Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer
Why Hacker News recommends it
The standard link whenever someone asks creatives to work unpaid or for publicity.
What it is
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'.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2013 to 2021.
What Hacker News said
Recommends athms · 2020-10 · on “F*ck You, Pay me – Everyone should watch this once per year”
Harlan Ellison has a good take on it from a writer's perspective. The creative business is always trying to get something for nothing. [this video]
Cites joshAg · 2013-03 · on “A Day in the Life of a Digital Editor, 2013”
this video interview with harlan ellison seems relevant here (warning, language): [this video] perhaps profit sharingbased on unique views might be a solution to the problem.
Cites coldtea · 2014-06 · on “Houston, We Have A Public Domain 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: [this video] (Harlan Elisson, "Pay the writer").
Cites happytoexplain · 2021-05 · on “Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings”
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: [this video]
Cites duxup · 2021-05 · on “Netflix's “Love Is Blind” Wants Unpaid Photographer for Five Weddings”
Even if you're established in your career ... they'll ask you. As Harlan Ellison demonstrates: [this video]