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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.

Ep309: Hell Wanted

Today, the Kicking the Seat Podcast welcomes back film critic-turned-filmmaker Jason Coffman, whose debut feature, Housesitters, premieres this weekend at Windy City Horrorama! The film centers on Angie and Izzy, two best friends whose ostensibly easy housesitting gig turns into a comic nightmare of mayhem, monsters, and marijuana. Ian asks Jason about making the leap to filmmaking; the intricacies of a micro-budget production; and how he conceived one particular stretch of the movie that makes Housesitters required viewing for fans of breath-gasping comedy.

Also, Ian congratulates the Rendezvous in Chicago team for blowing past their Seed & Spark goal, and talks about some releases hitting home video from Olive Films tomorrow!

Episode 309 wouldn't give you the keys to its place, either!

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Ep310: 50 Million Reasons

Ep308: TRAFFIK Jam