Producing a creative project of any size will have challenges, but identifying prospective concerns and reputational risks as early as possible can save production time and money. An important part of any risk mitigation strategy, and a basic standard of care for all productions, is conducting background checks on all stars and participants, including any featured celebrities, influencers, or public figures.
While some might think that background checks only look into criminal history, specialized background check companies like Checkers International have teams of seasoned researchers who conduct all types of checks, including social media and internet checks. It’s especially important for production companies to utilize a provider with expertise in identifying risks that are particularly relevant to the entertainment industry, running comprehensive celebrity background checks, and protecting a wide spectrum of interested parties from legal and reputation risks, including networks and streamers, production companies, investors, sponsors, talent, and more.
Background checks are crucial for unscripted projects, where the cast’s personalities and histories can significantly impact the production. Even with well-known celebrities, conducting thorough due diligence checks is invaluable. Checkers International has specialized in social media and internet checks for the entertainment industry since 2008 when there were only a small handful of social media platforms. It is imperative to work with a background check supplier who is adept at navigating the ever-changing social media and cultural landscape to review candidates’ online activity in order to flag content that would be relevant to the various stakeholders.
Celebrity and internet culture have evolved together, creating an ecosystem where fans and critics alike can request, exchange, and discuss information at record speed. Depending on the popularity of your candidate, contributors to subreddits, forums, and lively comment sections may have documented potentially controversial content associated with the candidate. This can include serious matters such as allegations of misconduct, adult content, legal troubles, controversial points of view, or other types of behavior that may upend the final product that production invested significant time and money in creating.
Media and internet background checks go beyond surface-level social media reviews to uncover less obvious risks, aggregating information from across the internet. Whether sourced from popular platforms, discussion boards, or journalistic outlets, analyzing information from a range of sources creates a more well-rounded understanding of a candidate’s reputation.
Although celebrities and public figures may try to maintain a calculated personal brand, there may still be facets of their online presence that are not as “clean.” For example, a celebrity background check may find a tagged post that reveals a wealth of information purposefully not put forward by the candidate. Whether it’s provocative sponsorships, associations, or content, in-depth media research may uncover unique controversial materials and present them in a digestible report for television networks and production teams to evaluate.
Those involved in productions can use insights from social media screenings to inform them of the potential risks of casting a high-profile individual against their contribution to the project they’re being cast for, whether it is a television show, film, commercial, or sponsorship.
High-profile individuals and even seasoned actors may have hidden controversies, unknown issues, or past actions they assume have been forgotten or erased from public memory. Unfortunately, the public usually only starts paying attention (and doing their own digging) once talent is put forward as part of the press and publicity promotional process for a completed production. By that point, significant investment has already been made in the production and the affiliated studios, networks, and companies’ reputations are already inextricably linked. This is where conducting celebrity background checks before entering into such talent agreements is extraordinarily useful.
A recent example is Emilia Perez star Karla Sofia Gascon. Upon being nominated for an Academy Award, Gascon’s star began to rise rapidly, leading to increased scrutiny of her social media history. Journalists and the public found numerous controversial posts on Gascon’s social media, in which the actor appears to post controversial opinions on religion, diversity and inclusion, and George Floyd. Background checks can uncover these posts, as well as other details found in obscure forums or overlooked platforms.
Celebrity background checks can also reveal a candidate’s professional and personal connections. Celebrities and influencers may have collaborated with controversial figures or engaged in business ventures or partnerships that conflict with the television network or production’s values. Checkers' background checks go beyond traditional news sources, providing a more complete understanding of a candidate’s past behavior and associations. By identifying and evaluating a celebrity’s history, productions can better assess whether a candidate aligns with the show’s brand and overall goals before the potential storm of public scrutiny.
The individuals a production casts can be a direct reflection of its brand. Failing to use celebrity background checks that include media screening as a risk mitigation strategy can lead to public backlash or damage to the project’s reputation.
Conducting thorough background checks is a proactive step in mitigating risks and ensuring brand protection for producers, television networks, streamers, studios, and awards associations by allowing productions to anticipate and prepare for public scrutiny before it becomes a crisis. Not only is this a smart move for identifying and mitigating potential legal and reputational risks, but it is also a prudent business decision to make before investing in talent agreements. Failing to do so could significantly derail the promotion of the completed project and require significant spending on crisis PR. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
When hiring a specialized celebrity background check vendor with skilled media researchers to perform thorough checks before production begins, all parties can move forward confidently in their casting decisions. Investing in this diligence process protects the project’s reputation, saves valuable resources, and lays the foundation for successful production and promotion.
Ready to safeguard your next production? Contact Checkers International today for professional celebrity background check services tailored to your needs. Take charge of your project’s image, streamline your process, and achieve your goals.
