Entertainment · Celebrity · 1 hr ago
Jacob Elordi Says Opening Night Helped Him Understand the Acting Process
Jacob Elordi said Opening Night made him feel less alone when he was struggling with self-doubt early in his acting career.
The 1977 film, directed by John Cassavetes, stars Gena Rowlands as an actress nearing a major Broadway opening while facing a crisis.
Elordi said watching Rowlands’ performance helped him see that the confusion and strain he felt could be part of creating a character.
He chose the film for a screening in Santa Monica, where he discussed it with filmmaker Sean Baker.
The event was the first US gathering of Cartier Cinema Club, an initiative launched at the Venice Film Festival last month to celebrate cinema and its artists.
The film still helps Elordi make sense of acting, even after he has made more than 10 movies.
He said he is preparing for another film, but did not name it; the source says he is due to start shooting Ari Aster’s Scapegoat.
Jacob Elordi said John Cassavetes’ 1977 film Opening Night helped him understand that the turmoil he experienced while acting could be part of the creative process.
He selected the film for a Cartier Cinema Club screening at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre.
Elordi discussed the film at the event with filmmaker Sean Baker and moderator Kim Gordon.
He said rewatching it while preparing for another movie again drew him into thinking about how actors search for a character.
- Who
- Jacob Elordi selected the film and discussed it with filmmaker Sean Baker and moderator Kim Gordon.
- What
- Elordi said Opening Night helped him understand the acting process.
- When
- The screening and discussion took place on Friday. The article was published on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- The Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
- Why
- Elordi said the film showed him that what he had thought was his mind and body breaking down could be part of creating a character.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cartier Cinema Club launched at the Venice Film Festival.
Elordi watched Opening Night again in preparation for the event.
Elordi selected the film for a screening and discussion at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre.
Elordi said he was preparing to start another movie.
- Film
- Opening Night, released in 1977
- Director
- John Cassavetes
- Venue
- Aero Theatre, Santa Monica
- Discussion guests
- Sean Baker and Kim Gordon
- Elordi’s career
- He said he had made more than 10 movies or something like that.
What people are saying
The movie made me feel a lot less insane and alone.
This movie showed me that what was actually happening was hopefully the artistic process, the process of creating to a character.
You can be searching for a character and not know that you’re searching for it.
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"I probably made three movies that I thought were pretty bad when I was young, and I had hopes and dreams of being this kind of terrific, ferocious stage actor. So I was pretty not fond of myself at that time," explained Jacob Elordi during an event presented by Cartier Cinema