Harlan Ellison is a jerk

Nice video, Heidi. That guy made me laugh. I think I fit the profile of one of those amateur writers he was talking about, since I write for free. I get his point and appreciate his honesty - it's refreshing - but what happens when you take his advice? You become like him? Somebody who, at whatever age he's at, has a conniption fit over a few bucks and a copy of a DVD when he's already rich and famous?

yeah - if i got the impression he was actually losing money helping amateurs out, then I'd be on his side. But the man is a millionaire. AND a jerk to boot.

Harlan Ellison is one of the most abrasive people I've seen.

Okay, he made me laugh as well; though it's true that he's a dick. He's kind of a funny dick, though.

Ironically, immediately after watching the video and posting the above, I turned around and responded to an email offering payment for a small paragraph of text I wrote for a magazine a while back. I turned down the payment on the basis that it was fun to write and that it really was just a small paragraph.

So - screw you, Harlan!

Who goes to the doctor to get his/her spleen taken out? That doesn't sound pleasant.
This guy's a douche bag.

I agree with him. This wasn't a struggling film student wanting to interview him, it was for a BABYLON 5 dvd set and they wanted him for nada.

I think more than being a real dick, Harlan just kind of gets himself wound up, and likes to hear himself rant. I would LOVE to debate the issue of downloading with him, which he talks about in this film. His views are antiquated as all hell. And being a musician who has 6 albums in release, but they are downloaded more than purchased, I'd like to think I have a valid opinion of what it all means to the artist.

If I am correct I think he has sanctioned more than one student film based on his work. So as far as him not supporting the little guy, that's not entirely true.

I have to agree with Butcher, here. No doubt Ellison is something of a self-absorbed loon and doesn't always make himself look pitiable, but he has been very generous to others and, as a writer, I get what he's saying. Reminds me of an old quote by, I think, Billy Wilder who once explained to a studio writer the kind of western he was looking to make and told him to "just word it in". To say writers are the most critical to the industry and yet the least respected is not far off the mark. Ellison loves L.A., but I can see how a long career there can set anyone off to the tune of that video.

I'll say this, too: he's let himself go a little lately, but for a man who is my father's age he's got more energy and zeal for life than most men half his age. He's like my dad in how excited he gets, too. It can fill your chest with anxiety to be in the same room with him, but as I get older and work harder, I understand him more and more.

I hope someday to be a successful jerk. He's kind of my hero.

Haha. That's the spirit!

I think hard work + success ÷ being successful enough to be fucked with = jerk on TV. I think.

Someday, I TOO shall rant about doing free shit for stuff when people ask me to do stuff and I don't need to for either the publicity, or the exposure. ahh - someday...