James Acaster launches Kickstarter campaign for online series
Stand-up comedian James Acaster has turned to crowdfunding website Kickstarter to help fund an online comedy series that would see him travel to Germany to meet local residents.
The six-part series would be a follow-up to Sweet Home Ketteringa, the 2014 online documentary series in which the Mock The Week star returned to his home town of Kettering "in the hope of learning once and for all who he truly is". The resulting videos - which received over 50,000 hits - saw him "fail" in this task, as "nobody really remembered him".
The new series would see him travel to Lahnstein in Germany - Kettering's official twin town - so he can "can discover the whole picture of Kettering, and therefore - himself".
The comedian, talking about the premise, explains: "You've got to know the twin - you can't know Tia without knowing Tamera, you can't know Tweedledee without knowing Tweedledum".
Producers Turtle Canyon Comedy are using Kickstarter to try to raise £4,675 of the £21,200 budget required to make the episodes. The crowdfunding campaign, which launched last night, has 30 days to meet the goal. As the organisers themselves explain, "If the full amount isn't raised by December 8th, all the money is refunded to backers - it's all or nothing."
In return for pledging, backers will receive a reward. Options include behind-the-scenes updates, a 'begrudging' thanks for the comedian whilst he eats cereal, a limited edition DVD, and the option to be an Executive Producer.
Producer Stuart Laws says: "We hope our successful first series and James's increasing popularity will be an attractive draw for fans. YouTube has given the chance for independent comedy to shine and deliver video that's more personal, funnier and truer to the comedians' intentions. I hope James has a similar respect for all our potential Kickstarter backers."
James Acaster adds: "Look, we're not making anything from this, going to Germany isn't cheap - so just give us the money. We deserve it."
Provided the funding targets are met, Series 2 of Sweet Home Ketteringa will be filmed in February 2016, and the episodes will be launched in weekly instalments from July 2016.
To find out more visit the Kickstarter page
Below is Episode 1 from the first series of the show. To watch the subsequent episodes visit YouTube