'faking' real customers

E

eco_bach

Well-known member
Hi
First time shooting a web only 'commercial' for a local store. I'd really like to get staff members interacting with real customers, however, getting model releases from people is a huge hassle.

I was thinking of perhaps 'faking' real customers using either former staff members or even actors.

This is new territory for me. If this might be viewed as primarily a 'commercial', although it is also a documentary about a family business, should I be concerned at all about the ethics of 'faking' real customers? Or is this this done all the time?
 
Hey Eco. I've done tons of these kind of commercial/video documentaries and I always use "real" customers.

My release is very simple (2 paragraphs) and I've never had a problem getting people to sign. However, the trick is to have people sign AFTER THE FACT.

When I started, I would approach people in the shop and say "Excuse me, would you like to be in a commercial? You just need to sign this document".

90% said no.

I then changed my approach. As people would approach the counter, or speak with a staff member I would start to roll. "Just ignore me" I'd say, "we're filming for the store".

After the customer finishes, I'd thank them for all their help, telling them they were great. I'd then present the release form which they'd sign 100% of the time.

Sure there are people who will say "I don't want to be on camera". But that's a rarity in my experience. Make them feel part of the process and they'll do anything to help you.

I hope you find this helpful.

Good luck with the project.

Peter.
 
It's usually the only way it'a done. 90% of the people in commercials are actors, and extras. It's done this way because working with pros keeps you from pulling your hair out of your head. Not to mention it makes the commercial believeable, non actors and amatuers have no idea about hitting marks, they look at the camera, ect... my advice, hire actors.
 
Testimonials are another thing. If the fake customers are simply being helped by clerks and being happy and interacting, that's cool. If they make claims about the store, however, ya can't fake that.
 
If you have the budget, Maranfilms is correct. However, I get the feeling that your budget is fairly limited (local store, web only commercial, etc).

The beauty of using real customer is that they act like real customers. They don't have to hit marks or learn lines. Like any documentary shoot, as
long as they ignore you, and do what they'd do normally, they're perfect.

If they buy a sweater and you need another angle (perhaps a close-up) simply have them buy it again. It really isn't that hard to direct the public
- particularly if their doing something they are there to do anyway.

That being said, if you have the budget, actors are always great. But often the economic reality forces you to be inventive.

P.
 
It sounds strange to say a commercial is a documentary about a family business or vice versa. Commercials and docos are two very different sorts of critters. So what are you really doing here, where exactly is it going to be used? If it's going to be aired as a commercial you need more comprehensive releases than you might for a doco and IMO it would be well advised to work with pros to avoid problems down the road.
 
It sounds like you're making an "infommercial," which in the end is still a commercial.

If there are no lines spoken, and you get releases signed, I would think you'd be in the clear.

GJ
 
Not to mention it makes the commercial believeable
Click to expand...

I don't know about the rest of you guys but I've never seen an infomercial with actors talking about how good a product is without seriously cringing. And I've seen a lot of informercials. Maybe if its not 'fake' testimonials its alright though..Any time I see some actor raving on about how x product is the best, hitting a 'mark' or saying the right thing at the right time I just roll my eyes and avoid buying that product...but hey, a lot of these products sell really well, even when its clear the ad is full of it... so what do I know? Lol...I guess they're doing something right...but wait....there's more!!

:kali:
 
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