This story is part of I'm So Obsessed (subscribe here), our podcast featuring interviews with actors, artists, celebrities and creative types about their work, career and current obsessions.
When you hear the name Mark Duplass, the question isn't what does he do, but rather what hasn't he done? The actor, writer, director and producer, known for his roles in The League, The Mindy Project and the film Bombshell, received an Emmy Award nomination on Tuesday for his role as Charles "Chip" Black on the Apple TV Plus series The Morning Show.
It's not the first time Duplass has won acclaim. In 2018, he and his brother Jay won an Emmy Award for producing the hit Netflix documentary series Wild Wild Country. The brothers will continue working together on both scripted and unscripted podcast series they're creating exclusively for Spotify. And if that's not enough, the pair oversee the brilliant and inventive HBO anthology series Room 104, which is currently in its fourth and final season.
Room 104 is a fascinating and bold look at storytelling and creativity. Each episode is a different story told in a different style featuring different actors. But all episodes take place in the exact same generic hotel room.
Duplass was a guest on the I'm So Obsessed podcast on CNET. He explained where the idea of setting an anthology series in a singular hotel room comes from.
"The core idea is that we're all a little bit different in hotel rooms and we all let this other side of ourselves out," he said. "Also, I just love a hotel. I don't know why. I have always loved a hotel room. It's so much fun for me to get out and experience something different. The new smells and the feelings of history in the room. And that ding on the wall and what could that ding have meant? My brain goes to that place."
In our interview, Duplass talks in-depth about Room 104, including starring in the fourth season premiere as a fictional obscure '90s rocker named Graham Husker. He also wrote and directed the episode. In addition, he discusses working with Dave Bautista on an episode called Avalanche. He describes Bautista as giving "one of the most beautiful performances we've had on the show."
Duplass opens up about his early days as an indie filmmaker, having his films labeled as Mumblecore, his time playing in the band Volcano, I'm Still Excited!! as well as his working relationship with his brother.
Listen to my entire conversation with Duplass on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. You can subscribe to I'm So Obsessed on your favorite podcast app. In each episode, I catch up with an artist, actor or creator to learn about work, career and current obsessions.