* * * * *
                                        
         Apparently, they filmed the conclusion to this episode first …
                                        
> This was a heavily scripted production. What the viewer will see is a
> seemingly spontaneous “investigation” where the UFO Hunters team goes out
> to Area 51 with an open mind and sees what they can find. However, any real
> investigation implies the ability to change course. Your path on each step
> of the inquiry is determined by what you just discovered in the previous
> step. You can't “script” a true investigation. You can only script a movie
> or other entertainment product.
> 
> The script in this case was rigid and demanding, and it was written before
> anyone from the production company had set foot in the area. In fairness,
> the participants weren't given exact lines to recite, and no one was asked
> to lie or say anything they were uncomfortable with, but the “story” was
> determined entirely in L.A. (Los Angeles) before shooting began. Where the
> crew would be in every hour of the week- long shoot was strictly scheduled,
> with little margin for deviation. The director and producer also knew the
> subjects that they wanted each participant to talk about so the resulting
> sound bites would fit into the story. They couldn't afford to go into any
> other areas no matter what turned up in course of filming.
> 
> From the production company's standpoint, there was no other way. The
> History Channel keeps tight reins on the show, and it has to review and
> approve each story before shooting begins. Any significant changes also
> have to be approved by them, which is a huge bureaucratic burden. The
> production company is also trying to turn out a complex full-hour show on a
> grueling schedule, and it has to be exciting—a real ratings grabber—or the
> show will eventually be cancelled. These pressures tip the scales from
> reality to fiction, because fiction is so much easier to control.
> 

““UFO Hunters” on Tikaboo Peak: Part I [1]”

Even though you might not consider “UFO Hunters [2]” a paragon of
journalistic integrity, it does bring into question just how truthful are
other journalistic investigative shows.

Just something to keep in mind … 

[1] http://area51interceptors.blogspot.com/2008/10/ufo-hunters-on-tikaboo-
[2] http://www.history.com/minisites/ufohunters

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

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