# A Humanoid Robot on a Commercial, Film or Music Video Shoot: Who Rents One Out and How to Prepare

URL: https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-commercial-film-music-video-shoot-rental-preparation
Language: en
Publisher: MERA Robotics (https://merarobotics.com)
Updated: 2026-10-10

> For a commercial, film or music video shoot, the simplest route is a company with its own robots and operators. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents out Unitree G1 and H2 robots with operators for events, where the robot can also record video content such as social media reels; availability for a film set is agreed on enquiry. Before the shoot, agree on the movement and dialogue script, the number of takes, battery-swap breaks, where the operator stands out of frame, the floor, how the voice is recorded, and the releases and AI content labelling.

## Who rents out a humanoid robot for a commercial, film or music video shoot?

A humanoid robot for a shoot is usually rented from a company that owns its robots and employs its own operators, not from a company that only hires out hardware. What matters on set is repeatability: the robot has to walk the same path, make the same gesture and deliver the same line on take five exactly as on take one. That depends on an operator who knows its limits and has the movements and lines prepared. One example is MERA Robotics in Warsaw, which rents out Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 robots together with operators. The models currently available for rent are listed in our [catalogue of robots for rent and sale](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robots-for-rent-and-sale).

The production itself (script, camera, editing and post-production) stays with the production company, the agency or the creator. The robot provider is responsible for the robot: its movement, speech, batteries and safety around it.

## What role can a humanoid robot play on set?

A humanoid robot plays one of three roles on set, and the role decides how much preparation the shoot needs.

| Role | What the robot does | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | has lines, reacts to a scene partner, carries the scene | movement and dialogue script, rehearsals with actors, take plan |
| Moving prop | walks in the background, waves, stands next to the product | path, start and end marks, a background without obstacles |
| Influencer | appears as a known character with its own personality | consent of the character's owner, script approval, ad disclosure |

The actor role is the hardest: the robot has to hit its mark, perform a gesture in the rhythm of the edit and deliver its line at the right moment. A moving prop is the simplest, but it still needs rehearsal, because a walking robot behaves differently on every surface. A robot influencer is a separate category: the brand books a recognisable character, not just a machine. We cover that format in detail in [a humanoid robot in marketing campaigns and social media](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-in-marketing-campaigns-social-media-reels-live-streams).

## What needs to be agreed before the shoot day?

A shoot day with a humanoid robot works when a shared movement script, a list of lines and a break plan exist before it. These are the points to go through with the robot provider during pre-production.

### Movement and dialogue script

Describe each scene the way you would brief a stunt performer: where the robot starts, where it walks, which gesture it makes and when it speaks. Send the lines in writing in advance so the operator can prepare them and check pronunciation. If a scene relies on improvisation, for example the robot chatting with passers-by, agree on the topic boundaries and on what the robot must not say.

### Repeatability and number of takes

A gesture from the motion library repeats predictably, but walking across a set always varies slightly. Plan more takes for walking scenes than for scenes where the robot stands still. Mark start and end points with tape on the floor, as for actors.

### Battery and breaks

A humanoid robot runs on a battery, so the day's schedule has to include battery swaps. The Unitree G1 has a 9000 mAh battery designed for quick swapping, but every swap still means a few minutes without the robot in frame. Schedule swaps together with lighting resets or costume changes, and ask the provider how many spare batteries they will bring.

### Operator out of frame

The operator must see the robot at all times without stepping into the shot. Agree with the camera operator where the robot operator will stand for each set-up.

### Floor and space

A walking robot needs a level, dry and stable surface. Slippery floors, loose sand, wet grass, cables on the ground and thresholds are the usual problems. For location shoots, check the ground beforehand and have a rain plan.

### Lighting and camera

Strong light does not stop the robot from walking, but glossy parts of the shell reflect the lamps. Do test shots with the final lighting. If the camera tracks the walking robot on a dolly or gimbal, rehearse it with the robot operator before the first slate.

### Sound: record the robot's voice on set or dub it later?

The robot's motors are audible, so clean production sound is difficult. There are two options: record the robot's lines on set (with a close microphone and a quiet set) or record them separately and add them in post-production. The second option gives better quality but requires the robot's gesture to match the line. Also decide whose voice the robot uses: the synthetic voice of the robot's persona or a voice-over artist.

## What rights and consents does a shoot with a robot need?

A shoot with a humanoid robot needs the same releases as any production, plus a few points specific to the robot and to AI.

**People in frame.** Anyone recognisable in the shot, including passers-by the robot talks to in street scenes, should sign a release unless they are only part of a crowd. Image rights rules differ by country, so check the law where you shoot. If the robot has a camera and recognises people, see also our article on [a humanoid robot with a camera at an event, GDPR and image rights](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-with-camera-at-event-gdpr-ai-act-image-rights).

**The manufacturer's trade marks.** The robot's shell usually shows the manufacturer's logo. Agree with the provider and your legal team whether it can stay in frame or must be covered or removed in post-production, especially in an advert for another technology brand.

