AFTER a turbulent season 6 of Love Is Blind, the Netflix series has opened up about its rigorous casting process.
Show creator Chris Coelen discussed the pre-show screening following the revelation that Season 6 contestant Trevor Sova was in a relationship when he was cast.
Love Is Blind, which is gearing up for Season 7, features 30 singles from a specific city who want to fall in love – without being seen.
When it comes to determining who will get the chance, Chris and the show’s vice president of casting, Donna Driscoll, said the show is diligent in “every step” of the process.
“On a lot of unscripted shows, I think a lot of times you’re looking for someone who is a certain type of character with a certain charisma. We don’t do that. We’re not leading with that,” Chris explained to Variety.
“We look for people who are genuine.”
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“Disclosure is essential because we have to spread the word at a local level. We want reporters, politicians, realtors, salon owners, pastors, nurses, teachers and everyone else,” Donna added.
“We want there to be a big buzz in town that we are there and we are looking for singles who are ready for a deep, meaningful relationship and marriage.”
Going beyond
When it comes to narrowing down the selection of candidates, Chris said they try to get “as many people as possible,” adding that each person goes through the same selection process.
And while some reality shows may be more inclined to cast aspiring actors, models, or influencers, Love Is Blind takes a different approach.
“Influencers and actors are out of the question,” said Donna.
“I want people to come in and feel authentic and raw – and that doesn’t mean an influencer, model or actor can’t do that.
“But I want to avoid putting anyone in the group for the wrong reasons as much as possible,” she added.
“I’m really hesitant to go down that path just because I want to make sure their hearts are in the right place.”
Donna explained that the team also goes out of its way to ensure that none of the candidates are interconnected before the show.
She said they triple-check contestants’ Instagram pages to look for any connections between the handles.
The in-depth screening comes at a time when Season 5 contestants Uche Okoroha and Lydia Velez Gonzalez famously had a relationship before LIB, which became a huge issue on the show.
The production also asks new cast members during a final phone call to reveal any possible secrets they may have missed.
“We give them multiple opportunities to tell us the truth and we know they are human,” Donna elaborated.
“We are also human… We have to trust that everything they are telling us is true. Will all of our eyes be a lot more open after Trevor?
TREVOR’S DEBOCLE
While LIB season 6 aired earlier this year, Trevor, who formed a connection with Chelsea Blackwell before she got engaged to Jimmy Presnell, was exposed for having a girlfriend shortly before the show.
On a lot of unscripted shows, I think a lot of times you’re looking for someone who is a certain type of character with a certain charisma. We don’t do that.”
Chris CoelenNetflix Producer
Text messages between Trevor and his ex were leaked on social media, showing the two chatting romantically until he left to film.
Trevor was heavily criticized for being a liar in the Season 6 reunion and apologized personally on Instagram.
“I knew allegations about me had been made the night before the reunion was filmed, but for some reason I didn’t read the actual texts and when I saw them appear on a screen, I felt like I was in a nightmare,” he wrote. in April.
“But that nightmare was about to be seen by 50 million people and I had 3 seconds to think of an answer.
“That being said, I admitted I was wrong, I admitted I wanted to talk to a real therapist instead of discussing filming in front of an audience for the first time.
“Since then, I have been seeing a therapist and slowly recognizing what I need to do to improve,” the contestant added.
Although Trevor may have upset some viewers, he now appears in season 2 of Perfect Match – another Netflix reality series.
Trevor was cast in the new season alongside Jessica Vestal, also a contestant on the 6th season of LIB.
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