Rachel Sennott exploring the hilarious comedy depicting that chaotic appeal of younger generation lifestyle
The performer enters the digital interview and immediately starts an apology. “I can’t believe I’m late!” she exclaims, seeming genuinely apologetic. Despite being only a bit behind, she wants to explain. “I tend to talk too much during calls. “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Luckily, during an interview, that’s precisely what is ideal to hear. Moreover, it’s pretty unsurprising. Those familiar with her boldly openly gay and outspoken movie Bottoms—which she collaborated on with Emma Seligman and appeared in together with her friend the talented actress—will be aware that Sennott has plenty to discuss, be it on gender, relationships, or the appeal of starting a teen brawl society. And, after watching the latest seasonal program I Love LA, it is clear that she carries further perspectives regarding the challenges of young adulthood (At 30, Sennott represents a relatable figure to younger audiences, on the cusp with a knack for bridging both generations).
Inspirations and Artistic Direction
Parallels to Lena Dunham’s Girls naturally arise and the actress readily acknowledges enthusiastic, citing the show in addition to the classic series, Insecure and Donald Glover’s series as influences for her series, which tracks the journey of an influencer Tallulah and ally who is also aspiring talent manager Sennott’s character. Perhaps, the largest spot on the moodboard went to the HBO series, the HBO sitcom focusing on an up-and-coming celebrity navigating in an often-seedy LA scene (notable statement: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott discovered it during lockdown, became “hooked”, and chose 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 says. The concept for this project emerged—to some extent—from her own, originally difficult, transition to Los Angeles and from the cosmic event, a frequently discussed occurrence for followers. That period marked a phase that saw her learn some big insights, in her career and personally. “During my younger years, I was chaotic, often breaking down in public,” she recalls. “Settling in LA during my mid-twenties brought calm, but soon everything unraveled.” “The struggles felt almost mythic in scale…”
Humble Origins
Brought up in New England, Sennott started developing and showcasing comedy while studying theatre at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she states. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. “Theatre productions at school also didn’t accept me. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”
Sennott decided to act independently, appearing at open mics with Ayo and uploading hysterical (and decidedly) unconventional online content online. One, titled Baby Cult, followed characters intensely obsessed with motherhood; a different one imagined working at the brand Hollister as similar to being caught in a thriller. Interestingly, she connected with Emma through the university’s film scene and ultimately featuring in her directorial debut, Shiva Baby, an anxious film set at a Jewish wake with echoes of the intense thriller. The central motif of her career, she explains, has been people her own age supporting her, rather than traditional networks. So the old guard wasn’t helpful? “Not the gatekeepers”, she confirms, adding humorously: “They prefer we don’t succeed.”
Manifesting Dreams
Individuals who had doubts about Sennott then will likely be kicking themselves today. As part of she calls a “astonishingly complete” turn of events, she has manifested the perfect project. A few years back she shared a video named on LA life online, in which she parodied movie previews (“I’m addicted to drugs – we all are”). Now, she’s the co-showrunner (with her partner) of a series about LA residents managing benefits of online celebrity (such as socializing at a celebrity’s house) with downsides (your friend being accused of being a drug-addled criminal, and perhaps becoming a unreliable pariah). One might simple to create a series about internet celebrity that was horribly glamorous—or, more problematic, one that belittled at those depicted. I Love LA steers clear of each, making for a depiction of advantaged young adult life that’s candid about the chaos and the glamour.
Nuanced Portrayal
“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