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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.

Ep873: IndieSeen: THREE WORLDS (2018) - with Writer/Director Amir Motlagh

Ep873: IndieSeen: THREE WORLDS (2018) - with Writer/Director Amir Motlagh

Ian Simmons

Ian and Sujewa welcome back Amir Motlagh to discuss his 2018 film, Three Worlds!

The L.A.-set drama follows Saam (Motlagh), a frustrated indie filmmaker who scrapes out a living by shooting and producing commercials, and whose love life has devolved into meaningless hookups. As he flashes back to the childhood dreams of Hollywood magic that propelled him from Iran to California, Saam begins an existential search for answers in a city that has none to offer.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ian, Sujewa, and Amir talk about the years-long development of Three Worlds; comparisons to Terence Malick's Knight of Cups; and the fact-versus-fiction elements of the movie's multi-layered story and guiding philosophy.

Plus: Sujewa shares updates on his upcoming film, Cosmic Disco Detective Rene, which will premiere next month in Los Angeles as the kick-off to his Indie Discovery L.A. Film Series!

Show Links:

  • Watch the Three Worlds (2018) trailer.

  • Keep up with all of Amir's creative efforts at amirmotlagh.com.

  • Get ready for Indie Discovery L.A., Sujewa's upcoming film series--featuring Three Worlds!

  • Watch Ian and Sujewa's review of No Bears (mentioned in the show).

  • Watch Ian and Sujewa's previous interview with Amir, for his other 2018 film, Man.

  • Listen to Ian and Mark "The Movie Man" Krawczyk discuss Terence Malick's Knight of Cups on The Spoiler Room Podcast.

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

Ep874: CINEMA FEMME Is Breaking Down Walls w/ Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and Michael Glover Smith

Ep874: CINEMA FEMME Is Breaking Down Walls w/ Rebecca Martin Fagerholm and Michael Glover Smith
What If He Doesn't Survive? THE MANDALORIAN Season 3 / Episode 8 - Round Table Review

What If He Doesn't Survive? THE MANDALORIAN Season 3 / Episode 8 - Round Table Review