I sometimes make jokes in this blog about the fact that I’ve had songs that I’ve created that have received literarily millions of online streams and I’ve received only a very small pittance for all of those plays. My films, well… Some of them have received hundreds of thousands of views and I’ve received nothing at all.
 
I remember this one person interviewed me, way back in the way back when. …Seemed nice enough. They titled their article, “Scott Shaw: How Not to Make It in Hollywood.” I thought that was a pretty funny and very telling title. I believe you can find it on this site.
 
It’s not like I really care about chasing all of the accolades of the music and the film industry and all of that, as I learned long ago the more fame you gain the more attacks you will find that are directed at you by people who know the least about you, what you do, and why you actually do what you do. But me, like everyone, in whatever game it is that they play, we all need to earn a living.
 
You always hear stories about, and believe, all the tales of the creators of that whatever and how they are making loads and loads of denaro. But, how often do you hear about the fact that is not always the case?
 
Back in the earlier days of the film game, if you made a movie, a distributor would pick it up and give you tons of upfront money for it. Then, via the various sales to the international marketplace places, a lot more money could be made.
 
Then, the Video Revolution hit, and everyone became a filmmaker. Add to this the rise of possibilities on the internet, and forget about it, if you weren’t playing the game in the BIGS, the A-Market, there was little to no money to be made.
 
Sure, for a time there was the Video Tape market, followed by the DVD and later Blu-ray transformation where some money could be made. But then/now, that era is all but gone. I mean, ask yourself, when was the last time you watched a VHS or a DVD? It’s over!
 
Streaming is now the name of the game. And with that, someone is making money. But, most probably, not the filmmaker.
 
Like all people in the Film Game, I too have followed the trends towards Streaming. But, in that trend, someone is making money but not me.
 
I kind of smile when I see the numbers for some of my films on YouTube. …Which are up there for FREE! But, keep in mind, because they have nudity and other such non-condoned items in them, I can’t even links ads to them, to make a hundredths of a cent if someone clicks on something. I guess YouTube is making money on each view, but not me.
 
Like my film, Naked Avenger, for example, as I write this, there has been one million seven hundred thousand views. Just think, if I only got one dollar per view, which I think would be a very reasonable fee to pay, I would have over a million dollars in my bank account. How much money have I made on it since it has been up on YouTube? Zero. My film, Shotgun Blvd., three-hundred and fifty-three thousand, three hundred views. Add one dollar per view to that, and… But, what have I received? Nada. Absolutely nothing.
 
Now, in all truth, I am happy that my films are out there, and I’m happy that some people seem to enjoy watching them. But… And, this is an important thing to keep in mind, if you are watching something for free, either on a site like YouTube or via some bootlegged unauthorized copy on some website based in some far-off foreign country with no copyright laws, the person and the people who made that film are receiving nothing. What’s the karma in that for you?
 
So, here’s what we should do, set a payment method in place where for each time you, (or anybody), has watched, (in the past, present, or future), one of my films, I get one dollar. Whenever anyone watches footages from my films, used by some Content Creator, or a detailed bashing review of one of my films, I get one dollar. Small price to pay don’t you think?
 
I’m just joking, of course. But, in all that you do—in all that you consume, are you being fair, just, and honorable to the person who created that whatever. If you are, great! Good for you! If not, what will be your karmic price?