Mark Duplass Used the Independent Film Model to Make the Show 'Penelope' on Netflix. Can That Work for Others?

The new series "Penelope," premiering Tuesday on Netflix, opens with a 16-year-old girl dancing at an outdoor silent disco. Feeling out of place, she tries to push past the awkwardness of dancing in a room with her summer camp peers. But Penelope's attentions always drift to the surrounding wilderness. It's a quieter start than the typical show premiering on the streaming home of the black comedy-thriller "Baby Reindeer," but its impact lingers. And creators Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn hope their thought-provoking teen drama can show the industry that middle-budget television still . . .