Behind the Pilot: Bianca Roth on Bringing Twenty Somethings to Life and Defining Gen Z Storytelling

Photo courtesy of Bianca Roth, taken during a professional shoot for Twenty Somethings.

The entertainment industry never sits still, every day, there’s a new trend, a new platform, and a new way to grab our ever-shrinking attention spans. Studios have been trying to keep up, desperately searching for the secret formula to connect Gen Z’s influencer culture with old-school TV magic. Well… it looks like someone finally cracked the code. And she did it in a way that’s not forced, not fake, just pure, creative chemistry.

Today’s a very special day because we have an incredible guest joining us: Bianca Roth! Bianca graduated from Chapman University in the spring of 2022 with a major in TV Writing and Production and a minor in Creative and Cultural Industries, and trust me, she truly does it all. She’s the writer, producer, director, and creator of the new pilot Twenty Somethings, a show that captures everything Gen Z knows and loves while drawing inspiration from her own life and timeless classics like Sex and the City.

The result? A fresh, innovative take on modern television that seamlessly blends social media, influencer culture, and Gen Z humor into something that feels both relatable and iconic. But before we dive into the interview, let’s take a moment to get to know Bianca, and explore how her experience studying the Creative and Cultural Industries at Chapman helped her bring this creative vision to life. 

Originally from the Bay Area, while growing up Bianca often visited family in Los Angeles, immersing herself in one of the nation’s most vibrant creative epicenters: the City of Dreams. From a young age, she was captivated by the glamor of Hollywood and the magic of filmmaking. Whether it was the behind-the-scenes process or the allure of celebrity, Bianca was hooked. LA quickly became her favorite getaway because after all that’s where the movies are made! 

“I love the artistry of it,” she says. “But when I was younger, I was absolutely obsessed.”

Photo courtesy of Bianca Roth. Pictured: the cast of Twenty Somethings Sabrina Michaels, Tarek Ziad, Jean Evans, and Jolly Gilliams.

When it came time to choose a university, Bianca knew early on that Chapman's film school was where she wanted to be. But like many students, she took some time on campus to figure out her path. It wasn’t until her sophomore year that Bianca discovered CCI, thanks to a pop culture class taught by none other than Dr. Patrick Fuery.

“My friend Hannah Anderson and I signed up for it,” she recalls. “I still remember, we started in one classroom, and too many people wanted in. Instead of turning anyone away, in true Patrick fashion, he moved us to a bigger lecture hall. That class made me fall in love with the subject and his teaching style. I thought, ‘Oh my God, I can actually study this?’ That’s when I declared CCI as my minor.”

Following her graduation in 2022, Bianca has been hard at work establishing herself in the very industry she so idolized as a child. She’s learned to blend her storytelling and production skills with a deeper understanding of culture and audience psychology, channeling it all into her latest project:  a TV pilot that reflects who she is and the world we live in today.  To bring it to life, she raised $100,000, using a mix of traditional and unconventional approaches.

With production having just wrapped up, we couldn't be more excited to talk about her new show, Twenty Somethings, which is written, produced and directed by Bianca herself.  Twenty Somethings is a comedy about four single roommates navigating life in L.A. It captures the Gen Z experience with humor, heart and a creative spark that television hasn't quite seen before as we watch the main characters experience friendships, situationships and the chaos of social media culture. 

Photo courtesy of director Bianca Roth. The cast poses during a promotional shoot for the show.

Bianca, I have to ask, how did it all come about?

“After graduation, I was freelancing but still chasing stability,” Bianca explains. “I was working a nine-to-five, but I wasn’t being creative. I started producing and directing on my own, but something still felt missing. One day, I was home sick, scrolling through my Notes app full of funny moments from my life and friends, and thought, ‘Other people can relate to this.’ Inspired by shows like Sex and the City and Friends, I decided to write a pilot about being in your 20s in L.A., something most shows skip over since they’re usually in New York. I thought, ‘Let’s make that.’”

