October 30, 2017
At the center of this hilarious dual memoir, the Duplass brothers—who have directed, produced, and written films and TV shows such as Togetherness, Cyrus, and Transparent—reveal their idiosyncratic work habits, such as making up scenes involving people they see at airports and riffing off each other’s ideas in long email chains. They ponder the art of compromise (“Check your ego at the door”) and collaboration: “We have a fundamental desperation to make things, and we are willing to destroy ourselves to get things done.” Jay admits that he’s a little jealous of his younger brother, Mark, but hopes his brother also gets jealous of him, too. The brothers conduct a back-and-forth about the top-10 films of all time, finally choosing a list on which both can agree that includes Joe Versus the Volcano, a “highly intelligent, misunderstood adult fairy tale.” The Duplasses ask their wives what makes the brothers tick: Katie, Mark’s wife, recognizes how creative and emotional turmoil helps feed their process; Jen, Jay’s wife, calls the Duplass family a “fine-tuned little ecosystem.” The Duplass’s entertaining and energetic memoir gives their fans a clear look at the creative genius that drives them.
July 30, 2018
The Duplass brothers, who run Duplass Brothers Productions and frequently write, direct, and star in their own productions, bring a free-flowing conversational style to the highly enjoyable audio edition of their joint memoir. The book alternates between chapters chronicling the brothers’ upbringing in Metairie, La., and those detailing their professional relationship, including their regular brainstorming sessions at airports, in which the brothers create intricate backstories for the people they observe waiting in terminals. The most memorable part of the book involves an annotated version of Mark’s edgy short story “The Blowjob,” along with Jay’s feedback, in which the brothers effectively use tone, pitch, and comedic timing to convey the often-tortured nature of the creative process. The brothers both draw on their acting chops to recreate their points of view in anecdotes from their childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Though primarily of interest to inspiring filmmakers, the brothers’ fun-loving dynamic should appeal to all types of listeners. A Ballantine hardcover.