“Brutal” director Brady Corbett revealed that he hasn’t made any money for his work in the film, acknowledging that this is the norm for many directors in Hollywood.
“I spoke to many filmmakers this year who have nominated films this year that can’t pay rent,” Corbett said on Feb. 17. episode “Wtf with Mark Maron” According to Hollywood Reporter. “I mean, that’s true.”
He went on to elaborate that he and his wife and creative fellow Mona Fastbold “made zero dollars in the last two films we made.” Before working on “The Brutalist,” Corbet and Fastvold created the 2018 film, Vox Lux. “The Brutalist” won 10 Academy Award nominations in 2025 for Adrien Brody’s Best Actor, Felicity Jones’ Best Supporting Actress, Best Picture and Best Director Corbet.
Topshot – US Director Brady Corbet is the best director of “Brutal” in the press room at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on January 5, 2025. Winner of the Best Film. Robyn Beck/AFP) (Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)
The director explained that big screen success doesn’t always amount to financial stability. Maron asked Corbett to explain how it is possible to put such a tough work into a film and not receive payment.
“Yes. Actually, zero,” Corbett said.
“We had to come back to life from our pay for three years,” he pointed out.
The director explained that filmmakers were “not paid to promote the film,” saying, “If you watch a particular film that premiered in Cannes, it was almost a year ago… I mean, we The film premiered in September. So I’ve been doing this for six months. And I don’t have time to go to work, so I earned zero. I can’t even do writing at this point.”
Madrid, Spain – January 17: Actor Adrian Brody (L) and director Brady Corbett (R) will be “Brutalist” at Hotel Rosewood Villamana on January 17, 2025 in Madrid, Spain Attend a photo call. (Photo: Borja B. Hojas/Wireimage) Getty Images
Corbet said he has conducted 90 interviews in the past week alone, describing his film’s press circuit as “six months of interrogation.”
“It’s seven days a week,” he added.
“It’s endless. It’s a constant trip and I work on Saturdays and Sundays, he said on the podcast, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Corbet said he had circumnavigated away from the film industry to earn his pay. (Related: “Lost All Money”: Cher admits to losing her entire property in the 80s)
“I overseen three ads in Portugal,” he said.
“This is the first time I’ve made money for years.”
