Best Film: The Social Network
Jesse Eisenberg talks ‘The Social Network’
Jesse Eisenberg edged towards superstardom in 2009 with the double-hit of Zombieland and Adventureland, but it was his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in last year’s drama The Social Network that really hammered home his talents – and rightly garnered him a ‘Best Actor’ Academy Award nomination. Jesse was in town recently to discuss his upcoming movie Holy Rollers (the full, extended video interview will arrive on DS later), so we took a bit of time to quiz him about his experiences during the hectic awards season.
On where he was when he found out about his Oscar nomination…
“I was sleeping. I was rehearsing for Saturday Night Live and the hours for that are very late, as you might imagine. I was just exhausted. The way I find out about any awards is through my publicist, Jennifer, she calls and leaves a message. I woke up and checked my messages and she had said that [I had a nomination] – it was very sweet. I was also very exhausted.”
On his SNL appearance with the real Mark Zuckerberg…
“For the most part [the interaction with him] was limited to what was on-screen. Our only interactions off-screen were what we would do on-screen. Nothing juicy unfortunately. Or not unfortunately – fortunately! He was so sweet; the fact that he agreed to come on the show and do something ridiculous with me is so generous. I’m so thankful that he agreed to do it.”
On the “campaign trail” of awards season…
“You’re on this kind of campaign trail at the awards season where you’re discussed amongst other people who are nominated and you’re doing publicity and going to events, luncheons and dinners. You kind of, in some strange way, expect to be included in this because you’re included for so long. The movie has been received so well, so as well as being excited and honoured the other part of it is being relieved that in some ways it’s over.”
A self-deprecating response to The Social Network’s awards attention…
“I’ve never been in a movie that’s received that kind of attention. I know that David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin have been involved in movies like that. I thought by virtue of my involvement it wouldn’t receive that kind of attention. I was very surprised that it has done as well as it has.”
On David Fincher’s demanding, multiple-takes working methods…
“It’s a wonderful process. The most frustrating part of working on a movie is preparing for it for three months and then getting two shots to do it, whereas working with someone like David Fincher – who likes to do a lot of takes – it feels like you have time to thoughtfully try everything you’ve prepared for. You know, when you work on a movie people are flying in from all over the world, people have built sets, rented out rooms, there’s equipment and then it seems kind of like a waste to only get two takes of something.”
Holy Rollers opens in UK cinemas on May 20. The Social Network is out on Blu-ray and DVD now.