Director of 'The Brutalist' Explains His Lack of Earnings Despite Numerous Oscar Nominations

'The Brutalist' has emerged as a significant contender this award season, boasting ten Oscar nominations alongside securing four BAFTA awards and three Golden Globes.

Yet, during an episode of 'WTF with Marc Maron,' Brady Corbet, who directed the film, expressed that both he and co-writer Mona Fastvold, also his romantic partner, have not earned any compensation from this film or their 2018 project, 'Vox Lux.'

Corbet explained they have been surviving off a three-year-old paycheck, without specifying its origin.

Corbet has previously stated in interviews that 'The Brutalist' exceeded three hours in length and required a $10 million budget, akin to 'Vox Lux.'

Although 'Vox Lux' did not succeed financially, generating only $1.4 million, 'The Brutalist' has fared better, grossing $31 million since its debut in December.

Corbet shared on the 'WTF' podcast that his promotional world tour for 'The Brutalist,' starting from its Venice Film Festival premiere in September, was unpaid.

"Juggling the demands of awards campaigning, with travel every two or three days, was far from perfect but was a chance that I seized," Corbet noted. "The essence of promoting a film doesn’t entail financial compensation."

The Challenges of Traditional Film Promotion

He remarked additional filmmakers with nominees this year struggle financially—even paying the rent is a genuine concern.

While actors and directors usually must engage in promotional duties upon a film’s release, the responsibility often doesn't extend into award season. Some studios refrain from remunerating talent for such discretionary appearances, and the details of contracts like those for 'The Brutalist' remain undisclosed.

Corbet pointed out the hindrance that awarding seasons impose on taking new jobs.

"The last six months of my life have been devoid of income as work opportunities were non-existent," Corbet disclosed. "With constant travel even on weekends, my last break was a brief Christmas respite."

A Recent Opportunity

Recently, Corbet managed to secure an opportunity directing three advertisements in Portugal.

"It signifies my first earnings in quite some time," he remarked.