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Sunday, March 11, 2012

YouTube profits: How Charlie and Fenton are reaping rich rewards thanks to the ... - Daily Mail

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YouTube profits: How Charlie and Fenton are reaping rich rewards thanks to the ... - Daily Mail
Mar 11th 2012, 17:25

By Tom Kelly

PUBLISHED: 12:24 EST, 11 March 2012 | UPDATED: 12:25 EST, 11 March 2012

The video of one-year-old Charlie biting his brother's finger has already become an internet sensation earning his parents a six-figure sum.

Now their father, Howard Davies-Carr, has signed up to an internet agent who hopes to turn the children into a global brand.

He is one of hundreds of home movie makers taken on by management company Viral Spiral to help maximise profits on video clips that become surprise online hits.

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Ouch! This video of one-year-old Charlie biting his brother Harry's finger is being used to launch a lucrative global business

Ouch! This video of one-year-old Charlie biting his brother Harry's finger is being used to launch a lucrative global business

Mr Davies-Carr's 58-second film showing Charlie mischievously giggling after sinking his teeth into his unwary older brother's finger was posted on YouTube in 2007 for friends and family to enjoy.

But after it was featured on a U.S. TV show it went on to become a phenomenon and has now been viewed more than 400 million times.

A 'partnership' agreed between Mr Davies-Carr, who works for a US software company, and YouTube has already earned the family more than £100,000 which he plans to use to pay for their education.

Viral Spiral owner Damian Collier said he was confident that there were many ways to expand 'brand Charlie.'

Internet sensations: The boys, pictured with their family three years on in 2010, have inspired a 'Charlie bit my finger' app due to be released in the next few months

Internet sensations: The boys, pictured with their family three years on in 2010, have inspired a 'Charlie bit my finger' app due to be released in the next few months

They include an official 'Charlie bit my finger' app for the iPhone, with interactive features that allow users to upload a picture of them having their finger bitten by the youngster.

There are also plans for a series of children's books - ironically including one stressing the importance of not biting - and an animated television series.

Mr Collier, who has previously produced Hollywood film and hit musicals, said: 'It all started after I had a meeting with Charlie's father and was very surprised to learn that he was handling the hundreds of requests from media companies himself.

'It's a very tough when you already have a full time job.

'I come from a background of working with brands, so I know all the various way you can expand a brand and make the most of the available opportunities.'

Hilarious: Other videos on the books of management company Viral Spiral include this footage of a dog chasing deer through Richmond Park in London, which attracted more than six million hits

Hilarious: Other videos on the books of management company Viral Spiral include this footage of a dog chasing deer through Richmond Park in London, which attracted more than six million hits

Since signing Charlie's family, Mr Collier has taken on thousands of online video clips for his company, mostly featuring babies, animals and practical-jokes.

His portfolio includes the footage of Fenton, a dog who was filmed chasing deer in London's Richmond Park, which went viral in November and has now been viewed more than 6 million times.

Viral Spiral has brought in advertising contracts worth £100,000 for home-movie makers and he has negotiated deals for viral content to feature in advertisements for Coca-Cola, Samsung, T-Mobile and Sony PlayStation.

He licenses video content to television shows across the globe and works with publishing, TV and film executives to promote his clients.

Mr Collier, 35, added: 'None of my clients wantonly exploit their children. If any of them did we would have something to say about it.

'We discuss everything with our clients and if they say 'no', that's the end of it. I don't push things where kids are involved.'

 

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