Kicking the Seat

Ian talks with actor, athlete, author, and radio personality Michael Dante!When an injury cut short a promising Major League Baseball career in the mid-1950s, young Ralph Vitti took up drama at the University of Miami Florida. A chance encounter with bandleader Tommy Dorsey led to an MGM screen test, and a decades-spanning career in motion pictures and television.At the insistence of legendary studio head Jack Warner, Vitti changed his name and went on to star as Michael Dante in movies with the likes of Elvis Presley, Joan Collins, Randolph Scott, Rod Steiger, and countless others. Along the way, Mr. Dante built a life of charitable giving, celebrity mingling (John Wayne, Sidney Poitier, and Tony Curtis were friends), and constantly exploring new outlets for his creativity.In this super-sized interview, Mr. Dante shares some fantastic behind-the-scenes stories (including filming an episode of Star Trek in 120-degree desert heat); describes the writing of his latest book about the 12 years he spent interviewing movie stars and athletes on his Palm Springs radio show; and what the future holds for this lively jack of all trades.Plus: Ian asks about his star turn in the 1975 Western, Winterhawk; how he recalls stories at age 90 better than most people in their mid-twenties; and the craziest "singles table" in Hollywood history!Show LinksWatch the Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956) trailer.Watch the Seven Thieves (1960) trailer.Watch the Winterhawk (1975) trailer.Listen to a sampling of Michael Dante's classic radio interviews at his website.You can purchase signed copies of Michael Dante's books (including My Classic Radio Interviews with The Stars, Volume One) at his website.Also, be sure to check out my interview with J.R. Jordan about his book, Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures (which planted the seeds for this episode).And you can order Robert Wise: The Motion Pictures at Amazon!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

"Scare-a-Thon 2021" concludes with a rousing and reverent look at David Cronenberg's 1986 sci-fi masterpiece, The Fly!Eccentric scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) has just unlocked the secret to teleportation. Unfortunately, his DNA gets mashed up with that of a common housefly during one of his experiments--leading to a horrific transformation and some truly awkward moments with new girlfriend, Veronica (Geena Davis)!Ian, AC, and Jon talk about why this is the rare practically perfect film, and the double-rare excellent remake! They also get into the movie's subtle (and in-your-face) themes; Jeff Goldblum's absolute robbery of an Oscar snub; and whether or not this film qualifies as "horror" (Ian gets some mighty fine educatin' from his fellow enthusiasts)!Thanks so much to everyone who has tuned in this month and engaged in these very fun fright-flick discussions--and especially to those who were able to help out The Albany Park Theater Project, either by directly donating or spreading the word!We'll be back next October with a fresh slate of menacing movies, but don't miss out on the year-round fun of our ongoing horror series, "Accademia Giallo" and "Hammerland" (available in this channel's "Playlists")!Show LinksWatch The Fly trailer. Keep up with Aaron's daily "Scare-a-Thon" reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Follow Jon down into Kitley's Krypt.For more info on the Albany Park Theater Project visit their website.And watch a brand-new video with several members of the Albany Park Theater Project, talking about the Halloween season and what makes APTP special!Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.Check out Scream Factory's Blu-ray box set of the entire Fly franchise!And watch AC's recent guest appearance on the It's Not That Scary podcast, which features a discussion on The Innocents!Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Like sand through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives...reading and watching lots and lots of Dune!“Page2Screen” returns with our biggest episode yet, wherein Ian and Cole compare and contrast Frank Herbert's seminal 1965 fantasy novel, David Lynch's 1984 adaptation, Denis Villeneuve's recently released telling, and the 2013 documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune, which details the collapse of a wildly ambitious (and oddly influential) early-70s big-screen attempt!The guys delve into what makes Herbert's work so immersive; why it's been a tricky property to translate from static words to motion pictures; and how each cinematic interpretation brings something wonderful to the table--in wildly varying degrees.Show Links:Watch the Dune (2021) trailer.Watch the Dune (1984) trailer.Watch the Jodorowsky’s Dune trailer.Keep up with all of Cole's literary criticism at The Quill to Live.Check out Cole's TikTok channel, BookRush.And if you're looking for a sand-blast from the past, watch Ian talk about David Lynch's Dune with Sujewa Ekanayake and Mike Crowley on this 2020 episode of "The Slowdown".Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

