An external expert may be able to explain a product's design, assess a defined feature or discuss the problem it addresses. That does not make them a customer who has used the service in ordinary circumstances. Decide which kind of evidence the film needs and describe the contributor's role accurately.
Start by asking what the expert has actually examined. A short demonstration, a supplied technical document and a long period of use provide different bases for an opinion. The film should not imply a broader assessment than the contributor has performed.
Define the assessment boundary
Write down the subject, material reviewed and question the expert is qualified and authorised to address. Keep the description specific. A general professional title does not establish expertise in every aspect of the product or its commercial use.
Ask which statements are the expert's own judgement and which facts come from the supplier. If the expert repeats a supplier-provided figure, do not present their presence as independent verification of that figure unless such verification has actually occurred and can be described accurately.
Make the relationship understandable
Identify any commercial or other relationship relevant to how viewers interpret the contribution, using an appropriate approved disclosure. Do not imply independence simply because the person is filmed outside the supplier's office. The relationship should be reviewed by the responsible business people before the treatment relies on it.
Avoid introducing the expert with customer language such as “why they chose us” if they did not make that purchase. Their assessment may be valuable on its own terms. It does not need to be disguised as a user experience to justify appearing in the film.
Choose visuals that match the evidence
Show the assessment or explanation the person actually provides where appropriate and authorised. Do not stage them using the product in a customer setting to imply a history of ordinary use that did not occur. A clear interview or demonstration can communicate the narrower role honestly.
If a real customer also appears, distinguish the two contributions. The expert may explain a feature while the customer describes their experience. Do not edit the sequence so each seems to confirm claims outside their own knowledge.
Hypothetical example
A fictional equipment supplier invites a specialist to review a particular design feature. The specialist examines the sample and explains the feature's intended function, but has not used the product in a customer operation. The first script calls them a satisfied user.
The buyer corrects the framing to an expert explanation of the reviewed feature. A separate customer account, if available and approved, addresses practical use. The film now offers two different forms of evidence without merging them into an unsupported claim of long-term independent endorsement.
Review the attribution as carefully as the quote
Check the title, introduction and surrounding copy. A qualified statement can become misleading when paired with an inflated credential or a broad endorsement headline. Ask the contributor and appropriate reviewers to confirm that the final framing reflects the agreed role.
Consult ACCC review guidance as a reference. Explore Live Images services and share the expert role and assessment boundary before commissioning the film.
Prepared with AI assistance for Live Images. Planning guidance is general; suitability and production scope must be agreed for your project.