The Brutalist director says Oscar contender made him ‘zero dollars'
The Brutalist director Brady Corbet said that he 'made zero dollars' from the Oscar-nominated film.
Corbet's comments come on the heels of the BAFTAs, where The Brutalist won four awards –Brady took home best director, Adrien Brody won best actor for his role as Hungarian architect and Holocaust survivor, László Tóth, and the film also won best original score and cinematography.
Corbet and Brody both took home best director and best actor at the Golden Globes, in addition to winning best film.
The Brutalist has received a whopping 10 nominations at the forthcoming 97th Academy Awards, and has been considered a frontrunner on the awards circuit this year despite controversy over the use of AI in the film.
Appearing on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Corbet said that he had been living paycheck to paycheck, and multiple filmmakers were in a similar situation.
'I just directed three advertisements in Portugal,' Corbet said. 'It's the first time that I had made any money in years.'
The Vox Lux director explained that he and wife Mona Fastvold, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Brutalist, 'made zero dollars on the last two films that we made'.
Responding to Maron's surprise, Corbet said: 'Yes. Actually, zero. We had to just sort of live off of a paycheck from three years ago.'
Corbet went on, saying many other filmmakers are also struggling to make ends meet.
'I've spoken to many filmmakers that have the films that are nominated this year that can't pay their rent. I mean, that's a real thing.'
Explaining that filmmakers are 'not paid to be promoting a film,' he continued: 'If you look at certain films that premiered in Cannes, that was almost a year ago… I mean, our film premiered in September. So I've been doing this for six months. And had zero income because I don't have any time to go to work. I can't even take a writing job at the moment.'
On the long awards campaign and press circuit he's currently on, Corbet said it felt like 'a six-month interrogation,' and that he had just completed 90 interviews last week.
'It's seven days a week,' he said. 'It's boundless. It's constant travel, and you're also working Saturdays and Sundays. I haven't had a day off since the Christmas break, and that was also only four days.'
The Brutalist spans 30 years and explores the life of Hungarian Jewish architect László Tóth, who survives the Holocaust and, after emigrating to America with his wife, played by Felicity Jones, crosses paths with the mysterious Harrison Lee Van Buren, played by Guy Pearce, who changes the course of his life.
In a five-star review of The Brutalist for The Independent, Clarisse Loughrey wrote: 'It's not a film to devour, but to be devoured by. There's such a weight to it that it creates its own field of gravity – which, coupled with the same fierce cynicism of Corbet's previous films, The Childhood of a Leader (2015) and his pop star psychodrama Vox Lux (2018), turns a traditional historical epic into an existentially disturbing monster movie. The monster in question, of course, is America.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Billie Eilish's Brother Makes Shocking Claim About L.A. Protests
Billie Eilish's Brother Makes Shocking Claim About L.A. Protests originally appeared on Parade. Finneas, the older brother and longtime collaborator of , says he was 'tear-gassed' while at the protests in Los Angeles over the weekend. Finneas (also known as Finneas O'Connell) has not shied away from controversial political messages since becoming famous alongside his sister. Finneas has written and produced music for his sister, including her breakthrough album, When We All Fall Alseep, Where Do We Go? and her Oscar-winning songs 'No Time To Die' and 'What Was I Made For.' He has also collaborated with a variety of other artists, in addition to his own music. And while Fineas would presumably prefer to use his platform to promote The Favors, his new duo with singer-songwriter Ashe, that wasn't the case on Sunday. Finneas was reportedly at the protests in his native Los Angeles. It's unclear whether Finneas participated in the demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for detaining dozens across Southern California, or if he was an observer. 'Tear gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protests [in Downtown Los Angeles],' he posted on his Instagram Story, before claiming, 'They're inciting this.' Finneas also shared many messages in support of the protestors and messages denouncing President Donald Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard. Billie and Finneas have been politically active for years. In June 2020, the 'Bad Guy' singer attended a Black Lives Matter march in Los Angeles to protest the killing of George Floyd, per The Independent. Billie also spoke out during her 2022 Glastonbury performance following the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, per the BBC. In 2024, Billie shared a bold political message for her fans ahead of the U.S. Presidential election. Other stars, including Eva Longoria, Chrissy Teigen, Tim Heidecker, and Florence Pugh, have all posted in support of the protest and against the ICE raids. Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong also made a bold statement on the protests, using one of the band's recently released Eilish's Brother Makes Shocking Claim About L.A. Protests first appeared on Parade on Jun 9, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Billie Eilish's Brother Finneas Claims He Was Teargassed And Attacked By The National Guard
Oscar-winning musician and producer Finneas, known for his work with sister , revealed he was tear-gassed during a peaceful protest in downtown Los Angeles over the weekend. The protest was part of a wave of civil unrest sparked by ICE immigration raids ordered by , which have escalated into violent clashes across the city. The 27-year-old artist, born Finneas Baird O'Connell, took to Instagram Stories on Sunday to share his experience, saying he was targeted almost immediately after arriving at the protest. "Tear-gassed almost immediately at the very peaceful protest downtown. They're inciting this," he wrote, blaming the National Guard for escalating tensions rather than de-escalating them. Earlier in the day, Finneas made his stance on the immigration enforcement efforts clear, posting a blunt message: "F-ck ICE." Los Angeles has been at the center of growing unrest since Friday, when federal immigration raids resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals identified by authorities as undocumented immigrants and gang members. The raids prompted large-scale demonstrations across the city, with protesters voicing opposition to ICE's tactics and President Trump's handling of immigration policy. By Sunday morning, National Guard troops had begun deploying in downtown LA, particularly near City Hall, in anticipation of further demonstrations. Photographs from the Department of Defense showed members of the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team stationed with long guns and armored vehicles. While the deployment was limited to select areas, the LA protests have already spread beyond downtown. Demonstrations erupted Saturday in Paramount and neighboring Compton, adding to the growing unrest. