Filmer Spotlight: Viva Frei
Viva Frei is a Canadian-based lawyer turned content creator and family man. David has exploded in popularity by entertaining audiences with tricks and skits featuring his wife and kids. Failed haircuts and heartwarming reunions are just a few examples of the Shorty Award Winner’s adventures. His audience across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube is multi-generational and massive, with a 370k plus reach. Dedicated to increasing the global pool of happiness and goodness in the world, one quirky video at a time!
“Live. Be wild. And stay young. Even if your knees crack every time you get up. Peace out!”
Through his partnership with Newsflare; Viva Frei has been featured in LadBible, the MailOnline, RightThisMinute, InTheKnow, BBC, ITN Productions, UNILAD, Channel 5, Celebs React, Telegraph, NBC News London, The Weather Channel, Distractify, MinuteBuzz, New York Post.
Some of Viva Frei's most popular videos
Q&A with Viva Frei
Are you a full-time content creator?
Yes. I am still practicing law, but much less these days. My focus has really shifted to online legal content creation and live streams. But I still create quirky content and viral videos on my second channel, where I often use Newsflare to license those videos.
How do you describe your job to people?
Montreal litigator turned YouTuber. And part-time viral videographer. I have two channels – one dedicated to law/current events and the other random fun stuff.
What would a typical creative day look like?
I read the paper to see what interesting lawsuits have been filed, what interesting stories there are in politics or law where my expertise and analysis can be useful. I then do some research, gather videos, articles, etc. Then I head to the car to shoot content. Come back into the house to edit. Get my thumbnail ready. Upload and give sneak peeks to members who support the channel. And film random videos which I upload to my second channel or Newsflare just to distract myself from the legal world.
What's the best thing about partnering with Newsflare?
The best thing is the transactional sales, transparency, and quick payment. Other platforms do not do “per sale” transactions, so you often have to wait months to get paid. And when you do get paid, it’s not itemized so you don’t know which videos sold where or for how much. With Newsflare, it is easy to verify these details, which makes it much more convenient and trustworthy.
I posted a video to YouTube, and it started going viral. I got a comment in the comment section from Newsflare - never heard of them at the time. I’m a lawyer by trade, so I was a little skeptical, but that video sold so many times. I would have never sold that video as many times as it was sold, without Newsflare’s help and network of clients.
What camera/s do you use?
I use any one of my Nikon D5600, iPhone (12 Max), or GoPro. Recently, most of my viral videos have been shot on my iPhone just because I always have it on me, and the video is incredibly high-quality in any case.
How has Covid impacted you?
From a channel growth perspective, I have seen tremendous growth. People were stuck at home and looking for something to watch. Plus, people have lost faith in mainstream media for accurate and unbiased analysis, so they have turned to alternative sources. From a content perspective, there has also been tremendous growth. On my main channel, there has been an explosion of legal cases to analyze and break down. On my second channel, it has been an outlet of creation during difficult times. But from a political/constitutional rights perspective, I never thought we would see the Western world descend so rapidly into this type of panic and tyranny, but that is a separate discussion.
Any tips for other Newsflare content creators?
ABC - Always Be Creating. Always have a camera with you. Always be looking for unique experiences, moments. Insects on a branch. Puppies playing. The most random videos can be content gold. And thinking in the ABC framework opens your mind and heart to see the world differently by paying more attention to details that you might otherwise not notice or take the time to appreciate.
What do you attribute to your success?
Good luck, good timing, stubborn tenacity, and constant attentiveness to the world around me. There are beautiful/funny/magical moments everywhere. It’s just a question of being there, noticing them, capturing them, and then having the good fortune of other people/outlets, also finding them interesting enough to license.
