Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg go on a great adventure together

Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg in "Adventureland"

Kristen Stewart has a red-hot career, thanks to the "Twilight" movies that have catapulted her to major stardom. But to hear her tell it, she’d be OK with being an actor working in obscurity. Jesse Eisenberg, her co-star in the dramedy film "Adventureland," feels the same way. But these two rising young actors aren’t complaining about the incredible opportunities they’ve had. "Adventureland" is the type of smaller, character-driven film that they’ll probably continue to make, no matter what blockbusters may come their way.

Set in the 1980s, "Adventureland" stars Eisenberg as James Brennan, a recent college grad who, due to financial setbacks, has to put off taking a summer trip to Europe and ends up taking a minimum-wage job working at a game booth at a Pennsylvania amusement park called Adventureland. Stewart plays Em Lewin, who works at an Adventureland game booth and who sparks romantic interest from James. Eisenberg and Stewart sat down at the March 2009 "Adventureland" press junket in Beverly Hills, California, to share their experiences making "Adventureland," what they love about ‘80s movies, and what to expect from their upcoming films.

Are you a fan of any of the ‘80s music that was in "Adventureland"?

Eisenberg: Yeah, before we started the movie, the director, Greg Mottola, gave us a CD of all the songs he wanted to put in the movie. Half the songs are songs our characters are supposed to like and the other half are songs we’re supposed to hate. I think we probably had the appropriate reactions to all of them. But yeah, I love the Replacements. I didn’t really know them — I heard their name, but I never really heard their songs before [doing] the movie, so it was nice to discover a band.

Your characters aren’t really happy with the way their lives turned out, because they’ve ended up working in an amusement park. Did you ever think that your acting careers would turn out to be disappointments, like the acting equivalent of Adventureland?

Stewart: Unless you’re delusional and have grand ideas of acting … being corny.

Eisenberg: The movie has a lot of current appeal, in that a lot of people are taking jobs that they feel are beneath them, because of the recession. So I think it’s probably a very relatable idea. As an actor, every job ends in two months, so you’re in a weird position having to get jobs, and it can often feel discouraging … Even if you have a great job, it doesn’t last for maybe two or three months, six months at the top. It sounds arrogant … because we’re in movies and stuff, to say it’s discouraging, but because the job often ends so soon, it does feel a little lonely.

What kind of fun did you have shooting a movie at an amusement park?

Stewart: We weren’t allowed to ride the rides during filming. Because who knows? Maybe some of those rides aren’t very safe. I don’t think either one of us was amused by amusement parks.

Eisenberg: They’re just called ‘ment parks.

Stewart: [She laughs.]

Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart in "Adventureland"

Amusement parks are a right of passage for so many kids. Were they a rite of passage for you when you were growing up?

Eisenberg: Yeah, you’re right. I grew up in the middle of New Jersey, and to go to Great Adventure, which I think is in South Jersey, was a big deal whatever summer you went there. Like I remember the earlier you went as a child, the cooler you were, especially if you were 54 inches, which was the minimum height for [some of the rides]. So if you were smaller than 54 inches, you probably had to wait until the next summer to hit some puberty. This park we shot at has this kind of nostalgic, romantic feel. It’s a little older and a little more charming.

Stewart: It’s not about the thrill. It’s not about big, intimidating rides that you’ve conquered. It’s more about being there together with people you enjoy.

Eisenberg: For a day, a nice outing.

You filmed "Adventureland" at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh. Was the park actually open while you were filming?

Eisenberg: The park wasn’t actually open while we were filming. In order to make a movie, you have to have complete silence for several hundred feet around you.

Stewart: A controlled environment.

Eisenberg: And all the people [in the movie] would have to wear 1980s clothing, with no logos. It’s such an incredibly thorough, controlled environment. The park is a seasonal park, but I think it was open on the weekends for a Halloween-themed night. So it was completely closed. [There were] paid extras riding in the background in all the shots.

Jesse Eisenberg and Martin Starr in "Adventureland"

You two are too young to remember the ‘80s, so what did you do to prepare for your roles?

Eisenberg: They gave the cast binders full of facts. Not a lot of it was relevant to the movie, but there was some stuff [in "Adventureland"] — I think most it was cut out — about Watergate; some scenes we were discussing Watergate … But I think the movie could almost more appropriately take place right now. The character’s father losing his job and [James] feeling like he has to take this job that’s beneath him, not being able to go on this trip to Europe or Columbia grad school. It’s similar to that time [the ‘80s], but it’s kind of weird how the movie was made a year-and-a-half ago, yet is so current.

