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ConocoPhillips 15-second TV spot

July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025
Contest

Voice Direction:

This simulated audition is to cast a voice actor for a 15-second TV spot airing internationally on global news networks, including CNN. We’re open to all gender, all ages, all accents. What’s important to us is that the voice actor has an interesting and unique ‘way’ of reading — something different than the usual professional and corporate read — a style that stands out — something recognizable. We don’t want funny or silly. We don’t want announcers. We don’t want character voices. We want a real person who can give our spot an interesting spin.  We want listeners to immediately associate the voice with ConocoPhillips. So focus your audition on the ‘way’ you speak, not your voice.

Script:

At ConocoPhillips, we’re not only finding new sources of natural gas, we’re developing new technologies to solve the demanding increase in global energy needs. We turn “what ifs” into “what’s next.” ConocoPhillips.

Analysis: Why the Winners Won ... and Why Others Didn't.

Another amazing contest, with 179 entries! 

Here’s what we learned…  Wait, make that here’s what you should learn:

  • GIVE THE CLIENT WHAT THEY WANT!!!!!  Unfortunately around 95% of auditions were deleted because the voice actor did not give the client what they requested.  The client requested “a style that stands out” and “something recognizable” and “an interesting spin”.  Many reads were good, solid, pleasant, well-narrated reads … but they did not stand out. 
  • WHILE AT IT, PRONOUNCE THE CLIENT’S NAME CORRECTLY!!!!!  Shockingly, many people (maybe as many as 50 people) mispronounced the client name!!!! Yikes!!!!!! There is no excuse for this!!!! Now we realize that the company name may be pronounced differently in different languages, however what we heard goes well beyond that
  • Worse, many people said the client name with an upspeak intonation; in other words, they sound like this: “At ConocoPhillips?”  Instead SPEAK KEYWORDS (in most cases) WITH A DECLARATIVE INTONATION, so they would sound like this: “At ConocoPhillips.”
  • Still worse, many people rushed the client name. SLOW DOWN KEY WORDS, SUCH AS THE CLIENT NAME!  Let them take up more space, like how the client name would be written in a magazine ad.
  • Also, many people pronounced the word “of” like “uh”. So this phrase “…we’re not only finding new sources of natural gas…”  sounded like “…we’re not only finding new sources uh natural gas…”
  • There were many choppy reads, which turns off most listeners.
  • And many noisy recordings: HVAC and/or electronic noise. Neither are good.
  • Worse, many recordings were full of reverb. This is not acceptable.
  • Levels were too low on many recordings. Also not acceptable.
  • Finally some entries were too long; they included unnecessary introductions which take extra time to listen to. None of this is acceptable.

NOW ALL THAT SAID, some auditions hit the mark – in fact about 20 people made our shortlist! And 3 of them took first, second, and third places.

Winners

1st place winner: Robert Wooldridge

Judge's Comments

Great easy going, regular guy sound with a favorable hint announcer guy. Good timing. Great ability to capture our attention and hold listeners’ attention. A solid good, interesting, and recognizable performance—emphasized words. Good audio quality.

Recording submitted by Robert Wooldridge on 29 Sep 2025 - 16:48

2nd place winner: Joshua Quinn

Judge's Comments

Another great easy going, regular guy sound with a favorable hint of smirky edge. Great timing. Great comfort at the mic (no vocal tension). Interesting, variety, recognizable. Good audio quality. Though the first “Conoco” is too fast and the dramatic pause before “only” is overdone.

Recording submitted by Joshua Quinn on 30 Sep 2025 - 21:36

3rd place winner: Ilene Echavarria

Judge's Comments

She barely made our shortlist: Her first half is iffy: she lacks interest, she lacks variety, even the client name is missing smile. However as we were about to hit ‘stop’ and move to the next person, she begin adding variety – and nice variety! Enough of a unique variety to launch her to 3rd place! This is a case for re-recording the beginning after you’re warmed up!

Recording submitted by Ilene Echavarria on 29 Sep 2025 - 16:23
All Entries

To Find A Specific Entry:

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Cher Vehe's recording

Recording submitted by Cher Vehe on 1 Oct 2025 - 03:58

Ian P.'s recording

Recording submitted by Ian P. on 1 Oct 2025 - 03:56

Amos Bohoussou's recording

Recording submitted by Amos Bohoussou on 1 Oct 2025 - 03:50
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