Read on Twitter
THREAD on getting paid to appear in documentaries+ for consulting as a scientist
You MUST demand payment. Your time is valuable. You are experts, less well trained lawyers make $250-$500+ per hr. This takes away from your research, teaching etc. Every uni I know allows consulting, just be sure to do the paperwork, ask your chair for right steps.
Most TV production companies will *not* make initial $ offers to women, Indigenous+ Black scientists, if they even ask them to appear. Docs are mainly unqualified mediocre white men at least in archaeology. You bet they are paid.
If you have guilt around getting paid for your expertise, get help to allow you to work through those issues (I mean that in the *most* pro-therapy way possible. A lot of these issues are deep seeded). Otherwise donate $ to your dept. account for students+yr research
Rates are *standard* for filming. $1500-$2k per day plus expenses, might be a bit less for smaller PBS style shows. Less as well for longer duration filming, minimum $1k a day. Um, you’ll earn it. Filming is *exhausting*.
A lot of people have standard rate sheets. X for filming, $250 for a consult “pick your brain” call, $150-$400 per hour consulting OR fixed amounts for bigger tech projects, aka monthlong project be $5-10k, ask on here for advice! Many of us can help you navigate.
OR if there is IP, work with your uni lawyers. This is literally their job. I’ve always had great free advice from them. They’ll protect you as well.
You will need a contract, tons of templates online. Again use your uni legal office. It is free. Make sure you own all your science.
Disclosure: I have an agent. Most people don’t need one. This does not make me fancy or special. I get asked a lot to do doc and other work. It was the right choice for my specific situation. You may need one eventually as well.
News doesn’t pay. Thems the rules. Everyone else should. Most of the time if you ask they’ll run away. Good riddance. You owe them *nothing* and you bet they are all getting paid. You are worth it! FIN
Someone reminded me: I need to say this is US specific advice. For UK and rest of the world different rules and laws. Consult w your colleagues in those countries.
Also: you may need to negotiate for smaller productions, aka they can only afford $500-1k per day. Go with what you are comfortable earning. Establishing trust w company is essential.
