Rachel Sennott on her uproarious series depicting that grotty allure of Gen Z lifestyle
The star enters the video call and right away begins an explanation. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she says, sounding genuinely regretful. Although she's only a couple of minutes late, she wants to justify. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Thankfully, for a writer, this is exactly what is ideal to hear. Moreover, it’s quite expected. Those who know her boldly queer and brash film titled Bottoms—that she co-wrote with Emma Seligman and starred in with close companion the talented actress—can already know that Sennott has plenty to discuss, ranging from on roles, relationships, or the appeal of creating a high-school fight club. Furthermore, after watching the recent multi-episode show I Love LA, it is clear that the star carries further perspectives regarding the darker side of Gen Z life (Now in her thirties, she is a bridge to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial adept for connecting different age groups).
Inspirations and Creative Vision
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show naturally arise and Sennott readily acknowledges enthusiastic, referencing the show together with Sex and the City, the acclaimed comedy and the innovative program as influences for her series, which details the struggles of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and her friend and aspiring talent manager portrayed by Sennott. Notably, the most significant presence on the moodboard went to Entourage, that show depicting an up-and-coming celebrity making his way in a gritty Hollywood (choice quote: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott began viewing it amid lockdown, became “captivated”, and chose 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 notes. The concept for the series came—partly—from personal, originally fractious, move to Los Angeles and from the cosmic event, a much-talked-about event for astrology heads. It was an era that saw her understand some big insights, in her career and individually. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she admits. “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 New England, Sennott commenced creating and acting comedy while pursuing theatre at a prestigious arts school. “I followed traditional paths to get on stage, but nothing clicked,” she explains. “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.”
Sennott took matters into her own hands, appearing at open mics with Ayo and posting uproarious (and decidedly) unconventional comedy videos on the internet. One, titled Baby Cult, depicted several females intensely drawn to having babies; a different one imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being stuck in a thriller. Interestingly, she encountered Emma through NYU’s movie community and eventually starring in her directorial debut, Shiva Baby, a stressful film set at a funeral gathering with hints of the Safdie brothers’ movie. A recurring idea of her journey, she explains, has been contemporaries offering opportunities, rather than traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, continuing with a laugh: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”
Manifesting Dreams
Those who were skeptical about her earlier will surely be feeling foolish currently. As part of she labels a “wild, full-circle” development, she seems to have achieved an ideal role. Previously she shared a clip called on LA life online, in which she parodied Hollywood trailers (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s a lead creator (with her partner) of a series about LA residents managing advantages of online celebrity (such as socializing at a famous actor’s house) with its pitfalls (your associate being suspected of being a intoxicated criminal, and perhaps becoming a unreliable persona non grata). Some could tempting to make a program about internet celebrity that was overly aspirational—or, even less favorable, one that belittled at its subjects. The series steers clear of each, creating a representation of advantaged millennial living that’s candid about the chaos 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
