As a seasoned observer of reality television, I’ve seen my fair share of drama and manipulation that often lies beneath the polished veneer of these shows. However, after delving deep into the world of “Love Is Blind,” I must say, it was an entirely different experience. The unique premise of this show, where individuals fall in love without seeing each other, creates a fascinating dynamic that is both captivating and heart-wrenching.
In a secluded corner of the grand set for the show “Love Is Blind,” there’s a spacious area filled with multiple tables arranged in rows, each equipped with individual screens and audio connections running along the floor. There’s also a big screen in the corner, displaying the day’s filming schedule, usually organized as a multi-colored grid, showing which couples are scheduled to be in their pods during various time slots throughout the day. On one wall, there’s a whiteboard with photos of each participant magnetically attached. During the ten days of pod recording, these photos are moved around to represent, in real-time, who is dating whom, who left the production, and how each relationship intersects or impacts the others.
During my coverage for an extensive piece on the show Love Is Blind, I spent a total of five and a half days inside the control room, fixated on the room’s dominant feature – a massive wall of monitors showing all the dates taking place in each pod, along with two interview rooms and both lounges. The show Love Is Blind is structured to let viewers eavesdrop on personal conversations between individuals as they fall in love or reveal their true selves. Watching over ten simultaneous pod dates from the control room is like standing before a gushing gossip fountain. A team of producers are also tuned in, with many focusing on specific participants to ensure they don’t miss crucial moments in the relationships. However, it’s impossible to monitor everything happening at once.
The seventh season of Love Is Blind featured less of what I witnessed from my control room perspective, mainly because of a mix of structural requirements and the sheer amount of footage. Each season spans 11 days, with ten days dedicated to actual dating, and an additional day for orientation and capturing initial shots: participants entering the pods, recording their introductory interviews, and a pristine take of Nick and Vanessa Lachey delivering their opening-lounge speeches. This is standard television production practice – it’s essential to have flawless footage of the hosts. However, watching the Lacheys cordially greet an empty lounge with cue cards on each chair was one of the amusing aspects I observed during the process.
After observing the pods for three days initially and another 2.5 days towards the end, I discovered that some of the most captivating moments transpired beyond the confines of the show’s limited narrative framework. There were instances where couples chose to leave together without getting engaged, which weren’t captured on-camera. Some moments were heavily influenced by the participants’ constant awareness of being on a TV show; there were numerous discussions in the lounges about the producers’ intentions – was the order of talking-head interviews strategically planned? Did it make a difference if someone’s dates occurred in the morning or evening? Furthermore, there’s an extensive collection of footage filled with minor details such as the regular routine of producers gathering participants for bathroom trips organized by the production team, or the parts of the lounges that seldom appear onscreen due to their clutter of personal belongings. The cast reports to set around 8 a.m., and filming can continue until 10 p.m. or later without many breaks, leaving participants with ample time to spend in the lounges while waiting for their turns in the pods. These baskets are stocked with essential items they require to survive the day: medication, makeup for touch-ups, books, a spare set of clothes, but no phones or internet-connected devices.
As a dedicated film buff, I can’t forget the scene that unfolded on the set after our first full day of shooting. There were ten pods, but the story started with around 15 women and 15 men, so the lounge was always bustling with people waiting their turn. The ladies began swapping stories about which gentlemen had caught their eyes and who seemed less than impressive. It didn’t take them long to identify a common adversary – a fellow named Jason Drecchio, who had been rude and off-putting on several occasions. They started to suspect that he was there not for genuine romance, but to stir up drama. (From what I could gather, Jason wasn’t a planted character.) By the end of day two, the anger towards Jason simmering in the women’s lounge grew louder and louder. At last, one woman vowed that when she went on her next date with Jason, she would tell him exactly what was on her mind. As promised, she showed up for their next date like a spokesperson for the entire cast, recounting all the instances of his poor behavior towards women, pointing out his flaws, and advising him to mature before diving into a serious relationship.
