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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.

Ep681: A Novel Idea: An Interview with SHELL OF A MAN Author Mario Anthony

Ep681: A Novel Idea: An Interview with SHELL OF A MAN Author Mario Anthony

In a first for the Kicking the Seat Podcast, Ian talks about a newly published screenplay in search of a movie!

Ian first met Mario Anthony during the release of Nick Alonzo's harrowing 2019 drama, Decaf Don, in which he starred. Today, the actor/filmmaker/author sits down to talk about writing Shell of a Man, a moving and unique "screenplay novel" about Vincent, a young Navy recruit on leave who struggles with family, love, and deep-seated inner turmoil.

In this personal and revealing conversation, Anthony talks about the impetus for bringing Vincent's story to life; finding and maintaining honest voices for a wide range of characters, and his plans for bringing Shell of a Man off the page and onto the screen!

Show Links:

  • Order Shell of a Man: A Screenplay Novel on Amazon.

  • Listen to Ian's 2019 interview with Mario Anthony and other members of the Decaf Don cast and crew.

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

Ep682: A.I. @ XX with Armond White

Ep682: A.I. @ XX with Armond White

Ep680: Waxing Aspirational with WHEELS Writer/Director Paul Starkman

Ep680: Waxing Aspirational with WHEELS Writer/Director Paul Starkman