Instagram story viewer> @clairpopkin> Tagged

Clair Popkin

@clairpopkin

8.9K

followers

3499

following

Cinematographer || @unitedtalent

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It takes a village to accomplish epic endeavors, large and small.

One year ago today, Jim Morrison summited Mount Everest via the North Face route with eleven members of our climbing, fixing and camera teams, then skied down alone. A feat unmatched. Not only did Jim and these incredible teams accomplish the impossible, we captured all of it on camera. I’m so proud of everyone.

What makes documentary filmmaking special is how deeply the creative and the logistical intertwine in pursuit of a moment that will never happen again. This endeavor was six years in the making all building towards time on the mountain.

The heart and tenacity behind that work aren’t mentioned enough. Our team was spread across three countries, five time zones and many altitudes, every person focused on the days and hours leading up to the summit and the descent.

After several attempts and many years, Jim finally had his shot. I was at Advanced Base Camp, 18,000 feet, watching through the long lens. The team climbed for three days from Camp 1 to the summit. Jim skied down in just over four hours; the team needed many more to get off the face. In all that time, no one rested. No one exhaled. The stakes weighed on all of us, on the mountain, in our New York office, and the families at home.

As producers, you control what you can, but ultimately you follow your subject and solve problems as they come. You over-prepare so you can react in a split second. We got lucky that day, and I’m grateful we can celebrate the moment and share it with an audience.

See it in theaters starting October 30, 2026.

91

6

Some of the most important storytelling decisions happen before the edit even begins. Nov 18 at DOC NYC PRO is all about the craft of production 💪

🎥 Capturing Clean Audio in Chaos — @audiotechnicausa’s Brent Chamberlin & @noeldannemiller on recording clean sound in the worst conditions. Plus live audio & camera demos all day.

🎥 Color in the Lens — @iyabo_boyd of @browngirlsdocmafia sits down with Arielle Knight (THE BOYS AND THE BEES) & @marialuisa_ernst (A PLACE OF ABSENCE). Frame by frame, the choices nobody asks about.

🎥 Maximizing Your Camera — David Heilbroner, Kate Davis (TOTALITY) & more unpack the visual decisions behind their films. Co-presented by @sonycine.

🎥 Case Study: EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE — From the FREE SOLO team: Shannon Dill, Anna Barnes & @clairpopkin on filming at extreme altitude.

Secure your tickets at the link in bio.

102

6

Everest: The Other Side is my fourth documentary for National Geographic Documentary Films. They’ve all centered on people who commit fully to something they believe in. I feel lucky to have made these films with these incredible people and the teams behind them.

Malala - speaking her truth even after it nearly got her killed. Alex - he climbed El Capitan with nothing between him and a 3,000-foot fall. Lynsey - walking into war zones so the rest of us can understand what’s really happening. Jim and Hilaree - finding each other through grief, building a life together, inspired to achieve their dreams and go beyond what’s thought possible.

481

7

Some reflections on producing Everest: The Other Side

130

15

Venice, Telluride, and TIFF. It has been such a moving experience to see Everest: The Other Side be received at its premieres the last few weeks.

What stays with me the most is seeing audiences connect to and embrace Jim’s story. Jim has experienced extreme tragedy and grief, yet has resurrected himself to still find joy and meaning in life. Its what I want for everyone who has experienced trauma and tragedy. If the pursuit pulls you out of the dark and back into life, it matters.

101

2

Honored and humbled to share Everest: The Other Side at the @telluridefilm Festival.

Beyond sharing the journey Hilaree and I began together, I had the chance to sit down with @oprah (and Wilson) for an unforgettable evening. More to come about what an impact this incredible human has on me…

Telluride has meant so much to this story, and to my life. I’m incredibly grateful for all the love and support.

What a few days. ❤️
#LoveIsInTheDetails

8k

162

THANK YOU, OPRAH — not only for hosting the most lovely afternoon in your home, but for believing in Jim Morrison’s unlikely vision and steadfast spirit, and for your support of the movie, EVEREST.

You have climbed many figurative mountains yourself and have been an inspiration to so many for your tireless efforts to uplift others. All of us can always find ways to reach higher, closer to the clouds… and the other side.

515

16

WPA & DDA congratulate the following clients on their contributions to TIFF 2026:

TIFF ‘26 🇨🇦

Gala Presentations

Babies | A Camera/Steadicam Operator Mark Goellnicht, SOC (@gollymark)

Special Presentations

Bitter Christmas | Cinematography by Pau Esteve Birba

Clarissa | Producer Thomas Bassett

Everest: The Other Side | Cinematography by Clair Popkin (@clairpopkin)

Discovery

Ancestors | Editing by Stephanie McCutcheon, BFE (@stephmccutcheoneditor)

Drifter | Co-Producer & Editing by Lam T. Nguyen, ACE (@lamt_nguyen)

Zjili: A Story of Sisterhood and the Burdens of Excess | Producer & Cinematography by Erin G. Wesley (@erin.g.wesley)

Centrepiece

Ashes | Cinematography by Damían García

Congo Boy | Cinematography by Adrien Lallau (@adrienlallau)

The Surgeon | Production Design by Liz Bischof (@lizbischof) | Editing by Sabrina Pitre, CCE

Woman Unknown | Cinematography by Jasper Spanning (@jasperjspanning)

Short Cuts

Bloodline | Cinematography by Ming Hu (@ming_jue_hu)

Market Screenings

Eleven Days | Production Design by Bruce Curtis (@kissmyartx)

Freeing Flipper | Underwater Cinematography by Peter Zuccarini (@petezuc)

Operation Cronos | Cinematography by Pau Castejón, AEC (@paucastejonubeda)

Skintown | Cinematography by Ruairí O’Brien, ISC, BSC (@ruairi_o_brien_isc_bsc)

51

2

Oprah Winfrey was a pioneer in making every person’s lived experience feel worth sharing - she paved the way for a whole culture of person-centered storytelling that didn’t exist before her. Growing up watching her do that work made an impact on me and led me to make documentary films. To have her embrace Everest: The Other Side and champion the incredible Jim Morrison - that’s more meaningful than I can put into words. Full circle doesn’t begin to cover it.

184

7

Telluride Film Festival was fantastic and emotional and having @oprah ‘s blessing at our US premiere was pretty surreal!
Great seeing old friends and new friends!!

@tiff_net next for our IMAX premiere!
.
.
@littlemonsterfilmsofficial @natgeodocs

115

17

Years in the making and very excited to share this with the world soon. Hilaree Nelson and Jim Morrison shared a dream to climb and ski Everest’s direct North Face, a feat no one had ever accomplished. From Academy Award®-winning filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and @jimmychin , Everest: The Other Side, only in theaters and IMAX worldwide on October 30 🗻

3

29

Something I learned from producing FREE SOLO that I brought with me while producing EVEREST: THE OTHER SIDE: I realized the team behind the film needs to be just as unwavering and committed as the athletes we’re capturing to have a successful and safe production. Producing within these types of formidable landscapes allows for no error without major consequence. Trust, know-how, and shorthand become crucial components when assembling the team. Heartfelt thank you to the many indelible team members - many of whom I don’t have photos of. Clair, Mikey, Jim, Sarah, Cheyne, Samuel - true masters of their craft and so appreciative to have first started working with you ten years ago in Yosemite Valley.

165

10