Veteran DP David Darby described Terry Clairmont, co-founder/CEO/treasurer of motion picture camera rental company Clairmont Camera, in three words: “Friend, mentor, sage.” Clairmont passed away on Oct. 28 at his brother Denny’s home after a brief battle with lung cancer. Terry was 64.
Denny and Terry launched Clairmont Camera in 1976 with partners Edward and Mitzie Engle. It opened as Clairmont/Engle in North Hollywood, Calif. In ’80, the Engles retired and the business became Clairmont Camera.
Initially the company’s foundation was in servicing the commercialmaking industry before diversifying into TV programs and theatrical features. The family roots were in the ad biz. Leonard Clairmont, Denny and Terry’s dad, was a cinematographer active in spots. Terry too made his mark in commercials, landing a staff job as a camera assistant at N. Lee Lacy Associates, a high-profile spot production house, in ’67. By the early ’70s, Terry had become staff cinematographer and had lensed assorted spots. He eventually went freelance and was quite successful with a loyal ad industry following. During this time, he helped advance the careers of many others, primarily those who aspired to careers in or related to cinematography.
In key respects, Clairmont Camera paralleled Terry’s DP career. The company built a loyal following and became known for being most generous in lending a helping hand whether it came to sharing info, in educating, offering counsel and expertise or cutting a financial deal that could facilitate projects that might not have gotten made otherwise.
A privately owned family business, Clairmont Camera grew steadily, opening a branch in Vancouver, B.C., in ’87 and another in Toronto in ’95. Most employees have worked at Clairmont Camera for more than 15 years, many for more than 20 years, and several much longer. This was due to Terry’s insistence on fair pay, good treatment and the best medical insurance the business could afford for its workers and their families–all paid in full by the company against the advice of financial advisors. Terry started a profit sharing plan for employees and in the past few months made plans to see that the company would go on smoothly without him.
Terry mentored many young aspiring cinematographers and saw to it that Clairmont Camera would assist universities by supplying them with camera equipment. He instituted a rule that once the company made an equipment scheduling commitment to students, it could not be broken even if a big paying job later emerged. Terry said that when he was young, others helped him and he in turn wanted Clairmont Camera to do the same for others starting out in the industry.
He is survived by his brothers Denny, Toby, Lenny and their families; nephews Jon and Joel Clairmont and Justin Chefe; close friend Mardrie Mullen, as well as countless friends.
Darby said of Terry: “Fiercely loyal, insanely generous, one of a kind…And along with his equally special and unselfish brother Denny, [Terry’s priority was] making the success of his customers his business.”
“Mufasa: The Lion King” and “Sonic 3” Rule Box Office For 1st Weekend Of 2025
The Walt Disney Co.'s "Mufasa: The Lion King" claimed the No. 1 spot on the North American box office charts over the first weekend of 2025.
The photorealistic "Lion King" prequel earned $23.8 million in its third weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Paramount's "Sonic the Hedgehog 3," which has dominated the past two weekends, wasn't far behind.
"Sonic 3" stayed close with a 3-day estimate of $21.2 million, bringing its total domestic earnings to $187.5 million and helping the overall franchise cross $1 billion worldwide. "Mufasa's" running total is slightly less, with $169.2 million.
In third place, Focus Features' "Nosferatu" remake defied the fate of so many of its genre predecessors and fell only 39% in its second weekend. Horror films typically fall sharply after the first weekend and anything less than a 50% decline is notable. "Nosferatu," which added 140 screens, claimed $13.2 million in ticket sales, bringing its running total to $69.4 million since its Christmas debut. The film, directed by Robert Eggers, already surpassed its reported production budget of $50 million, though that figure does not account for marketing and promotion expenses).
No new wide releases opened this weekend, leaving the box office top 10 once again to holdovers from previous weeks. Several have been in theaters since Thanksgiving. One of those, "Moana 2," claimed the No. 4 spot for Disney in its sixth weekend in theaters. The animated sequel earned another $12.4 million, bumping its global total to $960.5 million.
The Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown," dipped only slightly in its second weekend, bringing in $8.1 million. With $41.7 million total, it's Searchlight's highest grossing film since Disney acquired the company in... Read More