Bianca wrote the first draft in a single night, then refined it before submitting it to competitions including the L.A. Comedy Film Festival, where it won Best TV Pilot and even earned a live table read. Feeling inspired, she decided to bring the full 30-minute pilot to life. A TikTok post calling for collaborators brought in more than 800 responses, helping her cast Sabrina Michaels as the lead and bring her on as co-producer. 

And just like that, the pieces began falling into place.

Photo courtesy of Bianca Roth, pictured with the lead cast of Twenty Somethings.

Bianca, I’m curious, how has the Creative and Cultural Industries program guided you in bringing your creative ideas from concept to reality?

“CCI taught me how to think creatively about actually bringing a project to life,” she explains. “That’s exactly what Twenty Somethings is about. A big part of our production involves collaborating with brands like Snapchat and working with influencers like Harry Raftus, who, fun fact, also graduated form Chapman. We’re not just featuring them; we’re integrating them into the show in ways that feel natural and authentic. In short, we’re blending social media with narrative storytelling. Usually, film and social media exist in separate worlds: film tells the story, and social promotes it. CCI showed me how to merge the two. By bringing brands and influencers directly into the show, we can fund the project while engaging audiences in a fresh way. Brands want to be part of the story, not just the ads. We’re creating entertainment that works as both storytelling and innovative marketing. It’s about finding creative, unconventional ways to make things happen, rather than relying solely on fundraising or crowdfunding. That’s the CCI mindset: thinking beyond the traditional path.”

Once the show’s vision and creative approach were set, Bianca turned her focus to one of the most essential elements of storytelling: location. She wanted Twenty Somethings to capture the true energy and personality of Los Angeles. Following in the footsteps of iconic series, she set her sights on Sunset Boulevard known not just for its instantly recognizable landmarks, but as a lens through which to see the city from the perspective of a twenty something navigating life, love, and everything in between. 

At the same time, Bianca was thinking about how real-world connections could become part of the story. The show partners with brands like De Soi, Brooklinen, and Gorgie, while also teaming up with Give Kids the World, a nonprofit in Florida that provides free, weeklong wish vacations to children with critical illnesses and their families. Even though the story is set in L.A., one of the main characters volunteers with the organization, allowing it to be woven naturally into the narrative in a meaningful and authentic way.

Photo courtesy of Bianca Roth.

And Bianca isn’t stopping there. She’s even rethinking how the show reaches audiences. “Traditionally, with film and TV, there’s a standard approach,” she says. “We’re not doing it that way.” Alongside the usual horizontal filming formats, she’s experimenting with vertical content, which is becoming a big trend in the industry. For her, it’s all about finding fresh ways to tell a story and connect with viewers.

Roth is forging her own path in the industry, determined to set her own rules. She knows the film world has a reputation for being hard to break into, but she refuses to be intimidated. “You can’t let that stop you,” she says. “Do what feels right. Do what you want. You don’t have to follow X, Y, Z. You can literally make it happen. So many people told me so many different things, and I just didn’t listen. I followed my own path, and that’s what made all the difference.”

That mindset is exactly what CCI is about. Twenty Somethings embodies how the creative industries: film, social media, nonprofits, and more can come together to reflect our culture while giving back to the communities we’re part of. When we intentionally integrate the values of CCI into our work, it doesn’t just shape a project, it makes all the difference.

Photo courtesy of Bianca Roth, pictured with the lead cast of Twenty Somethings.

So, how can we support Twenty Somethings? 

There are a few ways! Follow the team on Instagram and TikTok @twentiestvshow to stay updated and engage with everything they’re doing. With production wrapped, the project has now entered the next phase: editing. It will take a few months before the final pilot is ready, but the excitement is already building. The team has also launched some fun Twenty Somethings T-shirts, with all proceeds going directly toward funding the project. You can find them on TikTok Shop or contribute through their donation link. Bianca and her team are redefining what it means to create in the modern entertainment world, blending storytelling, social impact, and creativity in ways that feel truly authentic. And if Twenty Somethings is any sign, the future of Gen Z television is looking brighter than ever.