As the entertainment industry leans more heavily on freelancers and on-demand crew, ensuring safety and trust without disrupting tight production timelines is a growing challenge.

Background checks for full-time hires are standard—but vendors, freelancers, and third-party crew often fall through the cracks, leaving productions exposed to financial loss, safety issues, or reputational harm.

The Risk of Unscreened Temporary Hires

Many productions operate on accelerated schedules. Last-minute bookings for set builders, caterers, stylists, or drivers are common. But without basic vetting, you’re trusting your brand, budget, and team safety to unknown entities. In fact, a 2021 study from the Center for Entertainment Safety found that 31% of on-set incidents involved third-party vendors or freelance staff—most of whom were not background checked.

These risks increase when working across multiple locations or bringing in local crews in unfamiliar jurisdictions.

What to Include in Your Screening Process

Even for short-term hires, a fast, scalable screening process is possible. Focus on:

• Criminal background checks (local and national)
• Identity verification and right-to-work documentation
• Reference or credential validation
• Previous incident reports or insurance verification for vendors

Freelancers who have access to talent, minors, or sensitive information should also undergo sex offender registry searches and NDA disclosures.

How to Screen Efficiently—Without Delaying Production

Speed matters, but security does too. Here’s how to stay ahead:

• Use a pre-vetted roster of approved freelancers and vendors
• Require background check consent as part of onboarding paperwork
• Partner with a screening provider offering 24- to 48-hour turnaround
• Implement a tiered screening policy based on role sensitivity

Tech-enabled platforms can now return instant checks for low-risk roles and more robust vetting for key positions—without holding up the call sheet.

The Bottom Line

Production doesn’t slow down—but your screening process doesn’t have to either. By building a simple but consistent vetting system for freelancers and vendors, you protect your crew, your talent, and your entire production from avoidable risk.