profile pic ian.jpg

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.

Ep147: Front Row WITH YOU

This week, Ian brings you into the front row of his first press conference, a star-studded panel for the wonderful new film Southside with You! Listen as writer/director Richard Tanne, stars Tika Sumpter, Parker Sawyers, Vanessa Bell Calloway, and Grammy winning executive producer John Legend talk about the pride and pitfalls of chronicling Barack and Michelle Obama's first date. No sleepy-eyed, canned, junket responses here: this event is packed with lively answers to engaging questions.

Also, Ian shares some birthday wishes, recommends a couple of podcasts and home video releases, and gives details on both the Music Box Theatre's one-night-only "Composer's Cut" orchestration of Lucio Fulci's The Beyond with Fabio Frizzi (in person!) and the 52nd Chicago International Film Festival!

Regardless of which side of the political fence you're on, Episode 147 will give you something to believe in!

As always, you can keep up with the latest seat-kicking goodness by following, liking, rating, and subscribing to us on TwitterFacebookiTunes, and Stitcher!

Ep148: Wilder Things

Ep146: KUBO and the Two Very Different Opinions