Fatty's Poker Rakes in Production Deal With IKA Collective

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Mar 29, 2012) - Fatty's - Where Poker Gets Real, announced today that it has signed a deal with IKA Collective to produce reality-based web and television content about its poker club and colorful, larger-than-life members. IKA will shoot and produce the shows over the next several months and plans to air them later in 2012.

Fatty's is a group of regular guys (and girls) that are part of a private poker club just outside of New York City. At the core of this large, boisterous and comedic group is Mike "The Nose" Castaldo, a 22-year poker rounder and club proprietor. He started Fatty's with his oversized, twin cousins Tommy and Chris with the goal to do things "their way." Mike has seen to it that everything at Fatty's is bigger -- the food, the fun, the poker, the laughs, the action and the personalities.

"When I was introduced to this crew (at Fatty's) I immediately fell in love with the personalities, the camaraderie and the loud, back-and-forth nature of the group," said Ian Karr, founder of IKA Collective. "What's not to like? You immediately feel like you're part of this big New York family that loves to play cards and break each other's chops. There are great stories here that people will love to watch."

Ian Karr founded IKA Collective twenty-six years ago and has amassed thousands of credits producing and directing content for clients including Showtime Networks, HBO, FOX, Associated Press, Merck, Viacom, and United/Continental Airlines. Its current original series, "The Midnight Archive" was called "one of the best web series I've ever seen" by Forbes reporter Alex Knapp.

"It's my dream to make Fatty's bigger than just our single club," said Mike "The Nose" Castaldo, founder of Fatty's and show co-creator. "IKA really understands the character and charm of our guys and shares our vision to bring the Fatty's experience to living rooms and home games across the country. I mean we couldn't get any bigger ourselves; we only have so much room in the club!"

"The home game is the backbone of the poker industry throughout the world," said show co-creator Scott "Mayhem" Einiger. "Over the last year home games have exploded. These are Fatty's people and they are going to love the show and relate to our crew."

More information about Fatty's and the upcoming shows can be found at www.fattyspoker.com. IKA collective and their work can be seen at www.ikacollective.com

About Fatty's - Where Poker Gets Real
Fatty's - Where Poker Gets Real is a reality show featuring members of the Fatty's home game -- emblematic of home game players from around the country. The show centers on the love-hate relationship of show co-producer Mike "The Nose" Castaldo, a poker rounder for 22 years, and his two larger than life cousins. It also features a band of merry Fatty's regulars including attorney and co-producer Scott "Mayhem" Einiger. They are a bunch of regular guys chasing the same dream of winning life-changing money and a poker championship. More information about Fatty's can be found at www.fattyspoker.com

About IKA Collective
Founded by noted brand strategist/director Ian Karr, IKA Collective is more than a production company... it's a creative collective of writers, producers, editors, directors, composers, digital artists, fashionistas, foodies and horror film fanatics who love to tell stories. Whether it's an ad, a network promo, a digital media project, or our own original content, IKA Collective is all about communicating in a way that entertains and gets results. Our facility includes a live insert stage, five edit rooms, digital color grading, graphics, compositing and audio mixing suites, allowing us to deliver great work at budgets that make sense in every medium. Recent clients include FOX TV, Discovery Channel, United Airlines, Hallmark Channel and Penguin Publishing. For more information go to http://www.ikacollective.com/