Locals looking for love have a chance to shoot their shots on Netflix’s hit reality series, “Love Is Blind.”
For the uninitiated, the experimental dating show pairs potential mates in separate pods that allow for smooth talking, but prevent them from seeing each other. If sparks fly, couples must get engaged before they can meet face-to-face, with subsequent episodes following their journeys down the aisle.
While “Love Is Blind” season 7 — which sets up its love shack in Washington, D.C. — debuts on Netflix on Oct. 2, producers are already casting for the next across New England. According to Donna Driscoll, executive vice president of casting and talent at Kinetic Content, the audition process for the New England season is “in full swing,” with her team “actively going through every single application” from the region.
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“There’s been such a great response and we’ve received so much support from communities all around New England,” Driscoll told the Globe in a recent Zoom interview.
“Love is Blind” is no stranger to New England’s charms. Season six, which tapped singles in North Carolina, featured Dorchester native and former Patriots cheerleader Amber Desiree “AD” Smith as a contestant. Driscoll, whose team features many New Hampshire natives, is excited to cast in New England, praising locals for their “uniqueness and authenticity,” which she claims are key to being “successful in the experiment.”
“I am always curious and wide open about what I’m looking for in each city that we go to because I feel like each city offers something very very different,” Driscoll explained. “But for New England, I think the main thing that I don’t have to worry about is finding people who are authentic.”
“I feel like there’s going to be a lot of strong characters here,” she added.
According to Driscoll, hopeful candidates should fill out an application on libcasting.com and, to be safe, should have everything submitted over the next three months or so. Driscoll noted that it’s important to be thoughtful with your answers, as they “absolutely read every single application.”
“In that same application, there’s a 15 second video submission that I highly recommend you take the time to really talk about why you need ‘Love Is Blind,’ why you want to find love in such an unorthodox way,” Driscoll said, adding that they are looking for “somebody who is serious, mature, authentic, has the ability to be vulnerable, and excites us.”
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If an applicant fits the bill, the next step is a phone interview, which can take up to an hour. Should all go well, the candidate will then move on to a one-on-one chat with a casting producer from the show.
“After that, we’ll make the decision of whether or not we’re going to move that forward to present our partners at Netflix,” Driscoll said.
Although no details are available yet as to when the “Love Is Blind” New England season will film and air, Driscoll shared that there are plans to have an open casting call “within the coming weeks” where candidates can audition over Zoom (Kinetic Content will share details on its Instagram page when available). Driscoll encourages applicants to also do the virtual casting call, which will give them the chance to let their personalities shine.
Driscoll believes the show’s popularity is due to it showcasing “authentic people” who are “not afraid to be themselves” and come from diverse backgrounds.
All occupational backgrounds need apply — just as long as they aren’t doing it for the ‘gram.
“I think the major thing to distinguish is that we aren’t looking for influencers,” Driscoll said. “We’re casting very real people who are functioning in their everyday life and have everything going for them. They just are missing that one puzzle piece, which is finding the love of their life.”
