Rachel Sennott joins the video call and at once begins an excuse. “Apologies for the delay!” she states, seeming truly apologetic. Despite being only a bit 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!” Thankfully, for a writer, that’s precisely what one hopes to encounter. Moreover, it’s quite expected. Anyone who have seen her fearlessly openly gay and brash movie Bottoms—which Sennott co-wrote with the director and appeared in alongside her friend the talented actress—can be aware that Sennott possesses a lot to discuss, be it about identity, sex, or the pros of forming a youth brawl society. Furthermore, by the end the latest multi-episode HBO series I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star holds further insights regarding the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott is a relatable figure to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial with a knack for bridging both generations).
Influences and Storytelling Approach
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and the actress readily acknowledges an admirer, citing it in addition to the HBO hit, Issa Rae’s show and the innovative program as influences for I Love LA, which tracks the struggles of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and ally and new agent Maia. However, the most significant presence on the moodboard belonged to Entourage, the show focusing on an up-and-coming A-list actor succeeding in an often-seedy entertainment industry (notable statement: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott began viewing it throughout lockdown, became “obsessed”, and resolved to put her own twist on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.
“My aim was to focus on digital fame over traditional entertainment, as my own beginnings were on the web,” she says. The concept for this project emerged—partly—from firsthand, at first difficult, relocation to LA and from the cosmic event, a popular occurrence for astrology heads. That period marked a phase that included her learn major life lessons, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she admits. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Early Beginnings
Growing up in New England, the star commenced developing and showcasing stand-up while enrolled in acting at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she says. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “None of the university plays cast me either.” “It left me questioning my purpose and place.”
She took matters into her own hands, performing at live shows with Edebiri and posting hilarious (and distinctly) unconventional comedy videos online. One, titled Baby Cult, followed characters fetishistically fixated on having babies; another portrayed being employed at a trendy retail outlet as akin to being caught in a scary movie. Interestingly, she met Emma through campus film circles and ultimately featuring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a stressful dramedy set at a funeral gathering with echoes of Uncut Gems. A recurring idea of her path, she notes, has been people her own age giving her a shot, rather than established gatekeepers. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, stating with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Rising Success
Individuals who were skeptical regarding Sennott earlier will certainly be feeling foolish currently. As part of she labels a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she appears to manifested the perfect project. Previously she uploaded a clip named on LA life on social media, in which she mocked film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Six years on, she’s the co-showrunner (with her partner) of a comedy about city dwellers juggling advantages of digital stardom (such as celebrating at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a substance-abusing criminal, and potentially becoming a unreliable pariah). It would be easy to make a series about digital influence that was horribly aspirational—or, more problematic, one that punched down at the characters. This show does neither, making for a depiction of advantaged twentysomething life that’s frank about the chaos and the appeal.
Empathetic Approach
“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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
