about

Thom Pollard of EYES OPEN PRODUCTIONS is an award-winning Director of Photography and Filmmaker who has filmed from Easter Island to the summit of Mount Everest and everything in between. His films and camera work have won numerous television, film and production awards, including an Emmy for (Orphan Orca/PBS), finalist of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for best cinematography (Lost on Everest/BBC) as well as a Silver Telly in the Nature/Wildlife category for his camera work on a Mako shark documentary (Monster Fish). His photographs have appeared in dozens of books and languages worldwide, as well as in numerous publications, including National Geographic Magazine.

Thom is an experienced public speaker, thrilling audiences across North America with his tales of adventure, using his brilliant photographs and films. He is said to have the “It” factor. His presentations create powerful impressions for schools, businesses and annual events.

Thom has filmed three Everest documentaries spanning two decades. Notably, he was high-altitude cameraman during the discovery of the body of lost British mountaineer George Leigh Mallory at nearly 27,000 feet in 1999, 75 years after his disappearance (Lost on Everest, PBS/BBC).

speaking

Speaker and storyteller Thom Pollard delivers exceptional presentations to audiences throughout North America. Said to have the ‘It’ factor, Pollard’s presentations are geared to inspire a deeper understanding of self and elicit the motivations which drive us to tackle seemingly insurmountable goals.

Drawing upon his extensive adventure career, Thom shares his most intimate experiences as a filmmaker and climber in a rich and emotionally moving presentation. His knowledge of the history of Mount Everest and his own personal triumphs and losses on the world’s highest peak create a dramatic backdrop from which Thom artfully weaves his presentation.

Motivation, Performance, Teamwork, Self Image and Overcoming Obstacles are all interwoven into Thom’s presentations. Each presentation is tailored to fit each event or business theme.

Marmot • Boston Museum of Science • Boston University • Harvard Travellers Club • Wilderness Risk Management Conference • TEDx Olympic Manufacturing • National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs • Moorhead State University, Minnesota

everest

Thom has filmed three Everest documentaries spanning two decades. He was high altitude cameraman during the expedition that discovered the body of lost British mountaineer George Leigh Mallory at nearly 27,000 feet in 1999, 75 years after his disappearance (PBS/BBC). He also filmed Accidental Climber in 2014, which was released to critical acclaim in 2018. In 2016, during the filming of Sharing Everest, Thom reached the summit on May 22nd under a brilliant full moon. Sharing Everest is currently in production.

EVEREST

Thom has filmed three Everest documentaries spanning two decades, notably as high altitude cameraman during the expedition that discovered the body of lost British mountaineer George Leigh Mallory at nearly 27,000 feet in 1999, 75 years after his disappearance (PBS/BBC). He filmed Accidental Climber in 2014. And, in 2016, during the filming of Sharing Everest, Thom made the summit on May 22nd.

LOST ON EVEREST, 1999

HIGH ALTITUDE CAMERA/SEARCHER PBS/BBC CO-PRODUCTION

The expedition discovered the body of George Mallory at nearly 27,000 feet, 75 years after his disappearance.

Pollard’s photo of the bottom of Mallory’s boot.

The image was taken at the site of Mallory’s body at nearly 27,000 feet on Everest’s north face, as well as numerous other photographs, have been published in dozens of books and publications worldwide, including National Geographic Magazine, National Geographic Adventure Magazine, Vanity Fair, GQ, Parade, and many more.

ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER, 2018

CINEMATOGRAPHER THEATRICAL RELEASE

Early on the morning of April 18, 2014 a massive serac avalanche claimed the lives of 16 men, mostly Sherpa, working in the notorious Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest. Sleeping below was 68 year old Jim Geiger, an American who endeavored to become the oldest American to summit the mountain. ACCIDENTAL CLIMBER chronicles Geiger’s unsuccessful attempt and deeply emotional response to the deaths, effectively putting an end to his dream. Pollard served as field director and cinematographer on the expedition and recently released film.

SHARING EVEREST

DP/HIGH ALTITUDE CAMERA/SEARCHER CURRENTLY IN PRODUCTION

In 2016 Thom embarked upon his third expedition to Everest. On May 22 he reached the summit at 2:40 in the morning under a brilliant full moon. Sharing Everest will become a worldwide traveling museum, wherein visitors will be able to experience what it’s like to climb Mount Everest.

The crew films a scene for SHARING EVEREST in a prayer room in Namche Bazaar, April 2016.

Headlamps of climbers can be seen ascending into the Khumbu Icefall.

A climber in the Khumbu Icefall ascends sections of ladder tied together.

gallery

Ama Dablam, seen from above Namche Bazaar

Prayers of a monk during a Base Camp Puja ceremony

Lhotse, world's fourth highest mountain, seen from 27,500' feet on Mount Everest

Thom disperses ashes of his father at Base Camp, April 2014

Prayer flags flutter in Base Camp. Always Be Kind.

Thom films Swami Sunderanand, the Clicking Swami, for ON THIN ICE, Haridwar, India, 2008.

The Viracocha II reedship, seen 2,000 miles west of the coast of Chile, en route to Easter Island, 2003

Everest Base Camp, Tibet, April 1999

The Viracocha II Expedition endeavored to discover if pre-Columbian mariners could reach eastern Polynesia from the South American continent in reedships

Gasherbrum II, Pakistan, seen from Advanced Base Camp

Makalu, world's fifth highest mountain, seen from 27,500' feet on Mount Everest

View from tent, Camp 3 on Everest's Lhotse Face, looking toward Cho Oyu, world's sixth highest mountain.

A climber searching off route on Everest, near 28,000'

Thom in the early days, filming with a Hi8 video camera on Cathedral Ledge in North Conway, New Hampshire

Thom filming a young boy in Haridwar, India, with Conrad Anker for ON THIN ICE, 2008.

The Viracocha II reedship, seen 2,000 miles off the coast of Chile, en route to Easter Island, 2003

Lhakpa Pinasa Sherpa crossing crevasse below Camp 2 in Everest's Western Cwm, 20,500', 2016

A hungry Thom playing the guitar aboard the Viracocha II, approximately 600 miles east of Easter Island, 2003

THOM DHARMA POLLARD

EYES OPEN PRODUCTIONS

award-winning Director of Photography and Filmmaker

Thom's films have won numerous television, film and production awards, including an Emmy.

His photographs have appeared in dozens of books and languages worldwide, as well as in numerous publications, including National Geographic Magazine.