🎙️ Tribute to Andy Kuehn (Part 3) – with special guest Deborah Luster and co-host Benedict Coulter

🎙Crafting Legends & Honoring the GOAT 

For the 3rd installment of our tribute to Andy Kuehn, we're joined by legendary trailer editor Deborah Luster as well as our special co-host Benedict Coulter. We reflect on Deborah's incredible career in the film industry—and offer her memories and all the ways she was inspired by the late, great Andy Kuehn, the pioneering force behind Kaleidoscope Films. From working on iconic trailers like Jaws, Star Wars, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Deb shares her journey from history major to senior trailer editor, offering behind-the-scenes stories that shaped a generation of movie marketing.

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📚 What We Discuss:

• How Deborah Luster transitioned from history major to trailblazing trailer editor

• Why Jaws revolutionized the trailer industry—and Deb’s role in its creation

• Andy Kuehn’s lasting influence on Hollywood and the editors he mentored

• The culture and camaraderie of Kaleidoscope Films in the ‘70s and ‘80s

• How the trailer industry evolved from analog to digital—and what was lost

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⏱ Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:00] Deborah Luster shares how she transitioned from aspiring history teacher to trailer editing at Kaleidoscope

• [00:03:30] Working on the groundbreaking Jaws campaign and what made it such a shift in the industry

• [00:06:30] How hard it was to explain what a trailer editor did in the 1970s

• [00:08:00] First impressions of Andy Kuehn—his movie-star looks, big cigar, and magnetic presence

• [00:10:00] Andy’s unique mentorship style: encouraging assistants to cut and giving them credit

• [00:11:00] Deb’s work on iconic campaigns like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Karate Kid, and War Games

• [00:15:00] The collaborative, non-competitive environment at Kaleidoscope and how it fostered growth

• [00:17:30] What production life was like before digital—three-martini lunches and slow film processes

• [00:19:00] Substance use in the 1970s–80s industry culture and how creativity evolved through it

• [00:21:30] Kaleidoscope’s lasting influence through its alumni and standards of excellence

• [00:24:00] Remembering Andy’s graciousness and leadership—even years after Deb left Kaleidoscope

• [00:29:00] Bill Cox’s mentorship and the value of old-school editing rigor

• [00:37:00] Favorite trailers ever: Life of Brian, Alien, Taxi Driver, and more

• [00:41:00] How working with Andy opened doors to working with legends like Clint Eastwood

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💬 Featured Quotes:

“He was like the GOAT of trailers. Let’s face it.” – Deborah Luster
“Andy wanted you to shine and be acknowledged for your work.” – Benedict Coulter
“It’s basically like you’re paying a studio to cut a movie for them because you want that prestige on your website.” – Deborah Luster
“Everybody participated in the Kaleidoscope of it all.” – Benedict Coulter

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🔗 Resources Mentioned:

• Jaws Trailer (1975) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1fu_sA7XhE

• Star Wars Original Teaser (1977) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ734NWnAHA

• Raiders of the Lost Ark Trailer (1981) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkkzKHCx154

• The Life of Brian Trailer (1979) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKPmGjVFbrY

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