Rachel Sennott joins the digital interview and right away launches into an apology. “Oh my God – I’m sorry!” she exclaims, seeming truly remorseful. Despite being only a bit late, she needs to clarify. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Fortunately, in this context, that’s exactly what you want to experience. Besides, it’s pretty expected. Anyone familiar with the unapologetically openly gay and outspoken film titled Bottoms—which she collaborated on with the director and featured in together with collaborator Ayo Edebiri—can be aware that she possesses plenty to share, ranging from on roles, relationships, or the merits of starting a high-school brawl society. And, by the end her new seasonal program titled I Love LA, it is clear that she has additional thoughts about the darker side of Gen Z life (At 30, Sennott represents an honorary member of the gang, a tale-end millennial with a knack for connecting both generations).
Inspirations and Artistic Direction
Likenesses to the iconic series Girls are inevitable and Sennott readily acknowledges enthusiastic, citing the show in addition to the HBO hit, the acclaimed comedy and Donald Glover’s series as guides for the project, which details the journey of an influencer played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also new agent portrayed by Sennott. However, the largest presence on concept was reserved for the HBO series, the show focusing on an emerging Hollywood star making his way in a corrupt Hollywood (choice quote: “only the unsuccessful find joy here”). She began viewing it throughout the pandemic, became “obsessed”, and decided 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 the series came—in part—from personal, initially difficult, move to LA and from her astrological phase, a much-talked-about event for astrology heads. This represented a time that saw her grasp some big insights, in her career and in private life. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she says. “After relocating to Los Angeles in my mid-twenties, I found stability, only for things to crumble. It was almost like these biblical tests …”
Humble Origins
Growing up in Connecticut, the star started writing and performing humor while pursuing theatre at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “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 seized control, taking the stage at open mics with Ayo and posting hysterical (and decidedly) unconventional comedy videos online. A particular video, Baby Cult, centered on characters obsessively drawn to pregnancy; a different one envisioned being employed at the preppy clothing store Hollister as akin to being caught in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Emma through campus film circles and ultimately featuring in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, an anxious film set at a funeral gathering with shades of Uncut Gems. The central motif of her path, she explains, has been people her own age giving her a shot, rather than the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Not the gatekeepers”, she repeats, adding with a laugh: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Manifesting Dreams
Individuals who were skeptical about Sennott earlier will likely be feeling foolish now. In what she labels a “incredibly circular” story, she has created an ideal role. Previously she shared content titled about Los Angeles on social media, in which she parodied film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s executive producer (with her partner) of a series about LA residents balancing the perks of online celebrity (such as socializing at Elijah Wood’s house) with its pitfalls (your associate being labeled as being a substance-abusing criminal, and potentially becoming a risky pariah). Some could easy to create a series about digital influence that was extremely idealized—or, even less favorable, one that mocked at its subjects. This show does neither, making for a depiction of advantaged twentysomething living that’s candid about the grot and the shine.
Balanced Perspective
“Numerous series present younger generations and digital culture in a derogatory manner,” she observes. “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
