Rachel Sennott on her uproarious show about the chaotic glamour of Gen Z life
The performer enters the online meeting and immediately launches into an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she says, appearing really regretful. Despite being only slightly behind, she needs to explain. “I have such a problem, because I’m a yapper on the phone. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Fortunately, for a writer, this is precisely what is ideal to hear. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Those familiar with the boldly openly gay and brash movie titled Bottoms—that Sennott penned with her creative partner and starred in alongside close companion the talented actress—would understand that she has a lot to discuss, ranging from about identity, relationships, or the appeal of forming a teen combat group. And, by the end the new multi-episode HBO series titled I Love LA, viewers realize that the star holds even more thoughts on the challenges of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, Sennott represents a relatable figure for this generation, a tale-end millennial adept for bridging different age groups).
Inspirations and Creative Vision
Parallels to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and the actress readily acknowledges enthusiastic, referencing the show together with Sex and the City, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as guides for I Love LA, which follows the struggles of a social media star Tallulah and her friend who is also new agent Sennott’s character. Notably, the largest spot on the moodboard went to the popular sitcom, that program depicting a rising A-list actor succeeding in a corrupt Hollywood (notable statement: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott discovered it throughout COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and resolved to add a fresh perspective 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 says. The inspiration for the series originated—in part—from her own, originally rocky, relocation to Los Angeles and from her astrological phase, a frequently discussed event for enthusiasts. That period marked a phase that involved her grasp significant truths, in her career and personally. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Early Beginnings
Brought up in the East Coast, Sennott started developing and showcasing comedy while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
She took matters into her own hands, appearing at amateur nights with her friend and sharing hysterical (and distinctly) weird comedy videos on the internet. One, Baby Cult, depicted several females intensely fixated on having babies; a different one portrayed working at a trendy retail outlet as similar to being trapped in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through campus film circles and ultimately featuring in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a tense comedy set at a funeral gathering with hints of the intense thriller. A recurring idea of her career, she explains, has been peers offering opportunities, as opposed to traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, adding amusedly: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Career Breakthrough
Anyone who were skeptical regarding her earlier will likely be kicking themselves now. In what she labels a “wild, full-circle” development, she appears to created an ideal role. In 2019 she posted a video titled on LA life on social media, in which she lampooned movie previews (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s the co-showrunner (with the co-writer) of a series about Angelenos balancing advantages of online celebrity (such as partying at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your client being accused of being a drug-addled stealer, and potentially becoming a risky outcast). One might easy to make a program about internet celebrity that was extremely idealized—or, even less favorable, one that punched down at the characters. This show steers clear of each, creating a representation of advantaged millennial existence that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.
Nuanced Portrayal
“There have been a lot of shows that depict young people and their relationship to the internet in this very condescending, hateful way,” 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