When Mark Duplass and Katie Aselton lived in Brooklyn in the early aughts, they were broke and scared that they would never break into the entertainment industry.

“It was a very stressful time in our lives,” said Mr. Duplass, who stars as Chip Black, the voice of reason on Apple TV’s “The Morning Show.” Then in 2005, the couple co-starred in the low-budget indie film “The Puffy Chair,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. They have since established themselves as champions of indie cinema and thriving actors in mainstream films and TV series.

Ms. Aselton, 47, and Mr. Duplass, 49, like to collaborate. In 2019 they co-wrote the film “Magic Hour,” a romantic drama loosely based on their enduring love and codependency issues.

The couple spent a Thursday with The New York Times as they prepared to attend a sneak preview screening of “Magic Hour” at the IFC Center.