Stewart: Right. Just by chance. But then again, even though we haven’t lived [through the ‘80s], there are so many movies and remnants from the ‘80s, it’s sort of like we’re more nostalgic for something we didn’t get to experience … Like all of the teen movies [from the ‘80s] really have the most — I don’t know — the stakes are so high [for the characters in those movies]. Now, we’re cynical …

Eisenberg: They [the characters] are more pure of motive. Like Kristen said, it’s not this cynical, jaded sense of having already been there. The kids today, the savviness that exists … It seems more innocent and sweet in [movies set in the ‘80s].

Jesse, you also play a young man in the ‘80s in "The Education of Charlie Banks." Did you find any similarities between your characters in that movie and "Adventureland"?

Eisenberg: The tones of the movies are so different, so the main thing was creating a real person … This one ["Adventureland"] tilts more toward the comedic. You change subtle things. But [there was] that same innocence, loss of innocence. In this case ["Adventureland"], it’s a romance and in that ["The Education of Charlie Banks"], it’s a crime. It’s a different plot.

Jesse, can you talk more about playing the title character in "The Education of Charlie Banks"?

Eisenberg: He [Charlie Banks] witnesses Jason [Ritter’s character] almost kill this guy, and decides to turn him in. And then the rest of the movie takes place three years later, when Jason Ritter’s character is a possible murderer and living with him. And Charlie wants him to have success at this school and become kind of this honorable guy. Charlie is perhaps too trusting, and Jason’s character … can’t suppress these violent urges he has. And ultimately, it doesn’t work out for either of them. It’s a really nice story. A really nice relationship.

Jesse, in "Holy Rollers," you play a Hasidic ecstasy dealer. And your sister, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, is in the movie, right?

Eisenberg: Yeah, it’s my real sister. She came for a day … I told her she had to play a [Hasidic] Jewish girl … and wear skirts below the knee … [The movie] is based on a true story. It’s a dramatic movie …

"Adventureland" co-stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Wiig, Kristen Stewart, Bill Hader with director Greg Mottola at the film's 2009 Sundance Film Festival premiere in Park City, Utah

What parts of your "Adventureland" characters did you relate to the most?

Eisenberg: I’ve been going to college for six years, and I still haven’t graduated, because [of] work. I would like to go to graduate school as well — same thing like the character in the movie. College is absurdly expensive. Even though I get to be in movies, which is a great job, I still actually have to afford real college.

Stewart: I can definitely relate to [my character’s] unfulfilled ambition. I don’t have it in me to roll within the structure of a conventional school, university, whatever. But I definitely have the drive. It’s funny, I wish I could have the best of both worlds, like not having to do things so militantly. It’s funny being an actor, because you don’t have to do anything … I don’t do too well with expectations. I just say, "Screw it!" So now that I don’t have any, it’s nice. It’s a lightness that’s easier for me to perform. I can relate to her on that level.

Kristen, do you think it was better that you started acting as a child, or do you think you should’ve waited until you were an adult?

Stewart: I think it’s much easier. I think if I had started at a later age, I would be wracked with the insecurity that would keep me from doing it. I’m glad that I grew up with it, because it’s something that I’ve grown into. I didn’t start out with the need for it, and now it’s like, OK, this is definitely where my energy has to go. I was much more confident when I was a little kid. I just really rolled with it and went with it. It was very arbitrary. I grew the passion for it.

Kristen Stewart in "Adventureland"

Because of the success of "Twilight," you’re one of the most in-demand young actresses right now, but do you still get worried about finding your next acting job?

Stewart: I’ve never been worried about not working, maybe it’s because I have been working consistently. If there’s ever a time between films where there’s just too much time to myself … I need another outlet to put my output. I’m very fortunate. I get the ultimate outlet. I don’t know how I would express myself if I didn’t have it. It’s not something I think about. The insecurity is not about the work. I don’t feel like I need to keep being an accomplished actor. It’s fine if I stop doing that. [She says jokingly] I’ll just do plays with Jesse.

What about you, Jesse? Do you feel insecure about getting your next acting job?

Eisenberg: Yeah, but on the other hand, I kind of feel like Kristen: If they don’t call again, thank God!

Stewart: Yeah! [She laughs.]

Eisenberg: There’s the other side of it, which I feel uncomfortable with — any public side [to being an actor] I find very uncomfortable, and I think Kristen does as well. So if that [fame] was taken away, I’d be fine with it. You just find another place to perform.

Jesse, what’s next for you?

Eisenberg: I’m doing a movie in Atlanta now called "Zombieland." It’s kind of like a buddy comedy. These two guys are trying to get home together, running from zombies.

Are they slow zombies, like in the original "Night of the Living Dead"?

Eisenberg: There were many discussions about this. They’re actually a little faster.

Kristen, what can you say about Dakota Fanning in "New Moon"?

Stewart: Dakota is going to be in "New Moon," briefly.

How well do you know Dakota?

Stewart: Only though these projects. She’s a great girl, but I’ll get to know her more over the next couple of months.