This weekâs short film is âA Life Well Lived: Jim Whittaker & 50 Years of Everest,â a documentary directed by local filmmaker/cinematographer Eric Becker. The subject of the doc is Jim Whittaker, a Seattleite and handsome octogenarian who in 1963 became the first American to reach the summit of Mt. Everest. Those who are familiar with Beckerâs work will not be surprised the docâs impressive editing and photography.