Why Jesse Eisenberg felt like a “hack” on the set of 'A Real Pain' with Kieran Culkin

Jesse Eisenberg was honored by co-star Kieran Culkin on the set of her new film “A Real Pain.”

Eisenberg, who wrote and directed the film, tells Page Six that he felt like a “hack” and embarrassed himself in front of the “Succession” star on the first day of filming.

He explains that during his time on the Emmy-winning HBO series, Culkin was filmed documentary-style as he walked around the room, rather than having the actors stand at a set marker for filming.

“The Social Network” star, 43, says he asked Culkin, 42, to make a point, only to be questioned by the Emmy winner.

“He said, ‘Why should I stand over there? '” Eisenberg remembers. “I said, 'We took this beautiful shot, these statues behind you and it's beautiful,' and he just didn't want to live up to that mark.”

Instead, Culkin suggested that the camera follow him, and Eisenberg says the alternative “was so funny, it was so lively.”

“And I realized, OK, the way we're going to film Kieran is going to be, you know, with the camera on our cameraman's shoulder and not with the grand vistas that I had been planning for months.”

Eisenberg admits that when he first thought about the interaction, he felt like a “hack.”

“I was immediately embarrassed,” he adds, humbly noting, “I always try to think about the behavior that I can change, that is my own, and I thought, yeah, I'm probably in the wrong place here.” Let's make the film that highlights Kieran the most.”

It appears that Eisenberg achieved his goal, as the film received rave reviews and Culkin is already nominated for an Oscar nomination.

The duo play cousins ​​touring Poland in honor of their grandmother. However, the journey becomes complicated as family tensions arise.

The premise was inspired by Eisenberg's own trip to Poland.

“My wife and I backpacked through Poland in 2008,” he explains. “We actually went to all the places the characters go, I mean specifically all the places (in the film).”

The Zombieland star was so touched by the visit that he applied for Polish citizenship, which he will receive in a few weeks.

“I just feel this deep connection to the country of Poland,” he says. “My family lived there longer than they had in New York…for me it felt like it felt like something I wanted. It always felt like something I wanted to connect with, for reasons I’m not exactly aware of.”

“A Real Pain” is in theaters now.