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Remember 2012? The U.S. box office hit nearly $11 billion, Netflix became a streaming service, and Emily Best launched Seed&Spark with what seemed like a radical mission: Build your audience, control your financing, own your distribution.

“The amount of time in my life I was dismissed for that shit,” she said.

Cut to June 2025 and Vulture publishes “Mark Duplass Has a Plan to Save Television.” The interview detailed self-distribution of his limited series “The Long Long Night,” but here’s the thing: The plan wasn’t his. It was Emily’s, the same one she’s pushed for 13 years.

The Breakthrough Moment

It took over a decade, but Emily’s vision — now partnered with Christie Marchese’s distribution platform Kinema — finally looks less like wishful thinking and more like a lifeline.

“I wrote ‘Netflix is bad for the film business’ in 2018,” Best said. “Lots of people whispered to me, ‘I totally agree,...

As the streaming landscape continues to drastically change, Mark Duplass is investing in himself and advises other creators to do the same.

The Golden Globe nominee recently detailed how he and brother Jay Duplass are approaching indie television production now that the streamers’ system of financing is “not working as well” as it was five years ago.

“I’m hoping we can build a real ecosystem of indie television the way that, from the late ’90s through today — even though it’s not as healthy anymore — there is a true indie-film ecosystem,” Duplass told Vulture. “TV festivals like SeriesFest in Denver or Atx Fest in Austin can become marketplaces that executives are forced to go to because, if they don’t get in there to buy that show in the room, they’re going to miss out.”

He added, “I truly believe there’s a confluence of interests here, if...

Newly announced programming for the 2025 Atx TV Festival, being held Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, June 1, in Austin, Texas, includes:

▶ A screening of Max’s Duster (premiering May 15), followed by a Q&a with co-creator/EP Latoya Morgan and cast members Josh Holloway, Rachel Hilson, Keith David and Asivak Koostachin

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▶ A conversation with The Gilded Age cast members Carrie Coon,...

Mark Duplass’ main passion is creating independent television shows and films — but he understands that in order to do so, that means sometimes he has to take on a “money grab.”

After receiving the Impact Award at the Miami Film Festival on April 12, the actor and producer opened up about being hesitant to sign on to both “Good American Family” on Hulu and “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+.

“Why are we making a rip from the headline show, other than a money grab, honestly? Which I’m not above! I like a money grab. I need ways to fund all my independent productions, and that’s part of it, if I’m being honest,” he said of joining the series, which tells the story of Natalia Grace. Once he heard more about it and dove into becoming Michael Barnett, he was intrigued.

Before joining “The Morning Show” in 2019, he was also hesitant.

"You are a privilege sandwich with white rage mustard - and I hate you!" Kinema has unveiled an official trailer for The Long Long Night, a brand new comedy series from actor / filmmaker Mark Duplass and Duplass Brothers Productions. Available for viewing at the end of April on the new online streaming service called Kinema. The series follows lifelong best friends struggling to find purpose six months after tragedy strikes; stars actual childhood friends Mark Duplass and Barret O'Brien who slowly developed the 6-part first season. Featuring Mark Duplass, Barret O'Brien, and Karen Pittman. Friends since they were six, now adults struggling with depression, it's about trying to build adult lives that contain some semblance of purpose. Two people doing their absolute best to try and help... and absolutely not helping. This series also was crowdfunded recently via Seed & Spark if you want to help contribute. This looks clever and fun,...

Atx TV Festival has added more programming to the upcoming 2025 event, which is just under two months away.

The festival announced Wednesday that its lineup will now include Seth Meyers in his Atx TV Festival debut, hosting the opening night marquee panel to give audiences an “inside look” at his work on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Tony Gilroy will also be on hand to discuss Andor with Beau Willimon, and Mark Duplass will be screening his new indie show The Long Long Night.

Here are a few more panels announced Wednesday:

Acorn TV will make its Atx TV debut with “Anatomy of an Acorn TV Series,” a panel featuring Jane Seymour, Paul Powell, and Courtney Thomasma that will delve into the streamer’s growing library of originals and international favorites. Emmy Award-winning actress Carrie Preston will join for a conversation about Elsbeth, her hit CBS original crime dramedy. Joel McHale,...

Seth Meyers will be kicking off the Atx TV Festival, one of the premiere TV events of the year. A panel for “Late Night with Seth Meyers” will serve as the opening night marquee, TheWrap has exclusively learned.

The panel will mark Meyers’ Atx debut. The NBC star will give attendees an inside look into how he and his team create the show’s recurring segments and approach their particular brand of political satire. Meyers will also spill on the joys and challenges of creating late night TV.

Additionally, this year’s festival will include panels from CBS’ “Elsbeth,” Fox’s “Animal Control,” Acorn TV and a screening of “The Long Long Night” as well as a conversation with series co-creator and star, Mark Duplass.

Carrie Preston will take the stage for Atx TV’s “Elsbeth” panel. Preston will be discuss giving a show to the “astute but unconventional” Elsbeth...