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Audio commentary

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about commentary provided on a separate audio track. For the comedy TV series, seeDirectors Commentary.

Anaudio commentaryis an additional audio track, usually digital, consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with a video. Commentaries can be serious or entertaining in nature, and can add information which otherwise would not be disclosed to audience members.

History

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TheCriterion Collectionintroduced audio commentary on theLaserDiscformat, which was able to accommodate multipleaudio tracks.The first commentary track, for the 1933 filmKing Kong,was recorded byRonald Haver,a curator at theLos Angeles County Museum of Art,and was inspired by the stories Haver told while supervising thefilm-to-video transferprocess.[1]Criterion expected that the commentary would only be of interest to serious film students.[2]It received a favorable reaction, and his commentary onKing Kongis considered to ultimately have started the trend.[3][4][5]Haver went on to provide commentaries for Criterion for the rest of his life.[2]

Excerpt of Haver's commentary forKing Kong:

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, I'm Ronald Haver, and I'm here to do something which we feel is rather unique. I'm going to take you on a lecture tour ofKing Kongas you watch the film. The laserdisc technology offers us this opportunity and we feel it's rather unique — the ability to switch back and forth between the soundtrack and this lecture track.[6]

DVD and Blu-ray audio commentaries

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DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays have made audio commentary a key component of special features. They often include commentary from cinematographers, screenwriters, actors, producers, directors, film historians, film critics and subject matter experts.[4][5] For example, American cinematographerGarrett Brown,the inventor of thesteadicam,is featured throughout the audio commentary track forThe Shining,where he discusses his work with the ground-breaking technology.[7][8]The DVD of the science-fiction movieSunshine,directed byDanny Boyle,contains an audio track with Englishphysicistandprofessorofparticle physicsBrian Cox.[9]In the cast commentary forThe Silence of the Lambs,former F.B.I.criminal profilerJohn Douglas,an advisor to the filmmakers, offers his anecdotes about the film.[10]

The box set ofThe Ultimate Matrix Collection,has two audio commentaries on each film, one by philosophers who loved it; Dr.Cornel WestandKen Wilber,and one by critics who hated it;Todd McCarthy,John PowersandDavid Thomson.[11]The DVD release ofGhostbusterscontains a video commentary track with directorIvan Reitman,Harold Ramis,andJoe Medjuck,with silhouettes of the trio added to imitateMystery Science Theater 3000.[12]The Blu-ray edition of the filmGalaxy Questincludes a tongue-in-cheek trivia commentary called "Galactopedia", by American graphic designerMichael Okuda,known for his work onStar Trek,andDenise Okuda,co-author of theStar Trek Encyclopedia.[13]

On the DVD release ofBowling for Columbine,Michael Mooreallowed hisinterns,secretaryand production assistants to record the audio commentary for his documentary.[14]In the commentary forTrue Romance,Quentin Tarantino,who wrote the film script, explains why he didn’t direct the movie himself, and the inspiration behind him writing the script.[15]ForThe Gooniesaudio track, many of the original cast members,Sean Astin,Josh Brolin,Corey FeldmanandMartha Plimpton,along with directorRichard Donner,reunited and watched the film together, offering their opinions on the classic comedy film.[15]

Film directors commentary

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Film directors can also provide their perspective into how a film is made. In his commentary for the 1970 filmM*A*S*H,directorRobert Altmangives background information on production and on the way the script was used and misused. He also comments on problems he had with the studio in relation to the connection with theVietnam War.[16]DirectorMel Brooksdiscusses in his audio commentary forYoung Frankensteinhow the movie was turned down by Columbia Pictures because its 2 million dollar budget was too high. He also points out the homages in his film, in relation to the history of Frankenstein movies.[16]

DirectorOliver Stonein his audio commentary forWall Street,explains how his family influenced the making of the film, and speaks candidly about the actors, mildly criticizing them, particularlyCharlie Sheen.[16]In his commentary for the 2003 filmShattered Glass,directorBilly Rayis joined byNew Republiceditor Chuck Long, who explains the differences between the film and the actual event. Ray, in his directorial debut, also admits his lack of experience, and how he relied on more experienced members of his production crew.[17]

