ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the "big picture" and outlines our different stages of the documentary filmmaking process, briefly commenting on each. This can give the archaeologist a clearer understanding of how a documentary is put together. The more the archaeologist knows about this process, the better prepared he or she can be to give expert archaeological input into the project. The proposal for an archaeology or history-related documentary sometimes includes historical background. Therefore, the archaeologist partner in the documentary collaboration can play an integral role throughout the documentary process but especially early on in the project, to provide expert advice on research. The research phase of people's project is also when they begin to hunt down still images and archival stock footage for filming. The shooting script, sometimes referred to as the "shooting treatment", is for use by the documentary filmmaking crew. It is often the next progression beyond the original treatment, which was used to help get their funding.
