Brien Lee
video writer / director/ editor
Hi, I’m Brien and this is my home page. For forty years in Milwaukee, I ran a number of multi-media and and video production companies where I worked with many people on staff who made me look good to our clients. Now, in this new world, I work independently, offering my creative and technical services.
I was born in New York City 73 years ago, and spent my first eight years soaking up the 1950’s atmosphere of Washington Heights. Then I got sick with rheumatic fever and my parents moved us (my brother, sister, me, them) to a nice house in East Brunswick, New Jersey. I went to Marquette University in Milwaukee and stayed. Eventually I got married, had a son, and started my businesses.
I moved back to New Jersey 12 years ago to be closer to family, including my son who lives in Brooklyn. I finished my large company production career with many major meeting and video efforts for long-standing clients, including Walgreens corporate in Chicago.
In these pages, I will discuss the state of communications show samples, and relate compelling lessons learned in my path of building businesses, teaching the basics, and telling behind the scenes stories about some of our biggest success.
Some stories are nuts, but you’ll have to read to believe them. If more people would read, this world would be a better place.
Thanks for reading!
PS: If you’re interested in my illustrated speech, “Tales from an Audio-Visual Life”, contact me at my personal email, brienlee@me.com.
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Endorsements
Produced during the pandemic for ComNet Telecom Supply, the client had this to say: “Despite the constraints of pandemic year 2020 and the intermittent availability of information that we could provide to Brien, his ingenuity and resourcefulness enabled us to overcome our problems and allow Brien to create and publish a high-quality video as designed in a reasonable timeframe. Thank you again, Brien!”– Phil Portera, VP- Sales & Marketing, Comnet Telecom Supply
Amy Hansmann, Wisconsin Department of Labor
Brien is the master when is comes to storytelling. He knows what a client needs before the client knows they need it. It was a privilege to work with him and learn from the best. No matter the medium, a good story is a good story – and Brien can go right to the heart of it to make you laugh, make you cry, make you laugh until you cry, make you think, make you open your wallet, make you change your mind, whatever you want your story to do.
Nancy Serwin, Producer
Great beginnings and memories started with Brien Lee for many production people in Milwaukee…what a great teacher and mentor even if he did not realize that he was all of that in addition to being an amazing storyteller, creative genius, and a pioneer in everything new in the industry…being a part of the Brien Lee family was a life-changing experience!
Ric Sorgel, a Remembrance
(From his official obituary) Richard ‘Ric’ William Sorgel of Mission Viejo, CA passed away on July 23rd at the age of 74. Ric was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to William and Mary (Selby) Sorgel. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and his two sons Kyle and Chase (Erin) Sorgel and three grandchildren: Peyton, Cooper, and McKenna. He is also survived by his brother Dave (Collette). Ric was as passionate as he was curious from an early age. From his early teens to mid-twenties, he played in several bands with friends from Homestead High School: The Coachmen, The Destinations, and Over the Hill Gang. The Beatles