Interview with Karina Holden, Executive Producer of ‘Love on the Spectrum’

The journey of making the U.S. version of “Love on the Spectrum” has been an incredible learning experience for the series’ executive producer, Karina Holden. “You can’t assume, so you always have to ask. You have to find ways to include people in their own storytelling, and when it comes to identity, a lot of people want to embrace their diagnosis or label, while others do not,” she shared. This approach ensures that the show’s subjects are significantly involved in decision-making. “The narrator is there just to tell us who we are meeting and where we’re meeting them. We want the people involved in the series to own their stories.”

“Love on the Spectrum,” which streams on Netflix, focuses on the lives of several people on the autism spectrum as they search for genuine romance. The show’s second season premiered in January to widespread acclaim. Holden has been with the show since its inception on Australian television before bringing it to American audiences.

In 2022, the show triumphed at the Creative Arts Emmys, winning all three of its nominations: Best Unstructured Reality Program, Reality Casting, and Editing for an Unstructured Reality Program. This year, the show is nominated in the same categories and has added a nomination for Reality Directing for creator Cian O’Clery.

Winning those three Emmys was a surreal experience for Holden. “I remember standing on stage and looking down to see Peter Jackson and Ron Howard, and I thought, ‘How did this happen?’” She knows that the success comes back to the show’s cast and their willingness to share their stories. “You’re only there because of what people have let you do with their stories and their openness. It’s because of them that you’re standing there. It’s humbling, but it’s so much fun.”

Source: Gold Derby