Director Brady Corbet revealed that he earned “zero dollars” from his Oscar-nominated film The Brutalist and shared how difficult it is for many filmmakers financially. In an interview on the podcast “WTF with Marc Maron,” Corbet mentioned that his recent work directing advertisements in Portugal was the first time in years he earned money.
He further explained that he and his partner made no money from their last two films, and they had to rely on a paycheck from three years ago to make ends meet.
Corbet’s film The Brutalist, which tells the story of a fictional Hungarian Holocaust survivor who becomes an architect in the U.S., has been nominated for 10 Academy Awards and has earned him numerous accolades. However, he acknowledged that he isn’t the only one facing financial challenges in the film industry. He shared that many filmmakers, even those with nominated films this year, are struggling to cover basic expenses like rent.
After their films premiere, directors often go on extensive promotional tours and awards campaigns, which can last for months and take up all their time without any financial compensation.
Brady Corbet shared in a recent interview that since the premiere of his film The Brutalist in September, he has had zero income due to the demands of the promotional work. He explained that the long and exhausting travel schedule, both internationally and within the U.S., has made it impossible for him to take on other work, including writing jobs.
Despite the vast scope of The Brutalist, the film was made on a relatively low budget for Hollywood, approximately $10 million. However, Corbet faced significant challenges in financing the film, and it took him seven years to complete it, involving multiple attempts to secure the necessary funds.