Brady Corbet Says ‘The Brutalist’ Made Him “Zero Dollars” & Fellow Oscar-Nominated Directors “Can’t Pay Their Rent”

deadline.com:

Despite being among the favorites this awards season, Brady Corbet‘s The Brutalist did not net the indie filmmaker a single dollar.

The Vox Lux helmer appeared on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast yesterday to discuss the 10-time Oscar-nominated sweeping American immigrant epic, having just come off a string of advertising gigs in Portugal that proved to be “the first time that I had made any money in years.” Corbet, who directed The Brutalist off of a script penned by himself and partner Mona Fastvold, his wife and collaborator, said the two “made zero dollars on the last two films that we made.” When Maron was surprised at the statement, he reiterated: “Yes.

Actually, zero. We had to just sort of live off of a paycheck from three years ago.” He continued, “I’ve spoken to many filmmakers that have films that are nominated this year that can’t pay their rent.

I mean, that’s a real thing.” That’s because Corbet, and other directors like him, are often tied up in a months-long global press tour promoting their film, which they are not paid to do. “If you look at certain films that premiered in Cannes [Film Festival], that was almost a year ago … I mean, our film premiered in September.