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Rachel Sennott joins the digital interview and at once begins an apology. “Apologies for the delay!” she says, appearing truly apologetic. Despite being only slightly delayed, she needs to clarify. “My phone conversations always run long.” “Previous discussions went over, and I realized I talk too much!” Luckily, in this context, this is exactly what is ideal to experience. Moreover, it’s fairly expected. Anyone who know the unapologetically queer and outspoken film titled Bottoms—that Sennott co-wrote with her creative partner and appeared in together with her friend Ayo Edebiri—can be aware that she holds a lot to say, be it about gender, relationships, or the pros of creating a teen combat group. And, after watching her latest seasonal program I Love LA, it is clear that she carries even more thoughts on the challenges of young adulthood (Now in her thirties, she represents a relatable figure of the gang, on the cusp adept for bridging different age groups).

Influences and Artistic Direction

The comparisons to Lena Dunham’s groundbreaking show can’t be avoided and the actress readily acknowledges enthusiastic, naming the show in addition to the classic series, Issa Rae’s show and Donald Glover’s series as influences for I Love LA, which details the travails of an influencer Tallulah and close companion who is also aspiring representative Sennott’s character. However, the biggest influence on concept belonged to Entourage, the program about an emerging celebrity making his way in a gritty entertainment industry (choice quote: “happiness eludes everyone but failures in this city”). Sennott started watching it amid COVID-19, became “captivated”, and decided to create a new version on it “targeting women and LGBTQ+ viewers”.

“I wanted to make a show where the internet, not Hollywood, was the industry, because my career started online,” she notes. The concept for the series came—to some extent—from her own, initially difficult, transition to Los Angeles and from her astrological phase, a frequently discussed phenomenon for astrology heads. It was a time that involved her learn major life lessons, in her career and personally. “My twenties began with constant public emotional outbursts and disorganization,” 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 was almost like these biblical tests …”

Starting Out

Brought up in the East Coast, Sennott started creating and acting comedy while pursuing acting at NYU’s Tisch. “I went through all the proper channels to try to perform, and they weren’t gelling,” she says. “Auditions for university comedy troupes led to universal rejection. I tried out for all the NYU plays and didn’t make it into any of them. “I wondered why I was even there at all.”

Sennott decided to act independently, performing at amateur nights with Ayo and uploading hilarious (and distinctly) unconventional online content on the internet. A particular video, titled Baby Cult, followed characters intensely drawn to motherhood; a different one imagined working at the preppy clothing store Hollister as like being caught in a horror film. In a neat twist of fate, she connected with Seligman through NYU’s movie community and ultimately appearing in her initial project, titled Shiva Baby, a tense film set at a funeral gathering with echoes of the intense thriller. A recurring idea of her path, she explains, has been people her own age offering opportunities, rather than established gatekeepers. Does that mean bypassing the usual powers? “Not the gatekeepers”, she repeats, adding humorously: “Our victory isn’t their goal.”

Manifesting Dreams

Anyone who were skeptical regarding Sennott then will certainly be regretting it currently. As part of she labels a “astonishingly complete” development, she has manifested an ideal role. Previously she uploaded a clip called about Los Angeles online, in which she lampooned movie previews (“Substance abuse is rampant here”). Six years on, she’s a lead creator (with the co-writer) of a show about LA residents balancing benefits of internet fame (such as socializing at a famous actor’s house) with drawbacks (your friend being labeled as being a intoxicated thief, and possibly becoming a “brand unsafe” persona non grata). It would be easy to create a program about internet celebrity that was overly glamorous—or, more problematic, one that mocked at the characters. This show does neither, resulting in a depiction of privileged young adult life that’s frank about the chaos and the shine.

Balanced Perspective

“There have been a lot of shows that depict young people and their relationship to the internet in this very condescending, hateful way,” she says. “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