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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.

Ep161: BERTIE Lives Matter

This week, Ian talks with co-writer/director Margaret Byrne and producer Ian Robertson Kibbe about their new documentary, Raising Bertie, which plays this Sunday at the Chicago International Film Festival. The movie centers on three African-American teens living in Bertie, North Carolina. Over the course of six years, they struggle with issues of family, school, and dire economic circumstances--all the while living in the shadow of the county's twenty-seven prisons.

Ian chats with the filmmakers about getting the project off the ground; how Raising Bertie fits into the national conversation on race; and the challenges of remaining objective when studying people for more than half a decade.

Also, Ian reminds listeners of some cool upcoming events, such as the Music Box Theatre's November 11th screening of Manos: The Hands of Fate, and Dr. A.C.'s Scare-a-Thon, which benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Episode 161 is all about Raising Bertie and raising awareness!

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Ep162: What the Blazes?!

Ep160: Orbituary