When is a Broker Review Not Feasible on Indie Contracts & What's the 'Plan B'?

A broker review of all contracts isn't feasible in indie production when you're dealing with micro-budget projects or extremely tight turnaround times for specific, low-risk vendors where the cost or delay of a full review outweighs the potential benefit for that specific transaction. I've been in situations on indie features where we were scrambling to get a color correction suite booked, or bringing on a freelance DIT for a single day, and the production team simply pushed through with standard vendor contracts without a broker's eye. While risky, for these smaller, less complex agreements, our 'Plan B' usually involved thoroughly reading the contract ourselves, specifically scrutinizing insurance clauses (like required COIs and minimum liability limits), payment terms, and intellectual property assignments. We'd double-check against industry norms and any boilerplate language we'd seen in previous, broker-approved contracts. It's not ideal, but for equipment rentals from smaller houses or quick freelance agreements, it's sometimes the only way to keep moving without delaying a shoot. The guide's emphasis on comprehensive insurance still stands, but practical application often means making judgment calls on a case-by-case basis. You can find more about the importance of thorough insurance practices at https://blockreeldao.com/blog/production-insurance-2026-cois-bonds-drone-coverage-guide-everything-filmmakers-need-to-know. What are others' experiences with managing contract review on demanding indie schedules?