Jesse Eisenberg is opening up about his experience working with Kieran Culkin on their upcoming film, A Real Pain. The former took over the director’s chair for the project and revealed that he embarrassed himself in front of Culkin on the first day of filming.
Speaking with Page Six, the Zombieland actor shared that he felt like a “hack” with Culkin on set. Eisenberg, who also worked on the film’s script, revealed that the crew filmed the Succession star in documentary style, as the camera followed him.
Eisenberg claimed that when he asked the actor to stand on the mark before starting to roll, the Emmy winner questioned him and said, “Why would I be standing there?” The filmmaker further recalled, “I said, ‘We have this gorgeous shot, you have these statues behind you, and it’s beautiful,’ and he wouldn’t stand at this point.”
However, Culkin protested and asked the director to let the camera follow him. Meanwhile, Eisenberg said he quickly realized that the actor’s method of filming wasn’t bad either; Instead, the choices Culkin made worked well for the film.
Also read: Lee: Andy Samberg reflects on his personal pain behind playing photojournalist in upcoming war film
The actor-director, on the other hand, went into detail about his embarrassing moment with Culkin. He revealed that after his first conversation with the Hollywood star, Eisenberg “immediately felt embarrassed.”
He continued, “I always try to consider behavior that I can change, that is my own, and I was thinking, yes, I’m probably wrong here. Let’s make the film that will make Kieran stand out the most.”
In the film, the actors will play cousins who embark on a trip to Poland to honor their grandmother. The story begins with the bond of brotherhood, but it delves into the complex relationships of family. Furthermore, in a previous interview with the entertainment portal, the filmmaker had revealed that the premise of the film is inspired by his trip to Poland.
In addition to Culkin and Eisenberg, the film will also star Jennifer Grey, Will Sharp, Elora Torchia, and Liza Sadowy.
A Real Pain will be available to watch in theaters.
Also read: Men HD: Happy Birthday Kieran Culkin: Discovering the Succession star’s top 10 roles as he turns 42
