Olivia Abtahi Resume

Author, Penguin Random House, LEE & LOW, Simon and Schuster 2018-Current

Author of PERFECTLY PARVIN (Putnam, 2021), a novel about a 14yo Iranian American beginning high school as she navigates Homecoming, Eurocentric beauty standards, and The Muslim Ban. Praise includes starred reviews from both School Library Journal and Booklist, as well as a Buzzfeed Most Anticipated Book of the Year. You can learn more about my writing at www.oliviaabtahi.com

Freelance Content Writer, Descript.com, 2022-2023

Using Descript.com’s voice and style guide, I wrote and ghost-wrote several articles on video editing, branding, and content-making tutorials. Duties included researching and testing product technology, then writing detailed guides on each piece of software. Articles can be seen here: https://www.descript.com/blog/author/olivia-abtahi

Freelance Creative, Oblivia Media 2015-Current

Writer, Director, and Editor for clients such as Samsung, HuffingtonPost, Airstream, and Dove Chocolate. Responsibilities include anything from scheduling shoots to interviewing subjects to directing 5+ person teams. Directing labels include ImageBrew.com, Shineandpolish.com, and Torch.media. The latest video I worked on was a Vimeo Staff Pick of the Year and featured at BANFF, Mountain Film Fest, and a dozen others. You can see more work at www.obliviamedia.com

Select Partners

Survival Media Agency

I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world with SMA, and worn several different hats with this team. From consulting on video cuts, to directing commercials, to even learning how to operate a drone on set, it’s been the one video partner that consistently gives me the most creative opportunities. Favorite projects include The Salmon Will Run, Nevada Solar Initiative, Global Green Grants, and Get Out The Vote initiatives in King County, WA. Each client for SMA has been one that I believe in, and one that is actively fighting for a more equitable world for all.

Flippable (now Swing Left)

At Flippable I was a one-man band of filmmaking and social media. I would travel with campaign organizers and hit the ground running– shooting interviews with candidates like Jon Ossoff and filming primaries in Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, and Georgia. I would then turn around :15 to :30 second cuts in 24 hours for social distribution, adding captions and hashtags to make sure they would get views. Several state senate and house candidates I filmed won, most of them with my video work being the only video assets they had. All of them were candidates I believed in.

Director and Copywriter, Mighteor, 2017-2018

Responsibilities included directing and producing shoots, in addition to concepting and ideating client campaigns. From square Facebook and Instagram videos to 17 minute documentaries for theater distribution, I would touch everything from pre-production to post-production and video marketing.

Copywriter, Sidecar Agency, 2014-2015

Working side-by-side with an art director, I created web and social media campaigns for California Table Grapes, Sunrun Solar, Citrix, and Pier 49. I would often go on set for any photo or video shoots and work alongside the camera team. I also pitched brands and clients on different campaign ideas and won new business.

Copywriter, MullenLowe, 2013-2014

As a recent advertising graduate, this was my first chance to work full time at an agency. Pizza Hut, Purina, Wells Fargo, and Hoka One One were a few brands that I got to pitch to, and I created digital campaigns for Cardstore.com and Google.

Intern and Freelance Creative Technologist, The Martin Agency, 2012-2013

During my time at VCU Brandcenter, I worked at The Martin Agency (down the block from my school) and later became a freelancer for brands like Walmart, Geico, BF Goodrich, and Discover Card. I worked alongside an art director, creative directors, and in-house producers.

Education

MaSC Advertising, VCU Brandcenter 2011-2013, Honors

Studying user experience design, copywriting, art direction, ad concepting, and creative technology

BFA Film, NYU, 2005-2009, Honors

Studying film production and theory, including screenwriting, shooting, editing, and producing

SKILLS

Spanish & Conversational French

Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Audition, Lightroom, and InDesign

Web Light HTML, Google Analytics, Squarespace, Canva, SEO Optimization

Social Instagram Business and Ads, Facebook Business Suite, Twitter, and Hootsuite