Rachel Sennott on her uproarious series about the grotty allure of today's youth existence

The performer appears on the video call and at once begins an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she states, appearing really regretful. Although she's only slightly behind, she needs to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Earlier calls made me late—I just can’t stop chatting!” Luckily, for a writer, that’s exactly what is ideal to hear. Besides, it’s pretty predictable. Those who have seen the boldly LGBTQ+ and unapologetically crass movie Bottoms—that she co-wrote with her creative partner and featured in with close companion the talented actress—would understand that Sennott holds a lot to say, ranging from on identity, sex, or the appeal of creating a youth fight club. Plus, by the end the recent seasonal show I Love LA, it becomes obvious that the star holds even more thoughts about the challenges of modern youth (At 30, Sennott is a relatable figure to younger audiences, a tale-end millennial adept for bridging both generations).

Influences and Creative Vision

Parallels to Lena Dunham’s Girls can’t be avoided and Sennott readily acknowledges an admirer, referencing the show alongside Sex and the City, Insecure and Donald Glover’s series as influences for the project, which follows the struggles of online personality played by Odessa A’Zion and ally who is also new agent Sennott’s character. However, the largest influence on creative vision was reserved for Entourage, the show focusing on an up-and-coming Hollywood star making his way in a corrupt Hollywood (notable statement: “nobody’s happy in this town except for the losers”). Sennott discovered it throughout lockdown, became “hooked”, and resolved to add a fresh perspective 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 idea for this project emerged—partly—from personal, originally difficult, move to Tinseltown and from her cosmic event, a much-talked-about event for followers. That period marked a time that saw her learn significant life lessons, in her career and individually. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” she recalls. “In my mid-20s, I moved to LA and got settled. And then I felt like everything started to just fall apart. It was almost like these biblical tests …”

Early Beginnings

Raised in New England, Sennott commenced developing and showcasing humor while pursuing theatre at New York University (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. “Despite trying every conventional route, I couldn’t find my footing,” she states. “Every campus humor group turned me down after tryouts.” I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. And I just felt like, what am I doing here?”

She decided to act independently, performing at amateur nights with Ayo and sharing hilarious (and decidedly) weird skits digitally. One, Baby Cult, depicted a group of women fetishistically fixated on pregnancy; another portrayed working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being stuck in a thriller. In a neat twist of fate, she encountered Emma through campus film circles and ultimately starring in her initial project, Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a religious event with shades of the Safdie brothers’ movie. The big theme of her career, she explains, has been people her own age giving her a shot, as opposed to the industry at large. So, not the gatekeepers, then? “Definitely not them”, she confirms, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Manifesting Dreams

Anyone who were skeptical about her previously will surely be kicking themselves currently. Through she labels a “incredibly circular” development, she seems to have achieved an ideal role. In 2019 she shared a video titled about Los Angeles on the internet, in which she mocked film promos (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s executive producer (with Emma Barrie) of a comedy about LA residents balancing advantages of digital stardom (such as partying at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your friend being suspected of being a substance-abusing thief, and possibly becoming a “brand unsafe” persona non grata). One might tempting to make a show about online fame that was overly idealized—or, more problematic, one that belittled at its subjects. I Love LA steers clear of each, resulting in a portrait of privileged millennial life that’s honest about the chaos and the glamour.

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

Mason Buckley
Mason Buckley

A seasoned gambling journalist with a passion for uncovering the best slot games and casino trends in the UK.