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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.

FINDING COURAGE Interview w/ Director KAY RUBACEK

FINDING COURAGE Interview w/ Director KAY RUBACEK

Ian Simmons

Ian talks with director and activist Kay Rubacek, whose feature documentary debut, Finding Courage, looks at exiled journalist Yifei Wang's fight for justice against the Chinese Communist Party--who imprisoned and murdered her sister following a 2001 Falun Gong protest.

In this eye-opening discussion, Ian and Kay talk about the film's release plans (which have been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic); the lack of a robust global response to CCP religious oppression; and how Kay's own experiences mirror those of the people whose stories she tells in Finding Courage.

Note: There are a couple of cuts early in the conversation due to Skype-issue edits. The jumps aren't noticeable on audio, but visually it looks a bit strange.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Swoop Films has also made their previous film, Hard to Believe, available to watch for free.

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