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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.

Ep926: Green Means "GO": Linh Tran and James Choi on Making WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE

Ep926: Green Means "GO": Linh Tran and James Choi on Making WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE

Ian Simmons

Ian and David welcome co-writer director Linh Tran and Executive Producer James Choi for a discussion about the making of Tran's feature-length film debut, Waiting for the Light to Change!

The movie takes place in the early spring of 2021 at a Michigan lake house, where several friends have gathered for a weeklong getaway. Amy (Jin Park) and Kim (Joyce Ha) are lifelong best friends whose relationship has taken a downward turn since Kim began dating Jay (Sam Straley), a guy that Amy has a significant crush on–and who is also staying at the house. Rounding out the group are Lin (Qun Chi), Kim’s cousin who’s visiting from China, and Alex (Erik Barrientos), who’s got a thing for Amy.

In this wide-ranging interview, Linh talks about gearing up to make an entirely different film for DePaul University's School of Dramatic Arts indie program--and then pivoting to make a very personal story when the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world's plans.

She also talks about the meaning of directorial style, and the whirlwind of finishing her first movie, showing it in festivals, and eventually winning Slamdance's 2023 Narrative Feature Award.

Plus: James talks about redefining the meaning of independent film and the greatest hurdle aspiring filmmakers face in an ever-shifting landscape of bloated budgets, striking Hollywood creatives, and the specter of Artificial Intelligence!

Waiting for the Light to Change will be available on DVD in North America and On Demand starting October 20th. But if you're in Chicago this weekend, you can catch special screenings at the Gene Siskel Film Center--with Linh Tran in person! Tickets and more info linked below.

Show Links

Ep927: Spotlight India: JAWAN (2023)

Ep927: Spotlight India: JAWAN (2023)
Ep925: Chi-Town Chi: An Interview with FOR KICKS Director SEAN FAHEY

Ep925: Chi-Town Chi: An Interview with FOR KICKS Director SEAN FAHEY