from Paul Coccorese
Samuele Cunto: when you grow up? I dream of a startup
He didn’t hide anything from his parents. “I’m aware of my risqué videos. And that I create soft-porn contents and the fetishes that they ask of me. But I don’t think they watched one. At the beginning my mum even encouraged me to take the plunge». Samuele Cunto, 20 years old from Volvera, is one of the best-known Italian male creators on OnlyFans. The social network that allows you to share, upon payment, images and clips. It’s the last frontier of the DIY porn market. Frequented by many aspiring Rocco Siffredi who chase the chimera of monthly earnings to many zeros. Underestimating the tough choices it takes to get on that web stage. «The users who pay on Of are, in the majority, men. For this reason, I have chosen to offer gay content, even if I am straight. I started with videos on my own, then, seeing the success, I took courage and decided to go further and further. Respecting a stake: I stop at a few “caresses”, I do nothing else. Even if they offered me money to shoot videos of all kinds».
When did you decide to land on OnlyFans?
«In May, I was contacted by a manager interested in my profile on Instagram. He promised me that I could earn 2-3 thousand dollars a month ».
Did he already have many followers?
«No, a few thousand on Instagram and 20,000 on TikTok».
Wasn’t he already famous on social media like many other “colleagues” on OnlyFans?
“No. I was a tinsmith with my father, who has a small company. I woke up at five in the morning to go to work in Bologna».
But did he dream of anything else?
«When I was studying at the aeronautical technician, I wanted to be a pilot. But my desire was to become an established boxer, a champion.”
The notoriety came by offering adult content for a male audience. Has this created any problems for you?
«In the videos there is an element of interpretation, of fiction. I don’t fear the judgment of others. I know what I’m worth and where I want to go. I am, in my genre, the second most followed after Denis Dosio».
What if they recognize her on the street?
«In the center of Turin, a boy stopped me and told me he was my follower. I offered him a coffee to thank him.”
And in the smallest Volvera?
“The first week I opened my Of, a group of guys I knew by sight shouted ‘gay’ at me. I went straight.”
And in the family?
«My sister’s boyfriend started calling me with a “nice” nickname. But I repeat: they are not and for me it is not a problem ».
But what is its sequel?
“I have 60,000 followers on TikTok. About Of 1,400. They are Italian and foreign, Spanish and English. Of all ages, some are 16 and signed up lying. After the first month, however, I only had 130 subscribers. Very few.”
And how much does he earn?
“With memberships, I hit $21,000 last month.”
A good number…
«Every week I shoot two videos and do some “photo packs”. Every day I reply on Of to 300 messages».
Does she answer? Many of her colleagues rely on agencies for this.
«In this world there are those who rely on “chatters”. Instead, I prefer to talk in person with those who follow me».
What requests have you received?
“One person offered me $1,500 to be beaten. I gave up because I avoid extreme things».
What are its limits?
“I didn’t want to make one by eating a goldfish. For 400 dollars, however, I participated in a grappling match, a fight. And a guy paid me to film me inflating balloons until they pop.”
Did he buy himself an expensive car or an apartment with the money?
“No. I still live with mine. I’ve done a few trips. I’m saving because this career won’t last. At 25 you are already old». And what does he want to do next? “Open my own agency. Or launch a startup to clean up the environment. I’ve been thinking about it since I was 19.”
On his TikTok profile he also makes fun of the world of Of. Why? «Being a social network followed by very young people, I want to explain that it is not for everyone. It’s a demanding job.”
Is it risky as social media?
«There is an element of risk that many young people underestimate. Many peers contact me who, after registering, ask for advice to increase the number of subscribers. And just as many, after two weeks and the first videos posted, leave it alone because they realize it’s not that easy”.
And what does she answer?
«I recommend undertaking this “career” only to those who are truly convinced. And after thinking about the future and perhaps the explanations to give to a possible child. With a video or a photograph you “stain” your image, you connote it forever”.
And his girlfriend?
“We’ve been together for a long time. The only constraint he placed on me is not to shoot videos with other women».
How do you organize them?
«I often work with guys from my agency, they are not gay either. We rent an apartment and register».
Is it a team effort?
“I have a manager for TikTok, who is a childhood friend. A manager who follows me for my digital reputation. Another manager for OnlyFans, he’s the person who contacted me, he’s a professional who started with the casting for some TV shows, like Men and Women. And then I work with a video editor».
You are many.
“We are also thinking of relying on a screenwriter. We would like to shoot premium videos, increasingly tailor-made based on requests».
Do you also have to deal with piracy?
“Yup. Unfortunately, my videos are shared on Telegram. Avoiding it is almost impossible.”
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01 December 2022
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