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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 Noé, Rachel Brosnahan, Amy 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.

Ep866: IndieSeen: ONLY IN THEATERS w/ Raphael Sbarge and Greg and Tish Laemmle

Ep866: IndieSeen: ONLY IN THEATERS w/ Raphael Sbarge and Greg and Tish Laemmle

Ian Simmons

This month, Ian and Sujewa welcome special guests filmmaker Raphael Sbarge and subjects Greg and Tish Laemmle to discuss their documentary, Only In Theaters!

This eye-opening roller coaster of a movie traces the history of L.A.'s most prominent independent theater chain back to the very origin of the film industry--and charts the Laemmle family's ups and downs in the face of streaming services and a global pandemic that brought an entire industry to its knees.

Here, Sbarge and the Laemmles talk about how the project came together; how it evolved during several extremely challenging developments; and how things have continued to change since the film's release last year.

Plus: Sujewa shares updates on his upcoming film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene, and the Laemmle's involvement with its premiere!

Chicagoans! This Saturday (4/8/23) you can catch Only In Theaters at the Music Box Theatre! As an added bonus, Greg and Tish Laemmle will be on hand after the 4:30pm show for a Q&A! More info below.

Show Links:

  • Watch the Only In Theaters trailer.

  • Get info and tickets for this Saturday's special Music Box Theatre screening of Only In Theaters--featuring a Q&A w/ Greg and Tish Laemmle!

  • Watch Sujewa and Matt Zoller Seitz's discussion with Raphael Sbarge and The Laemmles.

  • Learn more about Sujewa's upcoming series, "Indie Discovery L.A."

What If He Doesn't Survive? THE MANDALORIAN Season 3 / Episode 6 - Round Table Review

What If He Doesn't Survive? THE MANDALORIAN Season 3 / Episode 6 - Round Table Review
Ep865: Late Screening: TRADING PLACES (1983)

Ep865: Late Screening: TRADING PLACES (1983)