KARMEN WESSELS
COPYWRITER
LOERIES YOUNG CREATIVE AWARD WINNER 2017-
Unit 11, Ocean View Heights
5 Antwerp Road
Sea Point
8005
I’ve worked my way up from over-enthusiastic intern to the coveted position of over-enthusiastic copywriter on brands like Absolut, Jameson, Chivas, Metropolitan, DirectAxis, DARG, Red Bull, BMW and Netwerk24. I’ve won awards, almost won awards, dreamed about winning awards and once published a poem about the life and death of a banana. For info about my past lives as a student director, Drag Queen doodler and amateur sleuth, give me a Google.
FUN FACTS
Fluent in both English & Afrikaans.
Avid (amateur) cat photographer (can be viewed on Instagram @spotfishy).
Owner of an Instagram shop called Cotton Pony Cupboard (@cottonponycupboard) that sells second hand clothing.
Devoted Drag Queen fan and illustrator (check out my 100 Days of Drag project on Instagram @karmendw).
Collector of Children’s Storybooks (I’ll be writing my own soon).
Lame joker on Twitter (@spotfishy)
Freelance art teacher.
EDUCATION
Copywriting Diploma, AAA School of Advertising (2013)
Graduated with Distinction.
BA Film & Media Production, University of Cape Town (2012)
Graduated on Dean’s Merit List.
Courses: Screen Production, Film Studies, English Literature, Afrikaanse Letterkunde, Linguistics.
Roedean School SA (2008)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Loeries Young Creative Award Winner 2017
Director, producer & production designer of 2012 graduation film, KINSEY, that was shown at the following film festivals:
Out in Africa LGBT Film Festival, SA (2013)
Kaapse Bobotie section of the Shnit International Film Festival, SA (2013)
Mezipatra Queer Film Festival, Prague (2013 & 2014)
kulula.com
Bookmarks Finalist in Use of User Generated Content Category for “#KULULA13” social media campaign (2015).
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Silver Bookmark in Existing Social Communities for Jameson Irish Whiskey social media page (2016).
Netwerk24
Silver Pendoring in TV/Cinema (with a budget exceeding R600 000) Category for Klein Riaan Netwerk24 campaign (2015).
Silver Pendoring in Original Afrikaans Category for Klein Riaan Netwerk24 campaign (2015).
DARG Animal Rescue
Bronze Bookmark in Use of User Generated Content Category for DARG Facebook Photobomb (2016).
Bronze Loerie in Media Innovation Category for DARG Facebook Photobomb (2016).
Bronze Loerie in Digital & Interactive Communication Category for DARG Facebook Photobomb (2016).
Cannes Finalist in Media Lions Category for DARG Facebook Photobomb (2016).
Red Bull
Silver Bookmark in Branded Content Category for Red Bull XFighters Tapes (2016)
Absolut Vodka
Silver Bookmark in Content Strategy Category for Absolut One Source social media (2017)
Silver Bookmark in Digital Campaign Category for Absolut One Source social media (2017)
Silver Bookmark in Integrated Multi-Platform Category for Absolut One Source social media (2017)
Gold Bookmark in Branded Content Category for Absolut One Source social media (2017)
Bronze Cannes Lion in Use of Branded Content Created for Digital or Social Media Category for Absolut One Source Campaign (2017)
Silver Loerie for Digital Integrated Campaign for Absolut One Source Campaign (2017)
Bronze Loerie for Digital & Interactive Social Media for Absolut One Source Campaign (2017)
Silver Loerie for Integrated Campaign for Absolut One Source Campaign (2017)
EXPERIENCE
2009 Gap Student & Part-time art teacher at St-John’s-on-the-Hill Prep School in Chepstow, Wales
2009 Nursery Carer for children aged 4 months to 3 years at St-John’s-on-the-Hill Nursery in Chepstow, Wales
2010 - 2012 Co-wrote, directed, produced, edited and acted as cinematographer on numerous short films
2011 - 2012 Collaborated with UCT Film Society to organise & host annual UCT Short Film Competition
2012 Production Design assistant for music videos: Burnout - Man As Machine, Heartboxing - Jimmy Nevis
2013 Entrepreneur. Started own cupcake business, “Lady Lumps”, sold monthly at the Blue Bird Garage Food & Goods Market in Muizenberg
2013 - Present Copywriter at VML Digital Marketing Agency.
CLIENTS
kulula Digital & social media campaigns (2014)
Malibu Live activations & social media content (2014)
Nedbank Digital & social media campaigns (2014)
RCS Digital & social media campaigns, content plans (2014)
Red Bull Digital & social media campaign (2015)
Jameson Irish Whiskey Social media content (2015)
Netwerk24 Integrated campaign including digital, radio, print & television (2015)
Spur, Hansa Pilsner, MTV MAMAs Pitch campaigns (2014 – 2015)
BMW Digital launch campaign (2016)
DARG Social media campaign (2016)
Chivas Regal Social media content (2016 – 2017)
Absolut Vodka Digitally integrated campaigns & social media content (2016 – 2018)
Metropolitan Financial Services Integrated brand campaign & social media content -)
DirectAxis Digital content -)
