Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Arnold.
Jay’s background is rooted in live theater where skills first perfected in writing, lighting, set design, music composition, acting and directing have been applied to an over 40 year broadcast career which began on a small New York radio station in 1967.
The Arnold Creative Group was established in Miami, Florida in 1969. Over the years the company has provided worldwide corporate, non-profit and government clients the highest standard of broadcast and industrial productions in over 35 languages. The company’s charitable programs have helped to raise over $2.5 Billion dollars.
Its corporate programs have resulted in many times that amount in sales and promotion. The key to the company’s success has been its ability to establish personal relationships with clients, many of whom remained (and still remain) loyal to the Group for 10, 15, even 20 years or more. In so doing the Arnold Creative Group always positioned itself at the cutting edge of broadcast technology providing its loyal clients with the most innovative and attention commanding programs
The list of “firsts” is impressive. The Arnold Creative was the first company in the Southeast to use computer controlled editing of video tape (1976); the first to incorporate digital effects into its post-production capabilities (1982); the first to use computer controlled synchromesh motors on cameras allowing for precise pans, zooms and other moves on still images, photos and slides (1984); One of only two US companies providing large screen multi source video presentations and the only one with software to accurately synchronize video laser disc players for this purpose (1992); the first company in the Southeast and one of only 3 in the US to produce programs in High-Definition (1997). A 1997 HDTV program designed to help PBS stations across the country raise money for the digital transition first demonstrated the integration of the internet with broadcast television and foreshadowed the system which has become today’s pay per view standard.
But in spite of all the technical innovations the Arnold Creative Group has pioneered there is one constant that still remains at the core of its success. It’s the basic belief that before the glitz, before the flash, there’s a story to tell. And when told correctly success will follow. And so the 3-word philosophy that established the company 40 years ago remains at its core to this very day: substance before style.
Past and current list of clients (abbreviated)
IBM, AT&T, Harris Corporation, WR Grace & Co, Motorola, Polaroid, Barclays Bank, Visa, American Express, Disney, MTV, Univision, PBS, The Miami Herald, Lennar Homes, Odebrecht Construction, Builder’s Association of South Florida, Jamaica Tourist Board, Bahamas Tourist Board, Govt. of Peru, Miami-Dade County (Florida), City of Homestead (Florida), Children’s Home Society of Florida, Greater Miami Heart Association, Archdiocese of Miami, Miami Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged, YMCA of Greater Miami, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County (Florida), WebMD Town Hall Meeting featuring Michelle Obama
Has it been a smooth road?
This is a difficult business. But if you persevere keep up with technology and give the clients what they want, not necessarily what you want to do, you can succeed. But many times it’s more important whom you know rather than what you know.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Arnold Creative Group story. Tell us more about the business.
We are a full service creative production company… everything from concept and scripting to shooting, editing, presentation and distribution. (Our list of firsts and accomplishments sent earlier in this “interview”). We’re proud that we’ve been able to establish long-standing relationships with our clients supported by a long list of financial and operational successes our productions have helped them accomplish. And then there’s the over $2.5 Billion our productions have helped raise for a long list of non-profits and charitable organizations.
While we’ve tried to stay at the leading edge of technology we first consider the story we need to tell, each production’s goals, and then use that technology to support the message rather than dictate it.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
This is no longer your grandfather’s TV Entertainment programming, once the exclusive property of the major networks is shifting to cable and streaming services. Relatively Inexpensive recording devices, simple, cheap software and the ability to upload anything have made it easy for any creative types to show demonstrate their talent (or lack thereof). So what the general public is watching, where and how they watch it rapidly evolving. How production companies will continue to thrive in this environment is yet to be determined. My son is an architect. I’m happy he didn’t pursue a career in video/film production.
Pricing:
- Our first HDTV video (1997) was edited at $900 an hour.
- We once charged $300 an hour to edit in our studio.
- You can now purchase editing software for $30 online and do everything yourself. Nuff said.
Contact Info:
- Website: arnoldcreativegroup.com
- Phone: 305-444-2744
- Email: jarnold@arnoldcreativegroup.com
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