DirectorFrancis Ford Coppolain his audio commentary about his epic filmThe Godfather,recounts how the original title of the film was supposed to be "Mario Puzo's The Godfather ", but that" no one remembers it that way ",[18]and in the 2007 DVD release ofHearts of Darkness,adocumentaryabout the production ofApocalypse Now,Coppola explains why it's not a good idea to film a movie in the Amazon jungle. He also talks about a scene in the film whereMartin Sheenwas drunk and cut his hand, and relays how the opening shot with a huge explosion in the jungle was completely unintentional.[15]

Film historians and critics

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Film historiansare frequent contributors of audio commentary, including:Tim Lucaswho has recorded numerous audio commentaries since his first, forMario Bava'sBlack Sunday;[19]Peter Cowiehas provided commentaries for numerous DVDs ofIngmar Bergman's films, includingWild Strawberries,written and directed by Bergman;[4]Donald Richiehas recorded commentary tracks for manyJapanese films;[4]and respected historianRudy Behlmer,who is primarily known for hisaudio commentariesof American classic cinema, most notablyCasablanca,Gone with the WindandFrankenstein.[20]John Frickehas recorded, or participated in, several audio commentaries forJudy Garland's films, includingThe Wizard of Oz,Babes in Arms,Easter Parade,For Me and My Gal,Girl Crazy,Meet Me in St. Louis,andThe Pirate.

Film criticsare also frequent contributors to commentaries like: American film criticRoger Ebertwho recorded DVD audio commentary tracks for many classic films, includingCitizen KaneandCasablanca,[21]andRichard Schickelwho hasprovided commentaryforDouble Indemnity,Strangers on a Train,On the WaterfrontandThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly.[22]Leonard Maltinhas also offered commentary on several films including,Marx BrothersA Night at the Opera,[23]andThe Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection(volume 2).[24]

Hong Kong action cinemaexpert Bey Logan is a frequent commenter forAsian films,includingFist of Fury,[25]The Banquet,[26]Iron Monkey,[27]Musa[28]andBullet in the Head.[29][30]

AnimationhistorianJerry Beckhas recorded dozens of audio commentaries for animation productions,[31]includingSinbad the Sailor[32]and theLooney Tunes Golden Collectionseries,[33]and historianMichael Barrieralso regularly contributes commentary to selected shorts in DVD packages, including thePopeyethe SailorDVD series, and for the first fiveLooney Tunes Golden CollectionDVDbox sets.[33]

In-theater audio commentary

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In-theater audio commentary is an audio track that is downloaded before going to a movie theater, and then played back on your device while watching the film. American directorKevin Smithwas one of the first filmmakers to provide this feature withClerks II.[34][35]Rian Johnsonprovided in-theater commentary forThe Brothers Bloom,LooperandKnives Out.[36][37]John Augustalso used in-theater commentary forThe Nines.[38]

Television series

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When complete seasons of TV series are released to DVD and Blu-ray boxsets, they often include audio commentary. Older classic shows likeThe Twilight Zone[39]The Monkees,[40]Night Gallery,[41]The Brady Bunch,[42]Dennis the Menace,[43]Star Trek: The Original Series,[44]Groucho Marx'sYou Bet Your Life,[45]The Abbott and Costello Show,[46]andThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour[47]have all featured audio commentaries by the cast, crew members and special guest stars.

