Andrea Weeks, Executive Creative Director at AV Squad: LONGLEGS, ANORA, CUCKOO, THE NIGHTINGALE (and more!)
In this episode, host Corey Nathan sits down with Andrea Weeks, Executive Creative Director at AV Squad. A lifelong creative, Andrea brings a unique perspective shaped by her upbringing in Maine, a background in theater and film, and an impressive trajectory in the world of trailers and creative marketing. From her early days at Sony Pictures Classics to pioneering campaigns at AV Squad, Andrea shares her journey through the indie and mainstream worlds of film marketing. What We Discuss: How AV Squad became 100% employee-owned and what that means culturally Andrea’s transition from theater to film and trailers The importance of mentorship and collaborative creativity Behind-the-scenes insights into trailers for major campaigns like Longlegs How Andrea’s artistic upbringing informs her creative leadership Episode Highlights: [00:02:00] AV Squad becomes employee-owned: the announcement and cultural impact [00:04:00] Growing up in a Maine artist colony with a creative family [00:12:00] Andrea’s first exposure to film and passion for political theater [00:18:00] Interning at Sony Pictures Classics and finding a way into film [00:27:00] Spotting the rise of Netflix and seizing new opportunities [00:34:00] Transitioning from New York to LA and joining AV Squad [00:49:00] Crafting the Longlegs campaign and fostering company-wide collaboration [00:54:00] Mentorship and developing young talent in the creative industry Featured Quotes: “The arts are a way to help shift the world.” – Andrea Weeks “Being invited into the creative space of a film is a privilege—and building trust is everything.” – Andrea Weeks “Everyone knows I’m a huge admirer of AV Squad… it’s the spirit of the company that really stands out.” – Corey Nathan Resources Mentioned: AV Squad – https://www.avsquad.com/ Ghetto Film School – https://www.ghettofilm.org/ Our Sponsors: The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/ Brent Allen Hagel: www.brentallenhagel.com Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com Call to Action: Please leave us a rating and review: https://apple.co/3QYy80e You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan. Want to hear how the best in the business craft the world’s most exciting movie trailers? Tune in every week to Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods! 🎬🎤
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1:23:37
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1:23:37
"This Week in Movie Trailers" - Jonny Elwyn on Freelance Creativity, Trailer Data, and Building TWIMT
This episode is definitely for "trailer geeks" because host Corey Nathan and this week's guest Jonny Elwyn totally geek out over some great trailers. So on this edition, we sit down with Jonny Elwyn—a freelance editor and writer based in London—to explore the creative freelance lifestyle, the trailer industry, and Jonny’s popular newsletter This Week in Movie Trailers (TWIMT). Jonny shares his journey through film editing and writing, his strategies for staying productive, and how he built a data-driven trailer newsletter that’s catching the attention of the industry. What We Discuss: How Jonny Elwyn built a successful freelance career Insights into balancing parenting, editing, and side hustles Why collaboration beats competition in creative industries The origin and purpose of This Week in Movie Trailers Trends Jonny has uncovered from trailer viewership data Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Meet Jonny Elwyn – editor, writer, and creator of TWIMT [00:04:00] Choosing editing over directing in film school [00:06:00] Why fellow freelancers can be your best asset [00:10:00] Monetizing blogs and building a writing income [00:30:00] How Jonny built the TWIMT trailer tracking system [00:38:00] Surprising data insights about trailer performance [00:44:00] Why trailer editors deserve more credit [00:50:00] What’s next for TWIMT—and how the industry can help shape it Featured Quotes: "Your competition is actually your best community." – Jonny Elwyn "It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t give up." – Jonny Elwyn "People just want to see the trailers. No filler—just the good stuff." – Jonny Elwyn Resources Mentioned: This Week in Movie Trailers (TWIMT): movietrailers.pro/ Jonny’s Newletter on Post: www.cut-daily.com Jonny's Blog: jonnyelwyn.co.uk Our Sponsors: The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/ Brent Allen Hagel: www.brentallenhagel.com Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com Call to Action: Please leave us a rating and review: https://apple.co/3QYy80e You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan. Want to hear how the best in the business craft the world’s most exciting movie trailers? Tune in every week to Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods! 🎬🎤
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1:27:55
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1:27:55
Robert Hyams: From Film Reels to Avid – A Legendary Journey Through the Golden Age of Trailers
In this nostalgic episode of Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods, host Corey Nathan sits down with the legendary Robert Hyams, a pivotal figure in the evolution of movie marketing. From his start in the mailroom at Kaleidoscope to his influential role in both trailers and studio post-production, Rob shares fascinating stories of the people, technologies, and transitions that shaped the industry. With over four decades in the business and a reputation for never missing a deadline or going over budget, Rob offers unmatched insight into the trailer world’s past and future. What We Discuss: How the trailer industry evolved from physical film to digital workflows What it was like working at Kaleidoscope, Picture Mill, and on the studio side The creative and technical challenges behind finishing trailers Why certain people in post became icons in the field Advice for the next generation entering the film and entertainment industry Episode Highlights: [00:01:00] Rob and Corey reflect on how they met — a chance call that launched a career [00:07:00] Rob’s early days at Kaleidoscope and the family legacy that brought him to Hollywood [00:15:00] The revolutionary shift from film to video editing and Rob's role in the transition [00:24:00] Working with Hollywood legends like Ralph E. Winters and lessons learned in the cutting room [00:31:00] The introduction of Avid and how trailer editors embraced new tech faster than studios [00:39:00] Founding Picture Mill and the birth of a new kind of graphics/post