US Open

The Challenge

The US Open wanted a social dating series that felt real. Not actors playing singles. Not influencers pretending to look for love. Real, genuinely single tennis fans meeting for the first time at the tournament, with Dobel Tequila and Moet & Chandon as sponsors.

The casting brief was specific: 18 singles across a full range of ages (20s through 60s), ethnicities, and preferences, including gay couples. Every person had to be a real tennis fan, actually single, and compelling enough on camera to carry a dating format without a script.

The Process

This was a needle in a haystack situation. We looked through thousands of potential candidates through cold outreach, referrals, and open submissions, then screened over 100 down to 18. We weren't waiting for people to come to us. We were actively sourcing real tennis lovers who also happened to be single, compelling on camera, and willing to go on a blind date at the US Open.

Every cast member had to feel authentic. The audience can tell in a second if someone is performing instead of genuinely reacting. We evaluated for emotional openness, natural on-camera energy, and whether they'd create real chemistry with a stranger. No rehearsals. No second takes. Just two people meeting at one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

The Result

9 episodes. 18 singles. 950K+ views across YouTube and Instagram. Every couple felt real because they were real. The format worked because the casting worked: diverse, authentic people who the audience rooted for from the first frame.

When the person on screen is right, you don't need to manufacture the moment. You just need to turn the camera on.