* Disease Risk: reflecting the prevalence and need for vaccination for epidemic, communicable and/or tropical diseases.
* Medical Care: measuring the extent to which medical care is available and meets modern standards.

In addition to measuring these risks, the map also highlights discrepancies within countries where threats may vary between regions. It also identifies those countries that are experiencing political risks, including political violence, civil war, strike and/or terrorism to name a few.

There are obvious high-risk locations for filmmakers including Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, however some not-so-obvious regions of the world currently pose considerable risks for film productions. For example:

* Brazil: There is an extreme crime risk for filmmakers in major cities throughout the country, although it is lower in rural areas. Medical care in the country is also not up to modern standards and the kidnap and ransom threat is high in major cities.

* Chechnya: The kidnap and ransom risk is extreme in Chechnya, and although medical care is good in major cities, it is poor elsewhere. Organized crime in Russia also has significant impact on business and a significant terrorism threat from Chechen separatists exists in the country.

* Jammu/Kashmir: Instability in Jammu/Kashmir can cause problems for filmmakers in India. In addition, the terrorism threat is high throughout the country due to Kashmir separatism. There is good basic medical care in major cities, but it is very limited in other areas.

The Risks in Global Filmmaking map takes a snapshot of the current global situation. However, because the global landscape is changing everyday, Aon/Albert G. Ruben will provide risk updates throughout the year. For current updates, please visit: www.aon.com/albertgruben/globalfilmrisk.

Topics Aon