company [00:44:00] Insights into the decline of film labs and the rise of digital intermediate [00:50:00] Rob’s thoughts on the future of post-production and storytelling in the age of AI and streaming [00:56:00] The stories behind iconic trailer copy lines and Rob’s gratitude for the community Featured Quotes: "You could take a 10-pound bag of crap and cut it down to a five-pound bag of crap. Still a bag of crap." — Robert Hyams, quoting Ralph E. Winters "We weren’t just adapting to change—we were the change." — Robert Hyams "Working union? Live better. You get health benefits and a pension. It's huge." — Robert Hyams Resources Mentioned: Coming Attractions - A History of the Movie Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FA3lgVcwFc Night on the Town (Rick Goldstein's film): www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzOsRBjtrLQ Our Sponsors: The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/ Brent Allen Hagel: www.brentallenhagel.com Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com Call to Action: Please leave us a rating and review: https://apple.co/3QYy80e You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan. Want to hear how the best in the business craft the world’s most exciting movie trailers? Tune in every week to Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods! 🎬🎤
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1:08:55
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1:08:55
Pete Campbell, Creative Director at Wild Card Creative Group
In this episode, host Corey Nathan sits down with Pete Campbell, Creative Director at Wild Card Creative Group and one of the most respected editors and mentors in the trailer industry. From his humble beginnings as a student and babysitter to cutting award-winning trailers and mentoring the next generation of creatives, Pete shares his journey and the craft behind some of the most iconic trailers in Hollywood. What We Discuss: How Pete transitioned from screenwriter to editor to creative director Why WDA was a launching pad for so many successful creatives What it takes to make a trailer that resonates emotionally and commercially Behind-the-scenes insights into campaigns like The Martian, The Post, and Severance How Pete balances creative intuition with collaboration and leadership Episode Highlights: 1:00 – Pete talks about his Mad Men namesake and early days in advertising 4:00 – From Loyola Marymount to babysitting Kevin Williamson’s twins 11:00 – Cutting a spec trailer for Kung Fu Hustle and launching a career 16:00 – Why Pete joined AV Squad and how it shaped his creative evolution 26:00 – Creative directing as mentorship, not micromanagement 34:00 – The story behind The Martian trailer and how quiet moments amplify impact 45:00 – Editing The Post and Nick Temple’s critical advice 51:00 – The joy of working on The Studio and blending highbrow and madcap comedy 60:00 – Pete’s favorite trailers by other editors and what he learned from them Featured Quotes: "Your job as a creative director is to see that 85% and not put your thumbprints all over it." – Pete Campbell "I’ve had so many moments where I think I’m terrible, and then I pray, and somehow an idea comes that saves the day." – Pete Campbell "Think different. It sounds so easy, but it’s one of the hardest things to do in this industry." – Pete Campbell Resources Mentioned: Dead Island Game Trailer: https://youtu.be/2mi5bH0fIxE?si=RMH12502ZTzhMEZV Pete Campbell on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pete-campbell-19629a21 Wild Card Creative Group: www.wildcardcreativegroup.com Our Sponsors: The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/ Brent Allen Hagel: www.brentallenhagel.com Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com Call to Action: Please leave us a rating and review: https://apple.co/3QYy80e You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan. Want to hear how the best in the business craft the world’s most exciting movie trailers? Tune in every week to Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods! 🎬🎤
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1:21:37
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1:21:37
The Creative Advertising Career of Dana Precious – From Sony to Marvel and Beyond
On this episode, we sit down with the brilliant and dynamic Dana Precious. From her humble start as a receptionist to holding top marketing positions at Sony, Marvel, and Relativity, Dana shares a story filled with humor, grit, and wisdom. Alongside her accomplishments in entertainment marketing, Dana is also a successful author of several novels, and in this episode, she reflects on creativity, leadership, industry changes, and personal evolution. What We Discuss: How Dana Precious transitioned from receptionist to CMO Lessons in navigating creative careers and studio politics Dana’s insights on writing, brand strategy, and staying creatively inspired Her take on recent brilliant campaigns that others have done like Barbie and Oppenheimer Episode Highlights: [00:03:00] Dana's quirky entry into the industry and discovering copywriting [00:08:00] The power move (accidentally) that got her hired at Sony [00:28:00] Adjusting from agency life to studio marketing [00:46:00] Dana’s writing career and genre-hopping storytelling [00:56:00] Why Barbie and Oppenheimer were marketing masterclasses [01:00:00] Her honest advice to young creatives trying to break in Featured Quotes: “Some of the best careers in this industry were started by people who were just terrible as receptionists.” – Corey Nathan “I discovered I was good at copywriting, and when people are good at something, they often discount it.” – Dana Precious “I always thought working hard and doing a good job was enough. But I didn’t spend enough time making friends.” – Dana Precious Resources Mentioned: www.danapreciouswrites.com Our Sponsors: The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/ Brent Allen Hagel: www.brentallenhagel.com Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com Call to Action: Please leave us a rating and review: https://apple.co/3QYy80e You can find Corey on all the socials @coreysnathan such as www.linkedin.com/in/coreysnathan. Want to hear how the best in the business craft the world’s most exciting movie trailers? Tune in every week to Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods! 🎬🎤
Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods... the podcast that honors the art of making movie trailers, teasers, key art, and all the strategic content that launched the movies, TV shows, and games you love.
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