Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods – Details, episodes & analysis

From Strings to Screens: Aaron Gershman's Journey Across AV, Digital, and Design

How does a former rock guitarist with zero design training become a creative force behind some of the most visually stunning and emotionally resonant film campaigns of our time?

This week on Trailer Geeks and Teaser Gods, Corey Nathan sits down with Aaron Gershman, SVP of Creative Advertising at Lionsgate, whose journey from teenage rocker to "Pope of Posters" is anything but ordinary. From working on cult classics like Scott Pilgrim to crafting mind-blowing illustrated campaigns for John Wick 4, Aaron shares a deep-dive into the intersections of music, design, AV, and storytelling.

🎨 Whether he's collaborating with international artists or building visceral trailers that mix gunshots with throat singing, Aaron reveals how emotional intelligence, personal roots, and artistic instincts create unforgettable marketing.

• Support Skip's Heart Recovery Journey - gofund.me/9ef1ccfef
• A Very Vibrant Celebration 2 - www.wearevibrant.org/events

• Music Meets Marketing: Aaron's background as a musician and producer continues to shape how he sees rhythm, timing, and emotional arc—especially in AV.

• Poster Power: Learn how an artist-led, globally-sourced poster series for John Wick 4 redefined collaboration and style.

• From Minivan DVDs to Collectible Art: Aaron traces the evolution of home entertainment from functional formats to curated collectibles.

• Mentorship Matters: Behind every pivot in Aaron's career is a creative leader who inspired him—from Tom Gundred to Damon Wolf to Adam Fogelson.

• Embracing Change: From studio shakeups to creative setbacks, Aaron's mantra is to stay focused on the joy of building.

"My dad was a producer through and through. Even when I was a kid in a garage band, he'd come down and tell us, 'This song needs dynamics—quiet moments, loud moments.' Then he'd play The Doors to show us what he meant."
— Aaron Gershman

"I used to track artists on Instagram the same way I used to find bands. Now I follow over 5,000 illustrators for inspiration."
— Aaron Gershman

"The work didn't scare me—learning the language of trailers did. Corey, your podcast was like my AV crash course."
— Aaron Gershman

• John Wick 4 – Artist series posters

• The Strangers: Chapter 1 – Friggin' Bill Neil!

• Silent Night – Ode to Joy meets tactical violence

• Clerks III – Collaborating with Kevin Smith

• Sisu – Tribal, percussive, primal, and punchy

• Lionsgate - @lionsgate on Instagram and TikTok

• Corey - @coreysnathan on all the socials

• Meza Wealth Management: www.mezawealth.com
• 24/96 Sound & Music Design: 2496soundandmusic.com
• The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/  
• Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com

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• Connect with Corey on all platforms @coreysnathan
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Between the Beats: From Texas Roots to Trailer Rhythms

What does it take to edit trailers that breathe emotion, humor, tension, and awe—all in a few short minutes?

This week, we sit down with Shea Jones, a self-proclaimed "rhythm cutter" whose musical instincts have defined some of the most memorable trailer moments of the last decade. Shea shares his origin story—from math-loving student in San Antonio to trailer editor at X/AV—along with insights into how he approaches genre, music, and storytelling.

🎵 Whether he's remixing action sequences with beat drops or building visual poetry around Taylor Swift lyrics, Shea reveals how the best trailers aren't just made—they're felt.

This episode is a must-listen for creatives, editors, and trailer geeks alike.

• Editing is Rhythmic: Shea describes himself as a "rhythm-based cutter," likening his editing flow to musical composition and even mathematics.

• Versatility is a Superpower: From horror and blockbuster action to emotional dramas, Shea's ability to pivot across genres comes from intuition and experimentation.

• Let the Music Speak: For projects like Daisy Jones & The Six and The Summer I Turned Pretty, lyrics drive narrative as much as visuals or dialogue.

• Compete with Yourself: In an industry full of talent, Shea's biggest rival is yesterday's version of himself.

• Culture Matters: A decade at XAV isn't just about work—it's about a team-first environment that nurtures people, not just projects.

"There's a mathematics to trailers. It's not just beats—it's breathing, silence, and flow."
— Shea Jones

"The best finish is my next finish."
— Shea Jones

"Competing with others used to drive me. Now, I just want to keep getting better."
— Shea Jones

• Website: xav.la

• 24/96 Sound & Music Design: 2496soundandmusic.com
• The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.com/  
• Soundstripe: app.soundstripe.com

Calls 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! 🎬🎤

"Kaleidoscope University" - The Trailer Industry's Wild Beginnings

Continuing our Tribute to Andy Kuehn, we're joined by Mike Camp, who got his start at Kaleidoscope Films under Andy, went on to serve as EVP at Paramount, EVP at Fox on the International side, and ulitmately was co-founder of the boutique agency ACME. And we're once again fortunate to have special co-host Benedict Coulter—often thought of as "the original rock star editor of the trailer industry" and now co-founder and owner of REBEL. 

