Brady Corbet Explains Why He Keeps Making Movies Despite Being Paid 'Less Than Minimum Wage'

Director Brady Corbet says that making films is more of a "compulsion" than a career, one that often pays him less than minimum wage, even for award-winning work.

Speaking at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity on Wednesday, director Brady Corbet opened up about the personal drive behind his projects and the financial challenges he faces in independent filmmaking.

"It's compulsion," the "Brutalist" director told Page Six during an exclusive interview at the Stagwell Sport Beach studio. "At times, there isn't really a light in the dark… but it's a compulsion to see things through."

Despite the critical success of "The Brutalist," Corbet, 36, admitted he has yet to earn anything from the project. "If a film is incredibly successful, unless a deal is structured from the very beginning and they have very meaningful back-end participation, they don't see anything in the form of a paycheck," he revealed. "When you start doing the math… the reality is that you're making less than minimum wage."

Corbet, who shares a 10-year-old daughter, Adelaide, with his wife and creative partner Mona Fastvold, credits their family for sustaining his motivation. "My wife and I are very lucky that we both write screenplays for various studios and independent financiers, but we're never not working. We work seven days a week, 365 days a year… that's not sustainable forever," he said, joking, "Biologically, I'm hovering around 50."

To offset the financial strain of passion projects, Corbet is now partnering with Magna Studios, a company helping filmmakers connect with brands for alternative funding models. Magna CEO Davud Karbassioun noted the difficulty of funding indie films, saying advertisers are "trying to be supportive" of creative work.

Karbassioun added that Magna is seeking partnerships with companies open to "a more advertising mindset," particularly those willing to invest ins tories and IP. The goal, he said, is to foster "a more meaningful and rewarding relationship with the audience."

Magna Studios has already collaborated with brands such as Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, and Spotify. The company is currently working on a high-profile documentary about the legendary rock band Oasis.

Corbet's second feature film, "Vox Lux," was a hit at the Venice Film Festival, London Film Festival, and Toronto International Film Festival back in 2018. His recent feature, "The Brutalist," won Best Picture and Best Director at the Golden Globes.