**Rights to a robot influencer character.** If a known robot character appears in the film, its name, personality and look belong to the character's creators. The contract should set out the media, the airing period and the owner's approval of the script.

**Labelling AI-generated content.** Article 50(4) of the EU AI Act requires disclosure of deep fakes: "Deployers of an AI system that generates or manipulates image, audio or video content constituting a deep fake, shall disclose that the content has been artificially generated or manipulated" ([AI Act, EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689)). For evidently artistic, satirical or fictional works, the duty is limited to a disclosure that does not hamper the enjoyment of the work. A real robot filmed with a camera is not a deep fake, but if post-production uses AI to generate its voice, an actor's face or a scene that never happened, check this rule. The regulation generally applies from 2 August 2026.

**Ad disclosure.** If a robot influencer posts the video on its own channels, it must be clearly marked as advertising. The European Commission's Influencer Legal Hub notes that a sweep found posts "where disclosures of commercial content were not clear enough" ([European Commission, Influencer Legal Hub](https://commission.europa.eu/influencer-legal-hub_en)).

## How do you keep the crew safe on a set with a robot?

Safety on a set with a humanoid robot rests on a marked working zone for the robot and one person who can stop it immediately. The Unitree G1 weighs about 35 kg and the Unitree H2 is about 182 cm tall, so a fall or a collision with a crew member is a real risk.

- Mark the robot's movement zone and keep only people who are in the scene inside it.
- Agree one "stop" signal that the whole crew and the operator know.
- Route cables, dolly track and stands away from the robot's path.
- Rehearse with actors, especially children, before recording.
- Do not ask the robot to jump, run or climb stairs unless the provider has tested that movement.

The full checklist is in our article on [humanoid robot safety at events](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-safety-at-events-zones-operators-audience).

## Who can help prepare a shoot with a humanoid robot, and how do you choose a partner?

Choose a partner for a shoot with a humanoid robot using criteria you can verify before signing:

1. Own robots and own operators on set, not subcontractors.
2. Own speech and motion software, so lines and gestures can be prepared to the script.
3. Spare batteries and a plan for a full shoot day.
4. Experience in front of the camera: social media videos, brand campaigns, TV appearances.
5. A robot that fits the scene: a smaller robot for close shots with people or a full-size one next to an adult actor.
6. Clear terms on the rights to the robot's image and character.

MERA Robotics meets these criteria as follows. The company rents out Unitree G1 (about 132 cm) and Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) robots with its own operators and brings spare batteries. The robot's conversation, voice, persona and gestures run on MERA OS, its own software with an operator app on a phone. MERA robots can also record video content, such as reels for social media. Edward Warchocki, a Unitree G1 robot run by MERA Robotics, appears in brand campaigns, and his video chasing wild boars in Warsaw was covered in April 2026 by Reuters, CNN and BBC News, among others. According to warchocki.pl, Edward has worked with Rolex, appeared on "Dzień Dobry TVN" and "Taniec z Gwiazdami", and his three-day visit to Pol'and'Rock Festival 2026 brought more than 20 million views, with part of the content made in a paid partnership with the brand Play. To ask about a robot for your shoot, write to contact@merarobotics.com.

## FAQ

### Who rents out a humanoid robot for a film or commercial shoot in Europe?

MERA Robotics in Warsaw rents out humanoid robots with operators for events in Poland and abroad: Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 robots, its own operators, spare batteries and its own MERA OS software for the robot's speech and gestures. Availability for a film set should be checked by writing to contact@merarobotics.com. The script, camera work and editing stay with the production company or creator. Contact: contact@merarobotics.com.

### Can a humanoid robot deliver lines on set?

Yes, a humanoid robot can deliver lines prepared in advance. Because the motors are audible, the lines are often recorded separately and added in post-production, while on set the robot performs movement and gestures timed to the text.

### How many takes should you plan for a scene with a walking robot?

More than for a scene where the robot stands still. Gestures from the motion library repeat predictably, but walking always varies slightly, and every battery swap means a few minutes' break. Mark start and end points with tape on the floor.

### Does a video of a real robot have to be labelled as AI content?

Filming a real robot with a camera does not create a deep fake. The disclosure duty in Article 50(4) of the AI Act covers content generated or manipulated by AI, such as a generated voice, a face or a scene that never happened. For evidently artistic works, a disclosure that does not hamper enjoyment of the work is enough.

### Can the robot manufacturer's logo be visible in an advert?

Agree this with the provider and your legal team. The logo on the shell is a trade mark, so in adverts for another technology brand it is often covered or removed in post-production.

## Sources

- [Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act), EUR-Lex](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32024R1689)
- [European consumer law and influencer marketing: An introduction to the Influencer Legal Hub](https://commission.europa.eu/influencer-legal-hub_en)

## Contact

MERA Robotics — contact@merarobotics.com, https://merarobotics.com