Hannah Jiles was the woman involved in a less-than-exciting conversation with Nick Dorka that foreshadowed their eventual breakup, where she pointed out his shortcomings in relationships. An earlier scene featuring Jason, who had minimal screen time during the season, might not have been necessary but seems to hint at Hannah’s perspective on relationships and her willingness to confront disappointing partners. At first, I found Hannah’s bold confrontation impressive, as she stood up for the group against Jason (and later Nick). Eventually, Hannah stormed out of the date before it ended, and the women gathered to praise her for standing up to a man they disliked. Afterward, Jason calmly left the set, said nothing, and departed the next day.
I accidentally heard the argument between Hannah and Jason since I had been eavesdropping on some chats in the lounge area and picked up on the increasing dislike towards Jason. From what I gathered, there were probably people monitoring Hannah’s outburst from a separate control room for junior producers. It was rather simple to overlook it from the main control room as there is always one live conversation you’re missing while listening to nine others. Initially, Leo Braudy, one of the initial antagonists in the early episodes, didn’t catch my attention during the first few days. Upon revisiting the podcasts at a later date, I was taken aback to learn that he and Brittany Wisniewski were getting engaged because I had paid more attention to the dates between Tyler Francis and Ashley Adionser, who ended up getting married, and Bohdan Olinares and Nina Zafar, two participants with minor roles this season.
In the series, it was the relationship between characters Bohdan and Marissa George’s depiction as a couple that caught my attention, along with Nina, one of the sisters in the cast. Nina expressed hesitation about her feelings, stating she wasn’t comfortable on camera. Prior to the engagement announcements, which producers suggested should ideally happen on the ninth day to capture optimal angles, Nina and Bohdan debated for hours about whether to part ways. Despite liking him, Nina wasn’t ready for an engagement. On the contrary, Bohdan was fully invested in the show’s process, believing there was no harm in attempting an engagement to explore if their relationship could flourish.
It’s worth mentioning that the extended discussion between the contestants about whether to stay on the show was not included in the final edit. However, their breakup conversation, particularly Bohdan’s with Marissa, made it into the show. Typically, such discussions about continuing participation are omitted from the show (except for Bliss in season four who returned after leaving).
According to discussions I’ve overheard and producers I’ve spoken with, Brittany and Leo weren’t part of the Mexico honeymoon for the same reason suggested by the show itself. In the final edit, Leo appears self-centered and money-focused, while Brittany seems to tolerate him despite her clear dislike. Based primarily on the proposal and reveal footage, executive producers Chris Coelen and Ally Simpson felt that Brittany and Leo were the least sincere of the engaged couples. In a tough decision between keeping them or focusing on Hannah and Nick, they chose the latter. As Coelen explained in interviews about this season, there are limited camera crews to follow five couples during the Mexico trip, or six if they really push it. This was the crux of the behind-the-scenes discussions near the end of filming: They had seven couples and could only accommodate six with their crew. Given these circumstances, they were attracted to Hannah’s obvious doubts about Nick, and they appreciated that while most couples were older, Hannah would bring a younger perspective.
On Love Is Blind, despite the fact that the show’s primary theme is rarely discussed, it seems to be a popular topic among participants. Instead of focusing on love itself, conversations revolve around their producers, overnight hotel stays, and whether producers will permit them to visit Six Flags during filming breaks. They also discuss how the show’s process influences a specific outcome. After conducting extensive interviews with over 20 former cast members, my understanding of the Love Is Blind pods didn’t alter significantly. Although individual producers don’t force participants to behave or choose certain actions, the show inadvertently exerts these pressures. For couples who have developed a connection, the prospect of continued appearance on the show encourages commitment. This commitment to the show can serve as a substitute for partner commitment and fill the voids in relationships that may be lacking (as exemplified by Hannah and Nick). The unique conditions within the pods are sufficient to drive participants into intimacy they might not otherwise pursue.
Occasionally, it’s clear that the show aims for romantic intimacy, but as we reach the end of season seven, the strongest emotions I observed seemed to stem from the deep friendships formed in the lounges, especially among the male cast members. Leo would often lead a sort of group motivation session, frequently in rhyme. Bohdan would smile, hug, or console his fellow cast members as necessary. The participants develop strong bonds with one another because they’re all spending time together in the lounges, under constant surveillance by numerous producers (and for a brief period, me), sharing experiences they can’t discuss with anyone except each other. What else are they supposed to do?
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2024-10-24 14:54