‘I have a boyfriend But I think you might be a good fit for the show I’m casting, are you interested?’” Hartwell said in an interview. with CNN
As he can’t say for sure, casting agents are looking for potential contestants. But he claimed that most of the cast of season 2 of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind,” the show he auditioned for, did not actually apply. by yourself.
“They were contacted on social media in one way or another,” he said, a fellow actor told him.
“Love Is Blind,” which was nominated for an Emmy Award this week for a highly structured reality show, features 15 men and 15 women arranged in separate rooms, or “pods,” by will be paired with contestants in a separate room. Then they have a conversation to see if they can spark a relationship with someone. And finally get involved without actually seeing them.
Hartwell said he agreed to appear on the show following reviewing the agents’ Instagram accounts and their work.
“Actually, I’ve never really been that interested in reality television. as you know Never entertained me like this before,” Hartwell said. “But I have a personal philosophy to seek out new experiences, challenge myself, do things that seem scary. and fit all these criteria I decided to throw my hat into the ring. I never really thought I would get thrown.”
Hartwell’s experience in season two of “Love Is Blind” began in April 2021, when producers booked him an early-morning flight from Chicago to Los Angeles.
“At the beginning of filming very fast flight for [a few of] We and I believe that is the separation of men and women. So that we don’t have to see each other,” he said, adding that things turned “uncomfortable” almost “immediately.”
“We have always been told not to talk. don’t talk regarding things while waiting for people to finish picking up their bags and getting in the car for orientation,” he said, while some of the show’s participants transport at the same time
Contestants were warned once morest communicating, Hartwell said, even sincere.
After giving an introductory speech from the producer, Hartwell said contestants’ belongings had been searched and cell phones seized. wallet and ID card
“They told us they would pick up our cell phone. which is as expected But taking the wallet our passport Any personally identifiable information is very unexpected,” he said, adding, “rub me the wrong way.”
“They passed all our baggage. If you’ve seen the military movies, Training Camp, where they just passed the conscripts’ baggage. But that’s what it is. They go through all of our personal belongings, presumably to make sure we don’t have any bootlegs.”
Hartwell later said the producers sent everyone to a separate hotel room.
“Basically we were locked in a room,” he said. “The first thing they did was confine us in our room for regarding 24 hours in a row.”
Hartwell claims that snacks and water are infrequent. They are forced to wait for hours for fresh water if they are thirsty.
On the second day, the cast took pictures and video of the media.
“Most of the activities were punctuated by a lot of waiting,” Hartwell said.
At the start of production, Hartwell claimed that he struggled with the effects of sleep deprivation following hours of filming under bright lights. Hartwell said he had no access to food and water. both at the filming set and back to the hotel However, alcoholic beverages are available. and even on an empty stomach
In June, Hartwell filed a lawsuit once morest Netflix, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV, the production and casting companies behind the show. There are a number of labor law violations, including “inhumane working conditions” and insufficient pay for the hours cast members work.
Netflix did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
In a CNN statement in response to complaints from Hartwell, Kinetic Content and Delirium TV wrote: “Mr. Hartwell’s involvement in season 2 of ‘Love is Blind’ took less than a week, but for Mr. Hartwell’s journey ended prematurely. He failed to develop significant relationships with the other participants, although we cannot speculate on his motives for filing the lawsuit. But Mr. Hartwell’s allegations are absolutely useless. And we will vigorously defend his claim.”
Chantal Payton, an attorney for Hartwell of Payton Employment Law in Los Angeles, told CNN the lack of adequate food and isolation has been a problem. “This leaves actors hungry for social connections and changes their moods and decisions.”
The class action lawsuit brought by Hartwell is on behalf of all participants in “Love Is Blind” and other works. non-scripts created by the defendants in the last four years. He is seeking unpaid wages. Financial compensation for missed meal breaks Monetary damages for unfair business practices and civil penalties for violations of the Labor Code.
Kinetic Content is also producing “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” and “Married at First Sight,” which both stream on Netflix.
Season 3 of “Love Is Blind” will stream on Netflix later this year.
As for Hartwell, he hopes to change the practice of some future reality shows.
“It’s regarding justice and not money for me. It’s not regarding exposure,” Hartwell said. “I strongly feel that these practices are wrong and need to change. And the reason I put these efforts into this lawsuit is that I hope this becomes a catalyst for these changes so future reality TV cast members don’t. You have to go through it.”
