China’s entertainment industry found itself at the centre of heated online debate this week after social media posts claimed that the country’s film and television sector had entered what netizens dubbed the “era of actor background checks.”
The viral claims suggested that casting standards were expanding far beyond performance ability and popularity, extending into deep investigations of actors’ families, financial records, and even personal histories.
However, producers and insiders have swiftly denied the existence of any such sweeping policy.
When contacted by Sohu Entertainment, several figures in the industry said they had not received any official notice or observed any formalised changes in casting regulations.
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| Producers Dismiss Claims of ‘Comprehensive Actor Background Checks’ Amid Industry Rumours |
The Online Rumour and Its Alleged Scope
According to circulating posts, the so-called “new background check system” was described as encompassing three main categories:
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Family background reviews, including immediate relatives;
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Financial and tax compliance checks of actors and their affiliates; and
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Moral risk assessments, where alleged past incidents—such as school bullying or dating controversies—might be weighed in casting decisions.
The online discussion quickly snowballed, with some claiming this move was a reflection of the industry’s increasing caution in the wake of recent celebrity scandals and public backlash over moral conduct.
Producers Clarify the Reality
Producer Bai Zhi clarified that background checks themselves were nothing new in the Chinese entertainment field.
“They’ve always existed, but traditionally they only covered the actor and their immediate family. The scope people are describing online is far broader than what’s realistic,” she said.
Bai explained that over the past two years, many production companies had begun incorporating ‘risk clauses’ into actor contracts—allowing legal recourse should a performer or family member later become entangled in legal or moral controversies.
“Such clauses can’t always offset financial loss, but at least they establish a legal foundation for accountability,” Bai noted.
As for the alleged tax audits or personal data screenings, she stated bluntly that production companies have no legitimate access to private financial information.
“All we can do is ask actors to sign written declarations confirming compliance with tax regulations. Beyond that, verification isn’t possible under current law.”
Financial and Practical Limitations
Bai also pointed out that the kind of comprehensive reviews described in the viral posts would be nearly impossible for most studios to afford.
“Maybe large-scale dramas funded by major streaming platforms could attempt such measures, but for ordinary production houses, it’s simply beyond their resources.”
Producer Chen Cheng echoed these sentiments, describing the rumoured system as “impractical and incompatible” with how creative industries operate.
“Television dramas and films aren’t factory goods; there’s no single standard for assessing an actor. Casting is about talent, chemistry, and trust, not investigative checklists,” he said.
Chen added that production companies lack both the legal authority and investigative capacity to look into private matters such as relatives’ occupations or financial ties.
“At the end of the day, casting remains a creative decision—it’s about collaboration, not surveillance,” he emphasised.
A Growing Culture of Caution
Despite rejecting the rumoured “new system,” both producers acknowledged that the current production climate in China has grown more cautious.
With fewer large-budget dramas being greenlit and public scrutiny at an all-time high, companies are becoming more selective to reduce reputational and financial risks.
As Bai summarised, “An actor’s personal reputation can make or break a project. So while formal investigations might not exist, discretion and caution have become the unspoken standard.”