What We Discuss:

• How Andy Kuehn inspired a generation of trailer editors and producers

• What it was like working at Kaleidoscope Films during its golden era

• Mike Camp's role in shaping campaigns for classics like Top Gun, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Titanic

• What it takes to launch a successful creative agency in Hollywood

• The art and philosophy of trailer-making, from the analog days to now

Episode Highlights:

• • [00:02:45] – Mike Camp reflects on how a favor for a college friend landed him at Kaleidoscope Films, launching a decades-long career in trailers.

  • [00:07:10] – The unique, rowdy, and creatively explosive culture at Kaleidoscope: office wine tastings, horse racing bets, and midnight brainstorms.

  • [00:14:30] – A pivotal phone call from Dawn Steel brings Mike to Paramount, where he joins a dream team at just 27 years old.

  • [00:17:55] – The legendary 1986 Paramount slate: Top Gun, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Crocodile Dundee, and Star Trek IV.

  • [00:23:20] – Andy Kuehn's distinctive trailer sensibility and how he elevated the artform by focusing on mood, music, and emotion.

  • [00:28:40] – The creation of ACME: how Mike and his partners went all-in to build a new agency, and what set them apart.

  • [00:36:50] – Mentoring and collaborating with a new generation, including the rising talent of Skip and his revolutionary graphics work.

  • [00:49:15] – Reflections on Andy's enduring impact on trailer culture and how he empowered creatives with freedom and trust.

  • [01:02:00] – The legacy continues: why Mike and Benny remain passionate about storytelling and honoring the roots of the craft.

Featured Quotes:

• "A trailer is a song—it's meant to give you emotion. You're not selling the movie; you're selling a feeling." – Mike Camp
• "Andy championed us. He never said no to a wild idea. He always said: try it." – Benedict Coulter
• "The trailer's job is to get asses in seats. If the film does its job, they'll stay there." – Mike Camp
• "Andy was the heart of Kaleidoscope. He made you feel like you were truly in the movie business." – Mike Camp

• 24/96 Sound & Music Design: 2496soundandmusic.com
• The Golden Trailer Awards: goldentrailer.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! 🎬🎤

Stephanie Allen started in NYC at Rolling Stone Mag. as Assoc. Photo Editor. She went on to Tri-Star as Dir. of Advertising, and then promoted to VP of Creative Adv. In her career, she also worked at Seiniger Advertising, Orion and Digital Pulp. In 2000, Stephanie relocated to L.A. to join Fox Searchlight as the SVP Crea. Adv. and New Media, having worked on Slumdog Millionaire, Sideways, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine, Napoleon Dynamite, I Heart Huckabees, Thirteen, Garden State, Crazy Heart and many others.

Wayne Watson, Creative Dir. and President of Ignition Creative, initially wrote a long winded 6 paragraph bio overusing words like "passion" and "inspiration".  Remembering his humble beginnings as a trailer editor, he realized he needed to get it down to "time" and wrote a simple paragraph… For over 15 years, he's worked across the entertainment spectrum in every genre, platform and style. He loves music, film, working on great projects and collaborating with a team of extremely talented people.  

Ryan Hegenberger is the owner of Big Picture Ent, the "creative, talented, obsessed" trailer shop that's worked with Disney, Dreamworks, Focus, Fox Sports, Happy Madison, Hulu, Lionsgate, Netflix, NFL Network, Paramount, Searchlight Sony Pictures, Universal, Warner Brothers and YouTube among others. Ryan came to Hollywood by way of Clemson where he played D1 football. He started in the trailer industry with the legendary Intralink Film alongside several other trailer geeks and teaser gods.

Adam Fogelson, Chairman STXfilms. Currently Leading all aspects of film production, marketing, distribution and home entertainment. Former Chairman of Universal Pictures, Adam was involved in films including, Ted, Bridesmaids, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Snow White and the Huntsman, The Purge, Les Miserables, Despicable Me 1 and 2, and Fast and Furious 5 and 6.

After re-defining video game advertising and co-founding the first-ever ad agency of its kind, Lisa has spent the last few years helping startups across multiple business categories achieve their dreams. She is currently pursuing her own passion as co-founder of Foodocracy. Long time foodie and supporter of the sustainable food movement, Lisa along with her partner Deep Silver, launched the non-profit organization to help small batch food companies grow and expand their reach. Foodocracy is dedicated to creating social change through food.

Tamara Krinsky hosts Science Channel's TOMORROW'S WORLD TODAY, now streaming on Amazon Prime.  A correspondent for Marvel, she co-hosts the live broadcasts of Marvel Studios' World Premiere Red Carpet shows. Tamara is a co-founder of Scirens, a creative team focused on making science-infused entertainment. SCIRENS SHOW streams on YouTube & IGTV. Fave acting/VO adventures: STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, Disney Jr's SOFIA THE FIRST + FLASH FORWARD podcast, and theater projects with Antaeus Theater Co. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for EMMA APPROVED, a multi-platform adaptation of Jane Austen's EMMA. 

Selling pictures since 7th grade, Rick eventually transformed from illustrator to Art Director, first at Pacific Eye and Ear, A tour of duty at Seineger advertising, then Spiros, which morphed into DAZU, then Going on 30 years at BLT with Dawn and Clive and a team of amazing artists.