After twenty-seven months, Sujewa Ekanayake's absurdist pandemic rom-com is finally upon us--sort of! The Secret Society for Slow Romance is making its way through the festival-submissions pipeline, with plans for an official release in the works for 2022.In the summer and fall of 2020, two New York filmmakers go on a series of dates where they discuss independent movies, culture, and a plan for ending poverty worldwide. Storywise, it's a far cry from the writer/director's previous film, Werewolf Ninja Philosopher, but that absurdist spirit is alive and well in the characters' cramped Brooklyn apartments.Ian talks with Sujewa and his co-star, Alia Lorae, about finishing the movie, lessons learned, and next steps. Also, Ian shares his initial thoughts on Slow Romance and talks through some of the high points and not-so-high points in a very spirited, spoiler-free exchange!Show LinksWatch the Secret Society for Slow Romance trailer.Watch a clip from Slow Romance.Learn more about Slow Romance at the film's website.Keep up with all of Sujewa's projects.And support Alia's creative endeavors.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

It's family fun week at the ol' "Scare-a-Thon" as we gather for Satanic Rites of Dracula!Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm boards our creepy carriage through 1970s London, where a freshly resurrected Dracula continues to terrorize locals and frustrate the descendent of vamp-vanquishing legend, Van Helsing!Join us live on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter at 7:30pm every Friday in October. We'll take questions, address comments, and invite you to tell us about your go-to Spooky Season movies! This year, "Scare-a-Thon" is raising money and awareness for Chicago's Albany Park Theater Project, which you can learn more about in the links below!Show LinksWatch the Satanic Rites of Dracula trailer. Keep up with Aaron's daily "Scare-a-Thon" reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Keep up with Lee Shoquist of ChicagoFilm!Watch a brand-new video with several members of the Albany Park Theater Project, talking about the Halloween season and what makes APTP special!For more info on the Albany Park Theater Project visit their website.Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.And check out this "Scare-a-Thon 2021" trailer from the great Jason Coffman!If you just can't get enough "Hammerland", feel free to stalk our YouTube Playlist.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

