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A Life Aloft

A portrait of Paul Stumpf, hot air balloon pilot and New England’s last balloon repairman, reflecting on a life lived aloft within a close-knit community of balloon builders and pilots.

  • Clayton Simoncic
    Director
  • Chris Turner
    Editor
  • Scott Salter
    Archive Footage
  • Paul Stumpf
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    12 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 20, 2026
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED V-Raptor
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:67:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Clayton Simoncic

Clayton Simoncic is a cinematographer based in the Northeast United States. Born and raised on a small organic farm in Southern Maine, Clay’s work is shaped by a deep connection to the outdoors and a passion for telling honest, character-driven stories.

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Director Statement

When I started working on A Life Aloft, I expected the film to focus on the technical aspects of balloon building, and Paul’s work as a balloon repairman. But community and everyone's personal connection to the craft quickly became the driving force.

In every interview or conversation,we always came back to the same thing: the people. The pilots, builders, and friends who return year after year not just to fly, but to spend time together, share knowledge, and keep a tradition alive that exists almost entirely outside the modern world.

At a time when so much of life feels increasingly disconnected, I found this community to be a reminder of the value of shared experience. Their dedication to one another and to the act of building something with their own hands felt both rare and deeply meaningful.

Through Paul’s story, I wanted to capture not only a life spent in the air, but the relationships and traditions that made that life possible. A Life Aloft became less about ballooning, and more about the people who keep each other, and these balloons, flying.

-Clayton Simoncic