Current TV filmed “Bar Karma,” the world’s first community developed television series, during early 2011 at the Ironbound Film and Television Studios (IFTS).
Created by world-renowned video game designer Will Wright (creator of The Sims and SimCity) and Worldwide Biggies’ CEO, Albie Hecht, the 12-episode series set a new benchmark in television programming by inviting a community of fans to drive the show’s content – from story lines to art direction, soundtrack to brand integrations. “Bar Karma” marked Current TV’s entry into live-action scripted original programming, was the first television show to give viewers control of a series before it hits the air.
Set at a mystical watering hole at the edge of the universe, “Bar Karma” is a half-hour show which stars William Sanderson (“True Blood,” “Lost,” “Deadwood”) as James, the 20,000 year-old bartender, Matthew Humphreys (“Obsessed,” “Big Love,” “The Forgotten”) as bar owner Doug Jones, and Cassie Howarth (“Deranged High,” “Deathclock”) as the lone waitress, Dayna.
As Mayor of Newark, I welcome the ‘Bar Karma’ team to Ironbound Studios, a state-of-the-art facility, and congratulate them on choosing Newark as a home for this ground-breaking television series. – Mayor Cory Booker
The series answers the age-old question: “What would happen if you could change your fate?” Set in a time traveling bar owned and operated by members of the mysterious organization Karma, Inc., each weekly episode follows a new bar patron as they enter at happy hour and must make a life-changing and possibly world-saving decision.
“Bar Karma” used Wright’s innovative, easy-to-use Storymaker application, which users accessed by logging on at http://current.com/shows/bar-karma, as well as through social networking sites including Facebook and Twitter (), and a free iPhone App. Each week, the global online community voted on the top storylines chosen by producers. Once a final storyboard was selected by the community at large, the producers adapted, shot, produced and edited the winning storyline into a 30-minute episode. Users whose submissions were used were in the credit roll at the end of the show.
NOTE: This article was adapted from a press release issued by Current TV. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.
For more, visit the Bar Karma page.