In their latest deep-dive into the world of independent film, Ian and Sujewa welcome Dan Mirvish, founder of the Slamdance Film Festival and the co-writer/director of 18 1/2!Set in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, 18 1/2 stars Willa Fitzgerald as Connie, a federal transcriber who happens upon the missing minutes from President Nixon's infamous White House recordings. While seeking help from journalist Paul Marrow (John Magaro), Connie discovers that extreme paranoia isn't exclusive to the disgraced Commander in Chief!In this spirited, spoiler-free conversation, Dan talks about the movie's origins; the mix of blessings and curses he experienced in working during the pandemic, and his plans for expanding the film beyond the festival circuit. Also, Sujewa shares a new idea for connecting indie filmmakers with indie film critics and provides an update on his recently completed new film, The Secret Society for Slow Romance! Timestamps:Intro: 0:00 - 1:30Filmmaker/Film Critic Patronage and the Tomatometer Problem: 1:31 - 20:56Slow Romance Update: 20:57 - 22:26 18 1/2 Discussion: 22:27 - 1:01:13Outro: 1:01:14 - 1:05:53Show Links:Watch the 18 1/2 trailer.Read Dan's latest article in Filmmaker Magazine.Order Dan's book, The Cheerful Subversive’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking.Follow Dan on Twitter.Check out our previous slow cinema-centric series, "The Slowdown".Find clips, making-of videos, and other cool info about Sujewa's upcoming film, The Secret Society for Slow Romance.Keep up with all of Sujewa's projects.Follow Sujewa on Twitter.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Last week was a big one for William Shatner. Not only did the Star Trek actor go to space, the slasher icon that bears his ghastly likeness shook up the box office with Halloween Kills!Director David Gordon Green's follow-up to his 2018 sequel (which was technically the franchise's third Halloween sequel--need an aspirin?) finds masked maniac Michael Myers emerging from a fiery grave to wreak more havoc on the sleepy town of Haddonfield, IL. Unfortunately for him, he must contend with a bloodthirsty mob who's determined to make sure the evil town legend stays dead this time.Ian and David liked this one slightly more than its predecessor, but for very different (and surprising) reasons. Watch as they talk horror movie logic (no, really); marketing switcheroos; and signs that a studio has more faith in the box office than in the critical reception! Show Links:Watch the Halloween Kills trailer.Listen to Ian and David's review of 2018's Halloween.Watch Ian's August interview with Halloween Kills star Anthony Michael Hall.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Shield your eyes and open your minds as Scare-a-Thon week 3 serves up a stone-cold "Hammerland" special: The Gorgon!Yes, we're taking a detour from our year-long look at the Dracula and Frankenstein Hammer films to gaze longingly at the sumptuous, slithering strands of Terence Fisher's 1964 Medusa movie! Mark "The Movie" Man Krawczyk of The Spoiler Room Podcast joins us to discuss the film and catch up on all the flight flicks we've been watching--all benefiting Chicago's Albany Park Theater Project!Join us live on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter at 7:30pm every Friday in October. We'll take questions, address comments, and invite you to tell us about your go-to Spooky Season movies!Show LinksWatch the Gorgon trailer. Keep up with Aaron's daily "Scare-a-Thon" reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Follow Jon down into Kitley's Krypt.And stay fresh with Mark's Spoiler Room Podcast! For more info on the Albany Park Theater Project visit their website.Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.And check out this "Scare-a-Thon 2021" trailer from the great Jason Coffman!If you just can't get enough "Hammerland", feel free to stalk our YouTube Playlist.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Ian and David take a long, hard look at Daniel Craig's final mission as James Bond!No Time To Die, the series' oft-delayed 25th entry, is finally in theatres, and has garnered mixed reactions from legions of fans--including your hosts, who found a lot to admire and to critique.In their spoiler-filled review, the guys talk about the controversies surrounding the movie; how it fits (or, more precisely, does not) within the decades-spanning franchise; and what they hope to see moving forward.Show Links:Watch the No Time To Die trailer.Follow David's film criticism at Keeping It Reel.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!

Pull up a chair for this special "Accademia Giallo" lesson on 1974's The Killer Reserved Nine Seats!Yes, "Scare-a-Thon 2021" rolls on with another lively livestream benefiting Chicago's Albany Park Theater Project!This week, Ian and Aaron welcome Jon Kitley of Kitley's Krypt for a look at Gieusseppe Bennati's theatre-set thriller. This viewer-requested class features some robust debates about atmosphere, tone, and the filmmakers' seemingly conflicted morality.Plus, things get really rowdy when Bryan pops in for a surprise appearance! Join us LIVE on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter at 7:30pm every Friday in October. We'll take questions, address comments, and invite you to tell us about your go-to Spooky Season movies!Show LinksWatch the The Killer Reserved Nine Seats trailer. Keep up with Aaron's daily "Scare-a-Thon" reviews at Horror 101 with Dr. AC.Follow Jon down into Kitley's Krypt.Check out Bryan Martinez's YouTube show, The Giallo Room!AND follow The Giallo Room on Instagram for your daily gialli fix!For more info on the Albany Park Theater Project visit their website.Donate to the Albany Park Theater Project here.And check out this "Scare-a-Thon 2021" trailer from the great Jason Coffman!If you just can't get enough "Accademia Giallo", feel free to stalk our YouTube Playlist.Subscribe to, like, and comment on the Kicking the Seat YouTube channel!