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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.

Ep666: Music & Mutilation: An Interview with SOUND OF VIOLENCE Writer/Director Alex Noyer

Ep666: Music & Mutilation: An Interview with SOUND OF VIOLENCE Writer/Director Alex Noyer

Ian talks with filmmaker Alex Noyer, whose bold new thriller, Sound of Violence, is now available On Demand.

This twisted expansion of Noyer's 2018 short, Conductor, centers on a troubled young musician named Alexis (Jasmin Savoy Brown). After experiencing two severe childhood traumas, she develops the ability to see sounds when encountering violence. The sensation is intoxicating, and Alexis soon finds herself going to murderous extremes in order to perfect her art.

Ian and Alex talk about the journey from documentary producer to horror filmmaker; evading the specter of the Saw movies; and the importance of casting, communication, and community in making an indie film.

Show Links:

  • Watch the Sound of Violence trailer.

  • Watch Conductor, the award-winning short film that Alex turned into Sound of Violence:

  • Read Ian's review of Sound of Violence at Kicking the Seat.

  • Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ep667: Late Screening: ALIENS

Ep667: Late Screening: ALIENS

Ep665: All Aboard the DRUNK BUS! An Interview with John Carlucci and Brandon LaGanke

Ep665: All Aboard the DRUNK BUS! An Interview with John Carlucci and Brandon LaGanke