Lots of people have seen Harlan Ellison’s rant about paying for creative work (here, in case you’ve somehow missed it). Well, yesterday I was surfing about the TV and came in on the middle of a documentary about Mr. Ellison called Dreams with Sharp Teeth (on Sundance–here are some clips). I only saw about the last half, but I have set my DVR to record it when it repeats (Thurs. at 10 AM, at least here on the West Coast). I encourage you to watch it as well.
Ellison is at times a total ass (which he completely cops to) but he is also so very right in many of his ideas about creativity. Not just its valuation and the need to actually pay for all the creative you use (music, words, images, etc.), but also about the creative process itself. Even if you loathe his attitude, there is a lot to be gleaned from this film.
Creatives should expose themselves to other creatives as much as possible, I think. Different disciplines can foster new ways of thinking within your own. And seeing someone with the chutzpah of Mr. Ellison can help all of us to stand up a little taller and fight a little harder–which we all need to do in this creative/business environment.