It is clear to see from internet postings alone, the numbers of people who are captivated by so many different aspects of prehistory and archaeology. The traces of our ancestors leave us with a sense of wonder and even though comparatively little is known about our ancient monuments, our feeling of connection to them runs very deep.

Whenever people hear about the film we have made, we’re always delighted to be met with a genuine enthusiasm for the subject. It is also fascinating to hear so many different opinions on the uses of the sites and the motives of our ancestors.

In the beginning, we had all sorts of ideas about how this programme may be produced. The obvious route was to obtain a commission from television for broadcast and indeed this was the first avenue we pursued. We even made a 10 minute pilot episode to test the idea (and ourselves!). In making that short taster, we discovered two things: a) that it was possible for two people alone on Dartmoor with a camera and microphone to make a perfectly watchable and enjoyable Tv programme and b) that if it got made for television, the nature of the film would change out of recognition and that we would lose control of the idea. It became clear that if it was to be made in the way we had conceived, we would have to do it ourselves.

Now, while we may not be able to afford cranes, planes and helicopter shots, we are also not encumbered with the tyrannical planning and rigid scheduling that such toys would impose upon us. And this has been our blessing: that having chosen to make Standing with Stones a journey through the British Isles and Ireland, we are free to respond to and reflect the surprises that two people with open minds experience when they visit these marvellous places. Even so, as we set off from the Rollright Stones into Wales, a small convoy of myself driving our office and accommodation in the form of an eighteen year old motorhome and Rupert in his black Land Rover Freelander, (the mechanised star of the show), little did we know just how surprising megaliths could be – as we were to discover a week later on the island of Anglesey. As far as we can see, we have uncovered something that no-one else has noticed before. A discovery that turns an already important site into a deeper archaeological mystery. We feel both privileged and daunted by what has been shown to us.

One of the aims of the film was to focus on a lot of the lesser known monuments, so although individually we had been exploring sites for many years, inevitably there are a number that are new to us. Being able to make direct comparisons is important for any degree of understanding of these sites so, despite any amount of research, Rupert only completed the script while on location. Days were spent filming and nights researching and writing. Then there’d be a review and rewrite (or not) and then the next day Rupert would do his best to remember what he’d written.

The film was shot entirely on HDV video using a Sony Z1e. We could not have made this film properly until the advent of cheap (relatively) high definition video equipment and the HDV compressed format opened that door. Visually, the stones are as much about texture as they are about landscape and open vistas and anything less than high definition shooting would not have done them justice. We are blessed in this digital age to be able to control the whole production process from conception through shoot, edit, music composing, visual effects, etc. right to the authoring and burning of the final DVD and that is exactly what we did. Not only that, but Rupert is a professional graphic design artist and he is responsible for the design of the cover and all printing considerations on the DVD. This truly has been a two man production from beginning to end. A unique experience and a unique set of experiences and learning curves to share – watch this space.

For more about the DVD and to buy, please go to www.standingwithstones.com