Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer
Nicholas Horton1 HN recommenders · 2013–2021
1.3M views · commentary · evergreen · Uploaded 2007-11-07
A three-minute rant by Harlan Ellison, excerpted from the documentary Dreams with Sharp Teeth, on why creative professionals should always be paid for their work rather than work for free or 'exposure'.
The standard link whenever someone asks creatives to work unpaid or for publicity.
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5 comments from Hacker News
this video interview with harlan ellison seems relevant here (warning, language): [VIDEO] perhaps profit sharingbased on unique views might be a solution to the problem.
> Is art, similarly to science, not an iterative process based on the input of dozens, hundreds, thousands of people that came before us? Are we all not standing on the shoulders of giants, pushing just a few steps forward more, both because we like what came before us but want to see it go someplace new? Yes, and a lot of us want to be paid for our contributions to this mass endeavour. Case in point, lots of those giants on whose shoulders we stand got ripped off and died peniless. Obligatory link: [VIDEO] (Harlan Elisson, "Pay the writer").
Harlan Ellison has a good take on it from a writer's perspective. The creative business is always trying to get something for nothing. [VIDEO]
This is less about "can" and more about "should". It's bad for everybody when professionals work "for publicity" or are encouraged to do so, despite the relative innocence of the professional who chooses to do so. For the least subtle take on this possible, see: [VIDEO]
Even if you're established in your career ... they'll ask you. As Harlan Ellison demonstrates: [VIDEO]