Q&A: In ‘The American Revolution,’ Ken Burns’ filmmakers go back to the beginning

ANAHEIM, Calif. — When the new Ken Burns documentary series “The American Revolution” premieres on PBS on Sunday, Nov. 16, it will mark the end of a filmmaking journey that began almost a decade ago.

“Ken always says these films take 10 years,” says Sarah Botstein, who co-directed the series with David Schmidt and Burns. “From the second he goes, ‘We’re going to make “The American Revolution”‘ to when it broadcasts is 10 years.”