JOHN WHEELER-RAPPE wheelerrappj@gmail.com

Cell: (323) 404-1320Portfolio: cargocollective.com/johnwheelerrappe

MY APPROACHTo advertise well, you don't so much need to sell a product (or your soul) so much as you need to tell the plain truth about it passionately. If you do this smartly, consistently and on-brand, you soon discover there isn't a Gobstopper or social movement on Earth you can't build into a powerful storyline.

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS// Currently I am the sole copywriter for AppNexus, the world’s third-largest advertising technology company (after Google and Facebook).

// Developed and wrote the single most profitable sales campaign in Audible history. Campaign achieved nearly $2MM profit in 48 hours and gave Audible its second most profitable month in company history (its most profitable month being when it got purchased by Amazon).

// Served as the principal digital marketing and in-store packaging “voice” behind nearly all new JBL and Harman Kardon retail audio products for the 2014 sales year. Retail sales at Harman International leapt by $600MM in the last quarter of 2014 (after my products were launched).

// Lived for 2+ months in rural West Bengal researching and writing a screenplay for the producers of Shortbus, The Rebound, and Last Chance Harvey.

SKILLS / SOFTWAREConceptual Storytelling; 360 Advertising; Brainstorming; Client Interface and Pitching; Copywriting; CRM; SEO; Editing; Social Media; Professional Screenwriting; Final Cut Pro; Final Draft; InDesign; Adobe Acrobat Pro; Adobe Photoshop; Microsoft Office Suite; Basecamp; JIRA; Trello; Slack; Contently

AWARDS// 2008 Screenwriter's Fellowship Columbia University School of the ArtsChosen from 90+ MFA candidates.

// 2003 Truman Capote Fellowship Iowa Writers' Workshop

Chosen from 2,500+ applicants.

WORK HISTORYAppNexusJuly 2015 – CurrentSr. Copywriter (Contract)

// Currently I am the sole designated copywriter for AppNexus, the world’s third-largest ad tech company (after Google and Facebook).

// Responsible for helping to rewrite all messaging for AppNexus’ current website. Also I am responsible for creating a new writing style guide.

// I blog extensively for AppNexus using the Contently platform. Responsible for writing bylines intended for publication in places such as Digiday.

// Responsible for coordinating with numerous executive stakeholders in creating email messaging for all external and internal communications.

FreelanceSr. CopywriterApril 2015 – Current // Developed branded content campaigns for Tim Perell ‘s Process Media on behalf of companies like Marley Natural, Privateer Holdings, Eaze, and MassRoots.

// Wrote desktop and mobile copy for DIRECTV’s LifeShield® home security system.

// Wrote a video script for ADP showcasing a new platform that lets ADP employees provide customer support with the same kind of visual clarity and user-friendly interface that ADP customers already have access to.

Audible & AmazonContract Sr. CopywriterJuly 2014–April 2015

// Developed and wrote the single most profitable 48-hour sales campaign in Audible history. Campaign reached millions of Audible members.

// Developed and wrote a sales campaign for Kindle with highest customer response in Audible history. Campaign reached 200,000+ Kindle users.

// Conceptualized and pitched numerous high-level creative initiatives for both Audible and Amazon including an original podcast series about the future of Newark, New Jersey.

Rainforest ConnectionSocial Media Creative StrategistJuly 2014–April 2015

// Strategized, promoted, and was instrumental in raising double the funds needed to finance and field a new environmental technology rated one of the top 10 Kickstarter campaigns of 2015.

Razorfish, Leroy & ClarksonFreelance Sr. CopywriterNov 2013–July 2014

// Redeveloped and rewrote entire websites for Mercedes-Benz USA, Ford Motor, and Follett.

// Developed one-sheet pitch-decks to promote the PBS mini-series How We Got to Now starring best-selling author Steven Johnson.

Stirred Creative (Harman International)Apr 2013–Present Contract ACD/Copy Lead// Served as the principal digital marketing and in-store packaging “voice” behind nearly all new JBL and Harman Kardon retail audio products for the 2014 sales year. Partners included BMW, Apple, Google, Bluetooth, the NFL, and MLB.

// Retail sales at Harman International rose by $600MM in last quarter of 2014 after the products I wrote for came onto the North American and European markets.

thelabNYC (mcgarrybowen, Disney)Freelance Copywriter2013// Worked to conceptualize, develop, and write 360 video, online, digital signage, and direct marketing campaigns for Disney on behalf of mcgarrybowen.

ThomasNet (DuPont & Various)SEO Copywriter/Social Media ManagerOct 2011–Feb 2013// Wrote social media sites for American industrial companies, including DuPont, Telairity, and Keystone.

// Managed and edited a team of 2–3 freelance social media writers while pitching and writing blogs for 30+ client accounts every month.

Publicis Groupe (Hilton HHonors)Freelance CopywriterAug 2011–Oct 2011

// Wrote promotional digital emailers as part of the award-winning Hilton HHonors campaign.

Process Media/Process Productions ScreenwriterMarch 2009–Feb 2011

// Lived for 2+ months in Kolkata and rural West Bengal researching and writing a screenplay about the illegal trade in human remains for the producers of Shortbus, The Rebound, and Last Chance Harvey.

Sacred Heart UniversityAdjunct Professor of Media Studies2011

// Taught undergraduate students the history behind and basic principals of filmmaking, television, advertising, writing, radio, and social media.

// Developed special creative projects with my students. All projects were tailored to allow each student to pursue his or her own creative field and creative vision to maximum effect.

Lee Daniels EntertainmentScript Consultant / Script Developer2009

// Reviewed (and sometimes recommended) feature scripts for the producer and director of Empire, The Butler, and Precious to either direct or produce.

// Was consulted multiple times directly by Lee Daniels for my own "second opinion" on whether a script he wanted to develop was actually worth developing.

New York MagazineNightlife Writer2008-2012

// Wrote deadline-intensive interactive nightlife copy for the online edition of New York’s largest entertainment magazine.

// Perfected a voice that was breezy and hip, with an added dose of spitfire when the occasion required it.

Scott Rudin ProductionsProduction Office Intern

2007

// Scott Rudin is, bar none, a genius at producing some of the best movies of our age (No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood to name just two).

// That, and he's also a Category Five hurricane if you even accidentally try to make his day difficult.

// I served Scott Rudin well. I never once made his day difficult. He even told me so once. I’d do the same for you.

The DesignoryJr. Copywriter2006// Wrote nationally syndicated automotive copy for Nissan Motors, Ltd.

// Worked with planners and product specialists, and collaborated extensively with Chiat/Day.

// Wrote briefs and learned how to seamlessly incorporate USPs and RTBs into my copy.

University of Iowa (Iowa Writer’s Workshop)Undergraduate Creative Writing Instructor2002-2004

// Taught undergraduate creative writing classes at a Big Ten University for two years.

// This occurred during my time at the Iowa Writer's Workshop, the top-ranked graduate creative writing program in the English language.

EDUCATION Columbia University, NY | Aug '06– May '11

// Master of Fine Arts, Film (Screenwriting)

Iowa Writers' Workshop, Iowa City | Aug '02–May '04// Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing (Poetry)

Kenyon College, Gambier, OH | Aug '96–Dec '00// Bachelor of Arts, History