The actress and writer on her side-splitting series portraying the grotty glamour of Gen Z existence
Rachel Sennott enters the online meeting and right away begins an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she states, appearing really remorseful. Despite being only a couple of minutes behind, she needs to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Fortunately, for a writer, that’s exactly what you want to experience. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Viewers familiar with the unapologetically openly gay and brash project titled Bottoms—which she co-wrote with the director and featured in together with her friend The Bear’s standout—can already know that Sennott possesses plenty to share, whether about roles, relationships, or the pros of starting a high-school fight club. Plus, by the end the new eight-part show titled I Love LA, viewers realize that the star has even more insights on the challenges of Gen Z life (At 30, she serves as a relatable figure for this generation, a tale-end millennial adept for connecting both generations).
Influences and Storytelling Approach
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and the actress admits to being an admirer, referencing the show together with the HBO hit, Insecure and Atlanta as guides for the project, which tracks the journey of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and close companion who is also fledgling agent Maia. Notably, the largest influence on concept went to Entourage, that show focusing on an up-and-coming Hollywood star navigating in an often-seedy Hollywood (choice quote: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott began viewing it during COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to add a fresh perspective on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.
“I sought to highlight online platforms as the new industry, since my professional journey launched there,” she says. The inspiration for the series originated—in part—from firsthand, initially rocky, move to Los Angeles and from the cosmic event, a frequently discussed event for followers. It was a phase that included her grasp some big insights, professionally and personally. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Early Beginnings
Brought up in the East Coast, the star began developing and showcasing humor while enrolled in theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she says. “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.”
Sennott decided to act independently, appearing at open mics with Edebiri and posting hysterical (and distinctly) weird online content online. One, titled Baby Cult, centered on several females obsessively fixated on pregnancy; a different one portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being trapped in a scary movie. By chance, she met Emma through the university’s film scene and ultimately appearing in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious comedy set at a religious event with shades of the intense thriller. A recurring idea of her career, she explains, has been people her own age supporting her, rather than traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, continuing humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Career Breakthrough
Anyone who questioned about Sennott then will certainly be feeling foolish today. As part of she labels a “incredibly circular” story, she seems to have created the perfect project. A few years back she shared a clip called “it’s LA” on social media, in which she lampooned Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s executive producer (with the co-writer) of a comedy about Angelenos juggling the perks of internet fame (such as partying at a famous actor’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being accused of being a intoxicated stealer, and possibly becoming a “brand unsafe” outcast). It would be easy to create a program about internet celebrity that was overly aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that belittled at those depicted. The series avoids both, making for a portrait of affluent twentysomething living that’s honest about the grot and the shine.
Empathetic Approach
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” she comments. “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