The actress and writer discussing her hilarious show depicting that grotty glamour of today's youth lifestyle
Rachel Sennott appears on the digital interview and right away begins an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she says, appearing truly regretful. She is only a bit late, she feels compelled to explain. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Thankfully, for a writer, this is precisely what you want to encounter. Additionally, it’s pretty predictable. Those who have seen her boldly LGBTQ+ and outspoken film titled Bottoms—which Sennott penned with her creative partner and starred in together with collaborator the talented actress—would be aware that Sennott possesses a lot to discuss, whether on roles, relationships, or the appeal of starting a teen combat group. Plus, after watching the new seasonal program I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star has additional perspectives about the struggles of modern youth (At 30, she represents a bridge to younger audiences, on the cusp skilled for connecting different age groups).
Inspirations and Storytelling Approach
Likenesses to Lena Dunham’s Girls are inevitable and Sennott admits to being enthusiastic, citing the show alongside the classic series, the acclaimed comedy and Atlanta as guides for I Love LA, which follows the travails of a social media star played by Odessa A’Zion and her friend who is also aspiring talent manager Maia. However, the most significant spot on concept was reserved for the HBO series, the program about an up-and-coming Hollywood star succeeding in a corrupt LA scene (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott discovered it throughout COVID-19, became “obsessed”, and decided to put her own twist on it “for the girls and the gays”.
“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she explains. The inspiration for I Love LA originated—to some extent—from firsthand, originally rocky, transition to Tinseltown and from her cosmic event, a popular phenomenon for followers. That period marked a time that saw her grasp major insights, work-wise and individually. “In my early 20s I was so messy, crying in public everywhere, all the time,” she admits. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. “It resembled a series of extreme challenges…”
Starting Out
Raised in Connecticut, the star began creating and acting comedy while studying acting at a prestigious arts school. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she says. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”
She seized control, taking the stage at live shows with her friend and uploading uproarious (and decidedly) bizarre skits online. A particular video, Baby Cult, centered on characters intensely drawn to motherhood; another imagined working at the brand Hollister as similar to being stuck in a scary movie. In a neat twist of fate, she encountered Emma through campus film circles and eventually appearing in her directorial debut, titled Shiva Baby, a tense dramedy set at a funeral gathering with shades of Uncut Gems. The big theme of her path, she says, has been people her own age supporting her, as opposed to traditional networks. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “They were not involved”, she confirms, adding humorously: “They don’t want us to win.”
Rising Success
Individuals who had doubts about Sennott previously will surely be kicking themselves now. As part of she describes as a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she seems to have created an ideal role. In 2019 she uploaded content called on LA life online, in which she mocked film promos (“Everyone’s hooked on something”). Now, she’s a lead creator (with the co-writer) of a series about LA residents managing benefits of digital stardom (such as celebrating at a famous actor’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a intoxicated criminal, and possibly becoming a “brand unsafe” persona non grata). Some could tempting to create a series about online fame that was overly idealized—or, worse, one that mocked at the characters. I Love LA steers clear of each, creating a representation of advantaged twentysomething living that’s frank about the chaos and the appeal.
Empathetic Approach
“Many programs portray youth and online life with disdain and mockery,” 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