Ziploc
Voice Direction:
This is a simulated audition for a Ziploc commercial. Must be delivered in a smooth, friendly tone. We want to feel like a friend or family member is giving us advice on storing leftovers. Slate username at the top.
Script:
Only Ziploc brand bags have a unique interlocking zipper to lock in freshness in a way no other bag can. When it comes out this fresh, you know it went in a Ziploc bag. Ziploc. We’ve got a lock on freshness.
Congratulations to our winners, Gene Manning, Sarah Lee and John Carlson.
They made it through a vocally challenging script that had an assortment of pitfalls, and they did it conversationally. As a result, they were convincing and persuasive. And that’s exactly what the Director asked for. Here are some tips on how you can smooth the road to audition success in your future efforts.
- Set your volume levels correctly! Our screener couldn’t even hear many submissions because their levels were set so low. We recently published an article on how to do it right: https://edgestudio.com/how-to-set-proper-levels-for-voice-over . If you have any question, consider our course link, below.
- Treat your recording space. A lot of recordings had unacceptable resonance or even echo. That, too, is not too difficult to fix. If you can’t fit into a well-clothed closet, then choose the quietest spot in your home and surround yourself with pillows, blankets or sheets, an area rug, and your cushiest furniture.
- Avoid other sorts of room noise. Some people had so much background noise, it seemed almost intentional. Or maybe they post-processed their recordings? An audition should not have noises, special effects, sound effects or music. Clients want to hear what you sound like, without noticeable enhancement. Not what you can mix.
- Many people lost the contest on the phrase “Ziploc Brand” because they dropped the ending consonants, resulting in “Ziplah bran.”
- And many entrants didn’t pronounce the “ck” sound in “unique,” resulting in “uni.”
- Further, most entrants skipped the “T” in “interlocking” and said “inner-locking,” which has a very different meaning.
- The letter G was sometimes a problem. We needed to hear it at the end of “bag.”
- Home Studio 101
- Auditions 101
- Advanced Audition
- Business and Money 101
- Don’t Embarrass Yourself (Etiquette, industry terminology, and recording session procedures … what to do, and what NOT)
1st place winner: Gene Manning
Judge's Comments
Mostly very good. His pauses sound natural, as if he’s quickly searching for the next word (a very human way of speaking, and appropriate in this particular commercial). Now he needs to add more enthusiasm. He also needs to add more of the “c” at the end of the first “Ziploc.” Later, instead of “went in a Ziploc”, it sounds like he said ” in the Ziploc”. It’s not so much a matter of mispronouncing as it is rushing the words, especially as he heads for the brand name. Had he been a bit more deliberate through that passage, his tongue would have been in the right place at the right time. Recording quality is good, but there’s mouth noise.
2nd place winner: Sarah Lee
Judge's Comments
Pretty good, with some special moments. Her pace is natural, that’s good. The tag line has a nice, confident, matter-of-fact quality to it, and a good pace. The bit about “you know it went in a Ziploc bag” is also cutely delivered, even if she didn’t hit the word “in.” (Just goes to show there are sometimes exceptions to the rule.) But her first word – which many people rushed – was a bit slow. That we could live with, except then she rushed through the next three words, “Ziploc brand bags.” When combined with sound effects or music, the brand could be tough to decipher. Recording quality is good.
3rd place winner: John Carlson
Judge's Comments
He has a natural manner. It’s neither enlarged, nor withdrawn. Just talking, confidently, same as he slates his initials. He also did something unusual with a clean break before “no other bag can.” It’s not too long, just enough to signify a moment of thought. But the matter-of-fact manner drags at points, calling for more variety and enthusiasm. His opening words need more clarity; they sound like “Only Ziplah bran bags.” And do we hear a bit of regional accent in his last “bag”? It tends to sound like “bayg.” Recording quality is good.