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a stark warning on Saturday, saying that "active duty Marines" were on "high alert" as the situation escalated. Finneas's account of being tear-gassed during what he described as a peaceful protest adds to growing criticism of how law enforcement and military personnel are responding to public demonstrations. His comments also highlight the deepening divide between the entertainment community and the federal government amid the ongoing immigration crisis. He joins a long list of celebrities who have spoken out, including , who amplified criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by reposting a tweet from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who condemned Hegseth's warning about deploying active-duty Marines in response to protests against President Trump's immigration policy. Hegseth, in a post shared on X, stated, "If violence continues, active-duty Marines at Camp Pendleton will also be mobilized. They are on high alert." Newsom responded by calling the statement "deranged behavior," while Longoria described it as "Un-American." The "Desperate Housewives" actress, known for her longstanding advocacy on social justice issues, also reshared a video of singer Gloria Estefan speaking on the matter, along with a heartbreaking clip of a woman being separated from her child during one of the raids. Fashion designer Jeremy Scott also addressed the escalating protests on June 8 via his Instagram Stories, criticizing former President Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard without backing from local or state leaders. According to Scott, the move appeared to be an attempt to divert attention from Trump's ongoing public feud with . Plus, singer and "Mean Girls" actress didn't hold back on her Instagram Stories, where she blasted ICE, the Trump administration, and anyone she believes played a role in the unfolding crisis. Rapp called the federal government's response a "disgrace" and condemned those she sees as complicit in allowing it to happen. Former "Catfish" co-host Kamie Crawford took to Instagram Stories to share an emotional message about the current immigration crisis and LA protests, acknowledging that she's felt "sad, exhausted, and ashamed" for not being more politically outspoken in recent months. Still, Crawford made her position clear, writing, "Immigrants are worth fighting for." In her heartfelt posts, she urged followers to recognize the humanity at the center of the issue. "Even if you're someone who just wants immigration reform and better checks & balances, I think we can objectively see what's going on & agree that this is not the way. This is inhumane & it's harm," she wrote. "These are our friends, our neighbors, our families, our teachers, our TAXPAYERS. These are people. This isn't right." As the unrest continues to unfold, many in Hollywood are expected to join in vocal opposition to the raids, and Finneas is already proving he won't stay silent.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Critics hail Celine Song's ‘Materialists' as an ‘exquisitely made' modern love story — not a ‘glossy romantic comedy'
Writer-director Celine Song's sophomore feature, Materialists, may not match the awards buzz of her Oscar-nominated debut, Past Lives, but critics remain impressed with the filmmaker's storytelling prowess. In Materialists, Dakota Johnson plays Lucy, an ambitious New York City matchmaker who finds herself torn between the perfect match — the tall, handsome, and wealthy Harry (Pedro Pascal) — and her imperfect ex, John (Chris Evans). Early reviews for the film have been positive, earning it a "certified fresh" rating with an 86 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. "Generally favorable" reviews compiled by Metacritic resulted in an overall score of 73 percent. More from GoldDerby Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro reunite, tease 'Meet the Parents 4' 'Heartwarming' yet 'bloated': Film critics are mixed on 'How to Train Your Dragon' live-action remake 'She's got tunnel vision': Wendi McLendon-Covey reveals what she loves most about her character Joyce on 'St. Denis Medical' Billed as a romcom, Materialists defies traditional genre conventions, with critics noting that Song's filmmaking style elevates the film beyond the familiar tropes of romantic comedy. Caryn James (BBC) wrote, "Materialists is exquisitely made, character-driven and talky, with some glittering dialogue. It's the kind of idiosyncratic film a director sometimes gets to do after a great success and Song makes the most of it." James added that the romantic comedy "is hardly a romcom at all, but something far more original and captivating: a piercingly honest exploration of love and money and the inevitable connection between the two." The Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney calls it, "A refreshingly complex look at modern love, self-worth and the challenges of finding a partner in an unaffordable city, which once again treats three points of a romantic triangle with equal integrity and compassion." Variety's Owen Gleiberman wrote, "While it's all too easy to imagine the breezy '90s version of this movie, Materialists is very much not that movie. It's a sharp and serious social romantic drama full of telling observations about the way we live now." William Babbiani of The Wrap warns not to judge the film by its trailer. "It's exceptionally intelligent and biting filmmaking," he writes. "If you go into Materialists expecting a glossy romantic comedy — as the trailer for Materialists strongly implies, cutesy 'Material Girl' cover and all — you may emerge deeply disappointed. If you go in expecting a pointed exploration of the commodification of modern romance, you may be deeply impressed." Not all reviews for Materialists, however, are glowing. Kristen Lopez (The Film Maven) wrote, "Materialists is as shallow as its characters, but so desperately wants to think it isn't. The script is all over the place, and when it finally settles into a groove there still seems to be pieces missing." Justin Chang of The New Yorker wasn't impressed either, noting, "I don't buy it, Jane Austen wouldn't buy it, and deep down I don't think Song buys it. In attempting to merge escapist pleasures with financial realities, Materialists trips up on its own high-mindedness." Materialists opens in theaters on June 13. Best of GoldDerby Stephen King movies: 14 greatest films ranked worst to best 'The Life of Chuck' cast reveal their favorite Stephen King works, including Mark Hamill's love of the 'terrifying' 'Pet Sematary' From 'Hot Rod' to 'Eastbound' to 'Gemstones,' Danny McBride breaks down his most righteous roles: 'It's been an absolute blast' Click here to read the full article.
