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Welcome to Kicking the Seat!

Ian Simmons launched Kicking the Seat in 2009, one week after seeing Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia. His wife proposed blogging as a healthier outlet for his anger than red-faced, twenty-minute tirades (Ian is no longer allowed to drive home from the movies).

The Kicking the Seat Podcast followed three years later and, despite its “undiscovered gem” status, Ian thoroughly enjoys hosting film critic discussions, creating themed shows, and interviewing such luminaries as Gaspar NoéRachel BrosnahanAmy Seimetz, and Richard Dreyfuss.

Ian is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. He also has a family, a day job, and conflicted feelings about referring to himself in the third person.

The KtS Contest: DEAD WEIGHT!

NOTE: Contest has ended. Winner to be announced soon!

Hey, Everyone! As you may or may not have heard on this week's Kicking the Seat podcast, we're in the middle of our first-ever contest! To celebrate the DVD debut of the spectacular, post-apocalyptic indie drama, Dead Weight, we're giving away one copy to the reader who can best answer the following question in 75 words or less:

How would you improve your least favorite horror movie?

Your answers should be thoughtful and, if possible, highly inventive--and fall within the strict word limit of 75. Claiming that the Friday the 13th remake would benefit from not ever having been made is neither helpful nor interesting.* And, no, Snarkalicious, Sex and the City doesn't count as a horror movie. I'm looking for ways to save flicks that were designed to make people scream intentionally.

Now, a few words about what you're playing for: one savvy scribe will win a free 2-disc DVD edition of one of my favorite films so far this year. Not only that, this is the limited-edition version with slipcase artwork by Walking Dead co-creator and all-around comics superstar, Tony Moore!

Why aren't you typing yet?

Okay, okay, you greedy bastitches--I'll sweeten the deal: The 2-disc, limited-slipcase-edition DVD will also show up in your mailbox signed by co-writers/directors (and recent KtS Interview subjects) John Pata and Adam Bartlett!

And because I know that's still not enough incentive for some of you, the disc will come surrounded by a handful of other random goodies as part of your very own Kicking the Seat Care Package!

Please send your movie-improvement ideas (improvies!) via Comment Card by 12pm CST on Sunday, April 29th. I'll read the winning entry on episode two of the podcast, so I encourage all you anonymous-types to assume a cool alias.

Thanks, everyone, and happy improvie-ing!**

Special thanks to John, Adam, and the entire gang at Head Trauma Productions. Even if you don't win, you can buy a copy of Dead Weight at their Web site. I encourage you to do this. Muchly.

*If you just experienced déjà vu, it's because I used a variation of that line on the podcast. If you didn't just experience déjà vu--listen to the podcast!

**Yes, "improvie" is both a noun and a verb. Adjective status pending...

The KtS Contest: NEW YEAR'S EVE!