Bozeman filmmaker Andreas Attai sets couples up on blind ski dates, and records the whole thing.
By Mario Carr EBS CONTRIBUTOR
Bozeman filmmaker Andreas Attai first thought of a chairlift dating show a few years ago, and this winter, he finally tested the concept.
On Jan. 22 he put out his first casting call for his YouTube show “Love on the Lift”, and was able to start shooting just a couple weeks later when Attai accompanied participants to Bridger Bowl. The format is simple: two skiers or riders are equipped with 360-degree cameras, accompanied by Attai, and asked to take a few chairlift rides and subsequent runs down the mountain. By the end of the three runs, contestants must decide if they want to “send it” on a date off the mountain later that night. Attai documents the date from afar, and checks in frequently with the participants to ensure that everyone is having a good time.
“For the most part, our daters will be self-filming the experience, keeping the filmmaking raw and authentic,” Attai said in the trailer for the show.
As the show’s creator, host and matchmaker, Attai emphasized his desire to capture positive and authentic experiences during his interview with EBS. He believes that participants on his show have the opportunity to bond over not just their love for skiing, but also their willingness to put themselves out there as part of this experiment.
“If you’re absolutely honest with yourself and with the world, you will always come out looking really good. It doesn’t even matter if people don’t agree with you… One advice I give to everyone appearing in front of the camera is, ‘Be yourself, and be honest and people will appreciate that,’” Attai said.
Attai released the first episode in late March, and plans to release two more in its debut season. As an enthusiastic and supportive “third-wheel,” Attai communicates directly with the daters before, during and after the date to help people through their experience on the show.
“If I wanted to make a really viral show, I’d make awful dates. But I would rather have people actually connect, because I think positivity in that sense is more special than sort of negative outcomes… I want the people involved in it, that are creating this with me, to have fun,” Attai said.
Attai has goals to take his dating show beyond his local ski hill, and possibly even into the backcountry.
“I want to go on dates with people everywhere… Wherever people can ski I would like to ski with them and go on dates with them there… It’s not about the resorts, it’s about the people and the cultures,” he said.
Attai is thankful for his wife Jennea who is his first resource when it comes to inspiration for his filmmaking. The two have watched many dating shows together such as “The Bachelor” and “Love is Blind,” and when it came down to creating his own show, Attai said his wife helps him stay true to his own unique style of filmmaking.
“She knows my character and myself as a filmmaker… It’s very easy to be influenced by other people’s work and lose your sense of perspective,” Attai said. He hopes the show will have a positive impact on the daters, and on the viewers as well.
“Let’s have fun, let’s show dates, let’s be entertained, let’s inspire other people to get out there too. Like take a chance and go on a random date with somebody, and don’t overthink it. When you’re set up, if you overthink it you might miss out on a really cool opportunity.”
