Jesse Eisenberg recently opened up about the emotional state he experienced during the filming of the 2015 drama The End of the Tour. Speaking in a GQ video, Eisenberg revealed that the project had a profound impact on his mental health, sharing that he was glad to have completed shooting the film because he faced intense emotions throughout the process.
In The End of the Tour, directed by James Ponsoldt, Eisenberg plays a fictional version of author David Lipsky who reflects on the time he interviews novelist David Foster Wallace, portrayed by Jason Segel. The story, which unfolds after Wallace’s death, required Eisenberg to present a character struggling with feelings of jealousy and inadequacy.
Eisenberg shared that the character he was playing (Lipsky) was an extremely jealous person. He is interviewing a writer of whom he is very jealous and being in that role was very uncomfortable and emotional for him.
Eisenberg shared that the role affected him more than he expected, although he could not fully explain why. He said he was confused about whether he was going through something in his career at that time or something that, for some reason, reflected what was happening in that film, and he said it just struck him. Was killing.
The actor revealed that he had difficulty managing his emotions during filming, often crying during scenes, even when it was not required. Eisenberg said, “I literally couldn’t stop crying during the scenes.” “And then the director asked me to stop crying during the scenes.”
Despite the director’s guidance, Eisenberg found it difficult to control his emotions. He said it was taking an emotional toll on him that he couldn’t explain even to a therapist, which he probably wasn’t accidentally going to at the time.
Eisenberg also shared how his admiration for Segel contributed to the emotional intensity of the experience. She said she has very deep feelings for an actor named Jason, who is wonderful in the film. He further said that he is an impressionable person, and all these deep feelings of inadequacy were coming alive in him during that film.
The film’s tight budget and difficult schedule also increased Eisenberg’s challenges. The production required long periods of filming with limited breaks, leaving little time for the actors to step away from their characters.
Eisenberg shared that he was in this world right now, and it actually felt quite unhealthy for him. He was happy when the film was finished, even though it was one of the most creatively inspiring experiences he had ever had.
Also read: ‘I feel lucky’: Angelina Jolie reflects on talking to sons about topics of ‘relationships’ and ‘violence’ in her latest film Maria.