Working with horror director Eli Roth on Thanksgiving taught Jalen Thomas Brooks lessons about acting, collaboration and trusting a director’s vision.
Before starring in the 2023 slasher film, Brooks appeared in television series including Rebel, Animal Kingdom and Walker. Since then, his career has expanded with roles as nurse Mateo Diaz in HBO Max’s The Pitt and John Tucker in the Prime Video adaptation of Off Campus.
In Thanksgiving, Brooks plays Bobby, a talented baseball player caught up in the aftermath of a deadly Black Friday riot in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The experience gave him a new perspective on filmmaking and the importance of working together on set. IMDb
In this interview, originally conducted during the release of Thanksgiving, Brooks discusses his transition from basketball to acting, what he learned from Eli Roth and how working on a horror film shaped his approach to the craft.
Key Insights
- Find inspiration in unexpected places: Brooks transitioned from basketball to acting after discovering that filmmaking offered the teamwork and storytelling he loved.
- Preparation and collaboration are essential: Working with Eli Roth taught Brooks the importance of knowing his material, respecting the crew and contributing to a shared creative vision.
- Trust the director’s vision: Brooks learned that following direction and committing to a performance can create results actors may not fully understand until they see the finished film.
How Did Jalen Thomas Brooks Get His Start in Acting?
I played a lot of basketball growing up. When I was a freshman, I had interest letters to go to college to play, but I decided not to continue because I was bored and my body was hurting. Then I watched The Hunger Games one night and I was like, “Oh, these people that are close to my age actually made this story.”
I always wrote stories when I was little. I watched movies, but there’s something about The Hunger Games that made me really think I could be a part of something like that.
So I told my mom, who got me into a theater class, but it was too big, too scary. I found an acting-for-film class, then got an agent through that and started auditioning. Things started to stick.
Why Did Brooks Choose Acting After Playing Basketball?
I’ve always been connected to stories. I think it’s a very crucial part of life. It’s what humans are actually inclined to do since humans were created. When I stopped playing basketball, it was a month later that I knew this is what I should do.
How Is Teamwork in Acting Similar to Playing Sports?
One hundred percent. Kobe Bryant is a huge role model for me. When he won an Oscar, he talked about how everybody comes together with their own skills and they mesh and make this thing.
I didn’t think I was going to find that anywhere else other than a sport, but then I went to a set for the first time and it was like a well-oiled machine.
I thought, “This is beautiful. This is amazing.” Everybody was working as one unit. I always wanted to be a part of something with that kind of camaraderie. That’s why I got into acting.
What Did Jalen Thomas Brooks Learn From Director Eli Roth?
Eli made that really clear. When we first met with everybody, he said, “Hey, guys, I know some of you are more successful than others, but we’re all here, we’re all making this movie. Do your job. Don’t try to outshine anybody, just do your job, and I promise you we’ll make a classic. Put your ego aside, understand your place in the movie, and do it to the best of your ability, and everything will work out.”
For me, I’m like, “Heck, yeah! I’ll do my part! I’ll do it the best I can!” Everybody did that.
For more advice on working professionally with cast and crew, read Film Set Etiquette: What Actors Need to Know.
How Is Acting in Movies Different From Acting on Television?
When you’re on episodic TV, it’s more fractured. You come in and do your part. You don’t have to really worry about what’s happened in the story for the episode that you’re not there for.
When you’re in a film, everything is more connected. It’s more of a team aspect. Every single thing that you can do matters because there’s a clear beginning, middle and end.
How Did Working on ‘Thanksgiving’ Change Brooks’ Approach to Acting?
Totally. You have to be super prepared, know all your business and don’t be distracted.
The way Eli approached it, he’s such a professional, you expect excellence from everybody. It was just a different level of acting that I didn’t think I was going to get to so quickly.
It was funny to find it in a horror movie.
Why Is Trusting a Director Important for Actors?
The one thing that was really interesting about the whole process was that the movie’s very, very funny, but he did not let us in on the joke. The whole time, he told us to play it dead serious and said, “You’ll see. It’s gonna be hilarious.”
We were all like, “What do you mean, it’s gonna be hilarious?”
[It turned out that way because of] how the dialogue was written and how he cut the movie, because we listened and worked [well] as a team.nYou were able to see his vision 100% clear. That’s what it was for me, seeing that as an actor on film, we are part of the director’s vision.
What Acting Advice Will Brooks Take Into Future Roles?
He taught us so much, even how to talk to people professionally, how to move around set and how to be respectful to people. It’s helped me so much. Doing auditions and going into meetings with people, understanding the business side of everything. It all matters.
For more insights into building a professional acting career, explore How to Become an Actor: A Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Career.
What Can Actors Learn From Jalen Thomas Brooks’ Experience?
Brooks’ experience on Thanksgiving demonstrates that building an acting career requires more than delivering a strong performance. From his early interest in storytelling to his work with Eli Roth, preparation, collaboration and professionalism have remained central to his approach.
His subsequent roles in The Pitt and Off Campus show how his career has continued to develop across genres and formats. For actors looking to build lasting careers, his experience offers a useful reminder: Know your material, respect the people around you and remain open to what every production can teach you.
