Wilton resident Joseph W. Zarzynski co-authors book "Documentary Filmmaking for Archaeologists"

The Saratogan:  Wilton resident Joseph W. Zarzynski co-authors book "Documentary Filmmaking for Archaeologists"

WILTON — Joseph W. Zarzynski of Wilton has co-authored a new book, “Documentary Filmmaking for Archaeologists,” published by Left Coast Press of California.

Zarzynski, an underwater archaeologist and founder of the group Bateaux Below, wrote the book with Peter Pepe, president of Pepe Productions, a Glens Falls video production company.

Previously, they collaborated on producing three feature-length, award-winning documentaries about historic shipwrecks as well as creating several “mini-docs” for screening in museums, art galleries and visitors centers.

Two of their documentaries were about French and Indian War (1755-1763) shipwrecks in Lake George, and the third video production was about a Confederate privateer shipwreck lost off St. Augustine, Fla., in 1861.

Pepe and Zarzynski have also taught several documentary film-making workshops at archaeology conferences around the country.

Their new book is a guide for archaeologists and other social scientists on the step-by-step process of making a documentary so that these scientists are better prepared to work with professional documentary film-makers.

Many accounts told by Pepe and Zarzynski cite interesting anecdotes from the production of their documentaries, “The Lost Radeau: North America’s Oldest Intact Warship” (2005), “Wooden Bones: The Sunken Fleet of 1758” (2010) and “Search for the Jefferson Davis: Trader, Slaver, Raider” (2011).

“Peter Pepe and Joseph W. Zarzynski have done a tremendous service in writing this first-ever guide to archaeological film-making,” said James P. Delgado, host of National Geographic’s “The Sea Hunters” series (2001-2006). “This is a must-have book for every archaeologist who wants to reach a wide audience through the power of film.”

The 230-page book is available in paperback ($32.95), hardcover ($89) and eBook ($32.95) from Left Coast Press.