Yes, UGC can be filmed with actors or paid creators instead of real customers, as long as it is honest about who is speaking and any paid relationship is disclosed.
In practice, this is usually “creator-led” content (a creator you hire) or “spokesperson” content (an actor reading a script). It still works well for Orlando and Central Florida businesses that need consistent volume, seasonal promos, or multiple versions for ads, because you can cast for your audience and schedule shoots without waiting on patient or customer availability. If you want help with casting, scripting, and editing, our UGC services are built for this exact setup.
Actors vs. real customers, what changes
| Option | Best fit | Pros | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid creator or actor | Product demos, unboxings, tutorials, offer promos, seasonal campaigns | Fast turnaround, consistent quality, easy to produce variations | Do not imply “real customer” or show fake reviews, disclose paid relationship, avoid claims you cannot back up |
| Real customer | True testimonials, local trust-building, reputation marketing | Stronger believability, genuine story, great for service businesses | Harder scheduling, permissions needed, privacy rules matter in healthcare |
The big rule is simple: if the person on camera is not a real customer, the video cannot feel like a real-customer testimonial. That means no lines like “I came to this dentist last week” or “They fixed my case” unless it is true. For actor-led UGC, we keep the script in safe lanes like “here’s how it works,” “here’s what’s in the box,” “here’s what I noticed,” or “here’s why people choose this.”
Disclosures matter in UGC, even when the content looks casual. If you pay someone, give them free product, or give them any perk that could affect what they say, the relationship should be clearly disclosed in the post or video. On TikTok, that often means using the platform’s commercial content disclosure toggle, plus a plain-language disclosure in the caption when needed. If you want the exact disclosure patterns we use for ads and organic posts, see our FAQ on FTC disclosures for UGC.
When using actors is a smart move
We usually recommend actors or paid creators when you need repeatable content for paid ads, you are launching something new, you have limited customer participation (common for medical, dental, and legal), or you want to test hooks fast without putting patient or client stories on camera.
How to do it without getting burned
- Label it honestly: Use “paid partnership,” “ad,” or “sponsored” where it applies, and avoid language that suggests the person is a customer if they are talent.
- Keep claims grounded: Avoid guaranteed results, “miracle” outcomes, or medical or legal promises. For dental and healthcare in Orlando, be extra careful with before-and-after visuals and personal health claims, because they can trigger ad rejections and compliance issues.
- Get permissions in writing: Use a talent release, usage rights terms, and clear rules on where the video can run (ads, website, email, YouTube, etc.).
- Cast for believability: Match the creator’s voice and on-camera style to your audience and brand, not just demographics. This is where strong casting beats fancy production, and it’s why we treat casting as part of the creative brief.
If you want to go deeper on choosing the right person on camera, our FAQ on creator casting for UGC breaks down what we look for when we match talent to an audience.
A simple way to decide is this: use actors or creators for demos and offers, then layer in real customer proof where it is available and permitted. If you tell us your industry and where you plan to run the videos (ads, organic, or both), we can map out the safest script angles and the right on-camera talent mix for your next batch.
