Indie filmmaker Brady Corbet recently opened up about the struggles of promoting his film “The Brutalist” despite its 10-time Oscar nomination. Corbet revealed that he and his partner Mona Fastvold, who co-wrote the script, made zero dollars from their last two films. The couple has to live off a paycheck from three years ago due to the lengthy press tour that accompanies an awards-recognized film.
Corbet discussed the “six-month interrogation” of promoting their film, which includes constant travel and working on weekends. He stated that he hasn’t had a day off since Christmas break, conducting around 90 interviews in one week alone. The director shared his background as a former actor and the themes explored in “The Brutalist,” including male ego and the relationship between art and legacy.
Former collaborator Natalie Portman praised Corbet’s work, saying that he is transforming the way movies are made in an era of algorithmic content creation and franchise fatigue. However, some critics have questioned why writers and directors behind award-winning films do not receive a fair share of the profits.
Corbet pointed out that financiers require creatives to give up their fees in exchange for “artistic” integrity. He argued that this business model is unsustainable for most people outside the industry’s system. Despite this, some critics dismissed Corbet’s concerns, suggesting he can always find work elsewhere.
The disparity between awards recognition and financial compensation is a pressing issue in the film industry, with Corbet highlighting his own struggles to make ends meet despite “The Brutalist”‘s commercial success.
Source: https://deadline.com/2025/02/brady-corbet-the-brutalist-money-rent-filmmaking-1236293225