Jesse Eisenberg on Balancing Creative Calling and Career Success

Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Careers, Business

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2025

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How do you balance your calling – the thing you are passionate about, with your career – the thing that pays your bills? In honor of the Oscars this weekend, we’re resurfacing our conversation with actor, writer, director, and producer Jesse Eisenberg. Jesse’s new film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in, has received two Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay. The film has already received wide acclaim this awards season, with Jesse taking home an Independent Spirit Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay. In this candid conversation, Jesse Eisenberg sits down with Jessi Hempel to discuss the delicate balance between his calling, writing, and his career, which also encompasses acting, directing, and producing. From personal experiences to valuable lessons on handling criticism, Jesse offers practical insights that will resonate with anyone striving to stay true to their creative vision. Jesse and Jessi discuss: Jesse's creative process as an actor, writer, and director Overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt in the industry Balancing commercial viability with artistic passion The challenges of handling criticism and staying true to your vision How Jesse approaches the business side of filmmaking For more inspiration, listen to Jessi's conversation with Laura Linney on dealing with criticism here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	LinkedIn News
0:02.0	Hey, it's Jesse.
0:09.8	In honor of the Oscars this weekend, we are re-upping our great conversation with Jesse Eisenberg.
0:16.4	He came into the studios here at the Empire State Building in December, and we had a wonderful
0:22.6	conversation about his recent film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in.
0:30.8	Now, it has received two Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Original Screenplay. Y'all, I cannot tell you how incredible
0:40.9	the writing is on this film. I hope you enjoy listening to this conversation with Jesse as much
0:46.5	as I enjoyed having it. Here you go. From the news team at LinkedIn, I'm Jesse Hempel, and this is Hello Monday.
1:06.8	There's a scene right at the top of Jesse Eisenberg's new movie, a real pain, where his character, David, has just met up at the airport with his cousin, Benji.
1:18.3	Now, David and Benji, they're going on a trip, and you get the sense that, well, David is the buttoned up cousin, a little OCD.
1:26.1	Benji, who is played by the actor Kieran Culkin, is not.
1:30.3	I got some good shit from Wemeyland.
1:32.3	Wait, you're not like taking weed into Poland, are you?
1:34.3	Benji? They don't give shit about that stuff, I think they very much do give a shit about that.
1:38.3	Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
1:39.3	And just like that, this movie's script hooks you. The dialogue is just so good. The writing is on fire and in just a few lines,
1:46.4	Jesse has told you so much about the characters and the adventures they're about to have.
1:51.4	Now, you're probably familiar with Jesse's acting work. He's been acting since he was a teen.
1:56.7	He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in the social network.
2:01.6	He played a talented illusionist in Now You See Me, and Now You See Me 2, and soon to be, Now You See Me 3.
2:09.6	I loved watching him as Toby Fleischman. In the Hulu miniseries, Fleishman is in trouble.
2:15.6	Jesse is 41, and for all the decades that he's been acting, he has also been writing.
	...

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