Hey guys,

I've got a music video coming up that takes place in a village where a thunderstorm is off in the distance.

I'd like to have a couple of shots of the sky that show some lightning in the clouds. Is there a specific software that can be used to achieve such an effect? I'm completely ignorant to all things composite/effects wise, so I'm looking to pay someone to do this for me. Any suggestions?

A quick example of what I'm going for can be seen in the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMB5kv1BXZc

jeff your looking for someone fluent in an effects package like
aftereffects. there are quite a few of these programs out there but they are
very specialised.
most of them have lightning as a standard effect and its not terribly difficult
to do what you want done.

gen arts has a lightning effect -

www.genarts.com