NATCHEZ — A starring role in national TV shows, publications and books is nothing new for Natchez, but a crew hired by the Smithsonian Channel might just have a new angle on this jewel of the South — literally.

A film crew for “Aerial America” was in — well, technically over — town Sunday collecting footage for an episode on Mississippi.

The series, already airing on Smithsonian Channel, highlights each of America’s 50 states in a one-hour episode filmed entirely from the air, Associate Producer Emily Osborne said.

The crew filmed the Natchez Powwow and Longwood Sunday and plans to come back to Natchez in April for more footage.

“(Natchez) really is going to be a great feature of the Mississippi show,” Osborne said.

The show highlights the terrain, culture and landmarks of America.

The Natchez footage was filmed from a Jackson-based helicopter with a high-definition camera mounded to its nose.

“We have a great lens that can get pretty close,” Osborne said. “(At the powwow) you can see the dancers.”

Shows on several New England states, as well as Tennessee, Arkansas and California, have aired or will air soon.

No date has been set for the Mississippi show yet, but updates are available online at www.smithsonianchannel.com.

Producers chose to film in Natchez based on research and submitted recommendations.

They were also filming in portions of Louisiana over the weekend.