As the web video on her computer approaches the ending, Lee Arnott smiles. “It’s a process for me. A journey, really, and one I love.”
Lee established Sweet Thunder Productions earlier this year. Sweet Thunder is a video production company based in Boothbay and features videos for websites along with weddings, educational and instructional, corporate, music and documentary videos. She is the principle videographer and editor, and has a pool of camera operators she hires when a second camera is needed on the job.
Arnott answered a call for volunteers needed for Boothbay Region Community Television’s (Channel 7) first 24 hour telethon fundraiser. “I attended Emerson College in the early ’90s, and although I never handled a video camera, I had taken some film courses,” she said. “I thought I could help.” The rest is history.
In 2005 she produced 13 cooking shows, “Cooking With Mr. C,” and later took on documentaries. The first was “Conversations With Ruth,” a profile of Southport artist and mapmaker Ruth Gardner. It was with this project that she got the bug.
“I realized that I really loved making videos and documentaries. I enjoyed the creativeness of editing. There was no box to color in. It was like a jigsaw puzzle with no exact fit. I could just let the story flow by arranging my interviews, photos and music in a creative pattern and the story would get told.”
Lee went on to produce two more documentaries, “From Norway to Maine” – a profile of East Boothbay resident John Hatlem, and “Road to Ferndale,” about the lives and artwork of Mitch and Kathleen Billis of Boothbay Harbor.
She also showcased the dogs and cats available for adoption at Lincoln County Animal Shelter from 2005-2010. “I realized early on that people were watching this show on BRCTV and liking it, so I gave a copy to Lincoln County Television in Newcastle,” Arnott said. “I figure the animals would get double exposure and better chances for getting adopted. Since then I’ve given LCTV a dvd of everything I produce whether for non-profits, promos, events and documentaries.”
“I’m always impressed with the quality of the video Lee produces,” said LCTV Station Manager Mary Ellen Crowley. “Her approach to the media is creative and exacting; a wonderful example of how, with time and dedication, video becomes a means of expression for the creator. Lee’s work should inspire all the budding videographers in our community.”
In 2008 Arnott she decided to work towards starting her own video business. She started filming weddings in 2009. “I shoot each wedding differently. Each couple is unique, so to keep the wedding from looking like the previous, I approach it differently,” she said. “I think I owe it to my clients – to treat them distinctively.”
Her web videos have a momentum all their own. These short (3 minute or less) creations promote a business or non-profit on their website. The videos can also be uploaded to their Facebook page, YouTube, and My Space. “I encourage my clients to upload their videos to as many sources as they can. It’s more exposure, more advertising. Websites are really a wonderful marketing tool and a video is enticing to the viewer because it tells them most everything they need to know about the business, product, or non-profit.”
In between the weddings, web videos, corporate and instructional videos, Arnott tries to collaborate with local musicians putting together video demo reels and uploading their videos to the world wide web to get them more exposure.
“We’ve got some incredible talent in this area and I’ve been lucky enough to work with them,” she said.
To view Arnott’s work visit www.sweetthunderproductions.com or for more information call 633-1074.
