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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.

Indiegogo Campaign: BAILOUT 2!

Hey, Everyone! Cast your mind back to episode five of the KtS Podcast, on which I interviewed director Sean Patrick Fahey and producer John Titus about their American-financial-crisis documentary, Bailout.

The movie follows Titus and a group of friends on a Vegas-bound road trip, where they blow all the money he saved by not paying his mortgage for several months--money he sees as supporting a corrupt institution. Along the way, they meet people whose fortunes were wrecked by swindle and circumstance, and ask the audience to consider their role in changing a rigged system.

During our conversation, Sean mentioned that he'd like to follow up with an examination of how troubled European markets have adversely impacted the United States.

Well, less than a year later, a sequel is in the works, and you can help make it happen!

Over the next few weeks, Bailout 2's Indiegogo campaign will raise funds to send RT's Max Keiser and a new group of comedic raconteurs on a cross-continent adventure through hard-hit areas like Greece, Ireland, and Cyprus. They'll explore the roots of various financial disasters that are gradually (and not-so-gradually) making their way to our shores, and look at what other countries have done to claw their way back from the brink of ruin.

Campaign perks range from signed DVDs and posters to official producer credits to dinner with Max Keiser! The biggest perk of all, though, is helping fund what is sure to be a fun and fascinating movie made by passionate, talented, grass-roots filmmakers. If that sounds enticing, check out the Bailout trailer below, then head on over to the Indiegogo page to learn more about Bailout 2.

Note: You can also learn more about the original Bailout (and order the DVD) at USABailout.com.

Indiegogo Campaign: Welcome to Hell!

Projecting Grief