Writer/Strategist
Sept. 2015 - present
Drawing on five years of experience writing for major brands, I launched @tessplease in March 2020. Since then, I’ve built a community of over 440,000 followers and led successful partnerships with MetaAI, Reformation, TOMs, and more.
Please note: this is my creative outlet. My full-time job is always my top priority.
Random Text Updates - a recent viral sketch of mine, inspired by the urge to share mundane details of your day with someone you love. Link here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCjymbOvATW/
Senior Creative June 2023 - Oct. 2024
Led development, scripting, and production of videos, stills, and campaigns for Fisher-Price, Red Baron, and Discover Finance’s cross-platform content. This included driving strategy for Discover’s long-form $pill the Tea series.
“I had the absolute pleasure of leading Tess on the Red Baron and Discover accounts at TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, and she made an immediate impact on our team. Tess is one of those rare creatives who brings both incredible talent and a deep understanding of the culture she’s creating for.
Her experience as an active creator herself is a huge strength, you can feel it in the way she stays ahead of trends, keeps ideas fresh, and taps into real conversations happening online. It made her work feel not just creative, but relevant in a way that’s hard to teach.
Tess also brings a strong sense of direction when it comes to talent and communication. Whether it was guiding creators or aligning internal teams, she had a natural way of making people feel seen, heard, and creatively energized.
Beyond all that, Tess is a true team player. She’s thoughtful, collaborative, and brings great energy to any project. Working with her always felt easy and inspiring. She’s the kind of teammate you hope to have more of.
I couldn’t recommend Tess more. Any team would be lucky to have her creative mind, her communication savvy, and the genuine positivity she brings to the table.””
ATTN: Agency
Senior Copywriter @TikTokForGood Oct. 2021 - Sept. 2023
Concepted, wrote, produced, hosted, and edited 12-16 videos a month, leading production teams throughout the process. Grew account 1221%!
Gorgeous Gorgeous Girls Respect Boundaries - a TikTok I wrote and hosted as a Senior Content Creator on ATTN: Agency’s TikTokForGood team. Received 1.2 million views, 131.5K likes, 13.4K saves. Link provided above.
Save The Blobfish - A TikTok I wrote and produced as a Senior Content Creator at ATTN. In an effort to promote sustainable fishing, we used the story of blob fish to educate audiences on bottom trawling. Received 4.9 million views, 221.4K likes, and 7,053 saves.
Senior Copywriter @Barbie Aug. 2021 - Oct. 2021
Developed a long-term creative strategy and launched Mattel’s official Barbie (and Brooklyn!) TikTok. This involved pitching, scripting, producing and editing short-form content, while tapping into viral trends and casting emerging talent on TikTok.
“Tess Gattuso is truly a creative talent of our generation. I was lucky to manage her and see firsthand the rare blend of originality, reliability, and sharp creative instincts she brings to every project. Tess has an uncanny ability to concept and execute content that always resonates — with audiences, clients, and collaborators alike.
Beyond her creative genius, what sets Tess apart is her exceptional collaboration skills. She’s not only a joy to work with, but she also elevates every team she’s on. Whether she’s leading talent, developing an idea from scratch, or jumping into a fast-moving project, Tess is consistently reliable, communicative, and on point.
Simply put: Tess delivers. Every time.”
COMEDY CENTRAL
Content Producer
Pitched and created humorous memes for “Lights Out with David Spade” social media pages, built graphics in Kapwing and Premiere Pro, and incorporated online trends and current events into content development.
THE NEW YORKER
Contributor
APPLE WATCH
Communications Manager
I researched leads and initiated conversations with client selects. I acquired NDA signatures, communicated project details, then coordinated all communication between me, leads, and the Casting Director. I then interviewed selects to judge if their story was a fit for Apple’s vision.
“What Pride Means To Me”
Writer
TOONSTAR
Copywriter and Voice Actress
I created cartoon personalities, pitched and wrote episodes for characters' Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube platforms, as well as curated relatable social media for 300K+ Instagram followers and 3 million+ Snapchat viewers. Click below for a video I wrote and voiced.
AWESOMENESS
Writer
Conceived and scripted “Epic How-To” videos and promotional sketches starring the cast of Ge Z show “Foursome.” Content was posted across AwesomenessTV’s social media platforms.
DISNEY PRINCESS
Copywriter
Conceived and wrote 40+ branded videos for Disney Princess' YouTube Channel. Videos were for 3 to 11-year-old viewers, with an additional focus on parental co-viewing. Even during time crunches, my communication and quick wit made it simple to formulate fun and interesting ideas that turned into videos that have brought in more than 20 million views over the past year.
PINY: INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK
Writer
PINY: INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK is a Spanish animated children’s television series based on the toy franchise, Pinypon. The series follows Michelle Fairchild, a student at a prestigious college competing to become a top fashion designer. It debuted on the Disney Channel in 2016 and is available on YouTube. I wrote three episodes, including the one linked below.
PLAY
Creator and Head Writer
I developed and sold a 10x10 digital comedy series for screen reality studio Bazelevs Productions.
Summary: Under the guise of a vivacious alter-ego, a vanilla journalist takes to social media to share her experiences exploring subcultures of LA. As she struggles to navigate the contention between her IRL identity and blossoming online life, she must handle the backlashes that come with speaking your mind. Oh, and the entire story takes place on her iPhone.
Proof of concept available upon request.
Made it this far? Enjoy my most recent content!