Just the picture in my mind of Harlan Ellison standing under Herb Solow's office window and shouting "Herbie sweetie! Can you come out and play!" makes this whole thing worth it. Also ,any mention of Huck Barkin, a name heard all too rarely these days.
I hasn’t seen that particular interview, but it hits many nails right on the head. Science fiction and fantasy at their best should be character driven and make you think, not just gawk at a big spaceship model blowing up.
This is so interesting because it echoes what was being said by Siskel and Ebert over on their show. It very much predicts what happened during this time period and why 1999 was such an interesting year for drama, rather than science fiction.
I watched this when it first aired, and what Harlan said about Science Fiction VS Sci Fi stuck with me (I've never forgotten it). I try to make it a point to use the term Science Fiction instead of Sci-Fi as often as possible as a result.
There is a reason why they put Middle Men Buffers between the Creators and the Studio Heads. When they would butcher Ellison's work he would go after those responsible. He would show up at their door and start throwing desks, writing the newspapers, and taking his name off the movie. Cordwaider Bird! Plus today's writers don't care about anything but the paycheck. They don't care as long as the check doesn't bounce.
Likewise, author Richard Mathieson had similar distasteful experiences with TV and motion picture incompetent studio executives who didn't respect his stories and simply butchered them beyond recognition. 😮😮😮😢😢😢
@@exexpat11 , I had a similar experience. In around 1988, I had taken a screenwriting class at the University of Irvine, taught by famous screenwriter Dave Trottier. I wrote a screenplay for an “erotic thriller” called The Silk Maze. I tried to pitch it around and got nowhere. Then I got a “bite” from an independent producer who was interested in the story and asked to meet with me. I got all spiffed up and met him at a restaurant in Santa Monica. He seemed genuinely interested in the script and asked me a bit about myself, what else I had written, etc. He asked me to write a treatment. I said: “Wait a minute. If you want me to write a treatment, that’s fine. But I want Writer’s Guild of America standard rates.” At the time, that was about $1,200. Well, instantly the hemming and hawing started. Everybody thinks they can get something for nothing. He expected me to make changes, revisions, change some of the story and (get this), recommend actors! I told him writers don’t recommend a movie’s staff! That’s a job for the casting director! He thanked me, shook my hand and we parted amicably. Never heard from him again. Totally clueless blockhead!
Harlan got immensely angry about a lot of things. It was almost always justified, but seldom helpful. At least you never had to wonder where you stood with him. He was a man of principle when it came to his art and talent. He did not always play his hand well.
![[ARCHIVES] HARLAN ELLISON, J. MICHAEL STRACZYNKSKI INTERVIEW](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/JDNrnpefGio/mqdefault.jpg)
Just the picture in my mind of Harlan Ellison standing under Herb Solow's office window and shouting "Herbie sweetie! Can you come out and play!" makes this whole thing worth it. Also ,any mention of Huck Barkin, a name heard all too rarely these days.
This is an interesting discussion, and great to see JMS and Harlan together.
Ellison was the voice we needed but didn't deserve.
Back when the SyFy channel was known as the science fiction channel and it still had respect for true science fiction
I hasn’t seen that particular interview, but it hits many nails right on the head. Science fiction and fantasy at their best should be character driven and make you think, not just gawk at a big spaceship model blowing up.
This is so interesting because it echoes what was being said by Siskel and Ebert over on their show. It very much predicts what happened during this time period and why 1999 was such an interesting year for drama, rather than science fiction.
God I miss Harlan. Alas, things have only gotten worse. . .
(I'm afraid I've given up the "Sci-Fi" terminology fight, but what a fight it was. . .)
I watched this when it first aired, and what Harlan said about Science Fiction VS Sci Fi stuck with me (I've never forgotten it). I try to make it a point to use the term Science Fiction instead of Sci-Fi as often as possible as a result.
Excellent point for creatives and creators.
I believe that Harlan has referred to his own writing as "Speculative Fiction" in contrast to the term Science Fiction, for his own reason.
~ 8:00 : Wow, it took them quite a while to make a Childhood´s End tv adaptation!
The science-fiction McLaughlin Group?
Much, MUCH better than the McLaughlin Group. But yes, I see where you're going wiht this, and we do need one.
There is a reason why they put Middle Men Buffers between the Creators and the Studio Heads. When they would butcher Ellison's work he would go after those responsible. He would show up at their door and start throwing desks, writing the newspapers, and taking his name off the movie. Cordwaider Bird! Plus today's writers don't care about anything but the paycheck. They don't care as long as the check doesn't bounce.
Likewise, author Richard Mathieson had similar distasteful experiences with TV and motion picture incompetent studio executives who didn't respect his stories and simply butchered them beyond recognition. 😮😮😮😢😢😢
@@exexpat11 , I had a similar experience. In around 1988, I had taken a screenwriting class at the University of Irvine, taught by famous screenwriter Dave Trottier. I wrote a screenplay for an “erotic thriller” called The Silk Maze. I tried to pitch it around and got nowhere. Then I got a “bite” from an independent producer who was interested in the story and asked to meet with me. I got all spiffed up and met him at a restaurant in Santa Monica. He seemed genuinely interested in the script and asked me a bit about myself, what else I had written, etc. He asked me to write a treatment. I said: “Wait a minute. If you want me to write a treatment, that’s fine. But I want Writer’s Guild of America standard rates.” At the time, that was about $1,200. Well, instantly the hemming and hawing started. Everybody thinks they can get something for nothing. He expected me to make changes, revisions, change some of the story and (get this), recommend actors! I told him writers don’t recommend a movie’s staff! That’s a job for the casting director! He thanked me, shook my hand and we parted amicably. Never heard from him again. Totally clueless blockhead!
So good!
Roger used to host Blind Date
Harlan got immensely angry at 8:40
Harlan got immensely angry about a lot of things. It was almost always justified, but seldom helpful. At least you never had to wonder where you stood with him. He was a man of principle when it came to his art and talent. He did not always play his hand well.
Harlan was so right. And that is all we have now, stupid flashy special effects movies that have nothing of substance.
what year is this made?
Post 1997 as that is when Titanic came out and Joe references that movie in the clip.