The actress and writer discussing her uproarious show depicting the grotty glamour of Gen Z life
Rachel Sennott appears on the video call and immediately launches into an explanation. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, seeming really regretful. Although she's only a bit late, she wants to justify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. I had two calls before this, and I’m like, I’ve gotta stop talking!” Luckily, during an interview, that’s precisely what is ideal to encounter. Moreover, it’s fairly unsurprising. Viewers who have seen her boldly openly gay and outspoken movie Bottoms—which she penned with Emma Seligman and appeared in alongside collaborator the talented actress—will be aware that she holds a lot to discuss, whether on roles, relationships, or the merits of starting a high-school brawl society. Furthermore, once you finish her new eight-part program I Love LA, it is clear that she has additional perspectives regarding the challenges of Gen Z life (Now in her thirties, Sennott is a relatable figure of the gang, a tale-end millennial adept for connecting different age groups).
Inspirations and Storytelling Approach
Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and Sennott is enthusiastic, naming it alongside the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as guides for the project, which tracks the struggles of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and close companion and aspiring agent portrayed by Sennott. However, the most significant presence on concept was reserved for the popular sitcom, the program depicting an emerging Hollywood star navigating in a gritty Hollywood (choice quote: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). She started watching it amid the pandemic, became “hooked”, and resolved to put her own twist on it “with female and queer audiences in mind”.
“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she notes. The concept for the series came—to some extent—from personal, initially difficult, move to Tinseltown and from her cosmic event, a much-talked-about occurrence for enthusiasts. That period marked a phase that saw her understand major insights, work-wise and in private life. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she says. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Humble Origins
Raised in the East Coast, Sennott started developing and showcasing stand-up while pursuing acting at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she states. “I tried out for all the NYU comedy groups, and got rejected from all of them. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
She seized control, performing at amateur nights with her friend and uploading hilarious (and very) bizarre online content on the internet. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed several females fetishistically drawn to motherhood; another portrayed being employed at the brand Hollister as like being caught in a thriller. Interestingly, she connected with Seligman through NYU’s movie community and eventually appearing in her initial project, Shiva Baby, an anxious dramedy set at a funeral gathering with echoes of Uncut Gems. A recurring idea of her path, she says, has been contemporaries offering opportunities, rather than traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, continuing with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Rising Success
Individuals who were skeptical regarding Sennott previously will likely be kicking themselves today. Through she describes as a “astonishingly complete” story, she has created the perfect project. Previously she uploaded a clip named about Los Angeles on the internet, in which she parodied film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Years later, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a show about Angelenos juggling the perks of digital stardom (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your associate being accused of being a substance-abusing criminal, and potentially becoming a “brand unsafe” outcast). Some could tempting to create a series about online fame that was extremely idealized—or, even less favorable, one that punched down at the characters. This show avoids both, creating a representation of advantaged millennial existence that’s frank about the mess and the appeal.
Nuanced Portrayal
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” she says. “I think that young people have been through a lot – I’m mostly thinking of people younger than me, like my little sister, who went to college during Covid, so she had to come home, or my other sister who was doing school online.”|“The younger generation has faced significant