Modern classics with commentaries from the creators, writers, directors and cast include (select few):Everybody Loves Raymond,[48]One Tree Hill,[48]Second City Television,[48]Smallville,[48]The Sopranos,[49]Arrested Development,[50]Buffy the Vampire Slayer,[51]Sex and the City,[52]Will & Grace,[53]Game of Thrones,[54]It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,[55]Seinfeld[56]andFriends.[57]

Animated TV series are also a genre that frequently provide audio commentaries, which include:My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic[58]andNickelodeon'sSpongeBob SquarePants.[59]Classic cartoons include:The Flintstones,[60]The Jetsons,[61]andTom and Jerry[62]which have all been released with audio commentaries. Adult and cult classics with audio commentaries from creators, writers, directors and cast include:South Park,[63]Beavis and Butt-Head,[64]Robot Chicken[65]andAqua Teen Hunger Force.[66]

Music videos

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On the DVD release ofQueen'sGreatest Video Hits 2,which features music videos with audio commentary, band membersBrian MayandRoger Taylorreflect on their memories and opinions of each video.[67]On the 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition ofPaul's Boutique,theBeastie Boysprovide their insights on a downloadable hour long audio commentary, which offers "rambling" revelations into album characters likeJohnny Ryall.[68]

The 2000 Criterion DVD re-release ofThe Rolling StonesGimme Shelter,a 1970 American documentary, features audio commentary from directorsAlbert MayslesandCharlotte Zwerin,along with collaborator Stanley Goldstein.[69]The 2006Fade to Red: Tori Amos Video Collection,a double DVD set, has commentary fromTori Amoson each video.[70]

Broadway plays

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The2011 Broadway revivalofGodspellfeatured a downloadable ten-part audio commentary series from composerStephen Schwartzand director Daniel Goldstein, who "discuss their process and personal experiences of creating the Broadway revival".[71]

Video games

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Video game developers have also included audio commentaries in their games. Unlike DVD commentaries, in-game prompts are used to allow players to activate a relevant audio commentary for a specific area in the game.Star Wars Episode I: Battle for Naboois believed to be the earliest video game with audio commentary.[72]Other select video games with commentary include: Portal,[73]Alan Wake,[73]Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge Special Edition,[73]Deus Ex Human RevolutionDirector's Cut,[73]Grim FandangoRemastered,[74]Day of the TentacleRemastered,[75]BioShock: The Collection,[76]Firewatch,[77]Duke Nukem 3D:20th Anniversary World Tour,[73]andHalf-Life: Alyx.[78]

James Bond commentary

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Controversy surrounded the audio commentary on Criterion's 1991 laserdisc release of the first threeJames Bondfilms,Dr. No,From Russia with LoveandGoldfinger.[79][80]Eon Productionsnotified Criterion of "185 statements in the audio commentaries which they considered to be 'inaccurate, insensitive, inflammatory or potentially libelous'".[79]The audio tracks featured commentary from various members of the production crews who worked on the films. Amongst the offensive commentary; they criticized the budgets for the three films, gossiped about Sean Connery's weight gain duringFrom Russia with Love,and "insinuated that several female costars were bad actors and had been cast solely for their looks".[79]Additionally, when English film directorGuy Hamiltonwas commenting aboutGoldfinger,which he directed, he referred to the fictional characterPussy Galoreas a "dyke".[79]In response to EON’s complaints, Criterion discontinued the collection, and issued a recall of the unsold copies. The following year, they reissued the three films as single-disc versions, with all the extra features removed.[79]

References

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  2. ^abBarlow 2005,p. 110.
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  4. ^abcdPratt, Douglas (2010)."The Best DVD Audio Commentaries".Cinéaste.Vol. 35, no. 3. pp. 17–21.GaleA228509102.
  5. ^abBertellini, Giorgio; Reich, Jacqueline (2010)."DVD Supplements: A Commentary on Commentaries".Cinema Journal.49(3): 103–106.ISSN0009-7101.LCCN75649099.OCLC02244743.
  6. ^Holm, D. K. (6 February 2017)."The Unbearable Sadness of the Audio Commentary Track".Crooked Marquee.
  7. ^O'Falt, Chris (17 August 2023)."'The Shining,' the Steadicam, and the Man Who Changed Filmmaking (for the Better) ".IndieWire.
  8. ^Palmer, Michael S. (27 September 2019)."Stanley Kubrick's The Shining - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Ultra HD Review".High Def Digest.
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  15. ^abcPistole, Kristopher (20 February 2016)."15 Entertaining DVD Commentaries Every Film Fan Must Listen To".Taste of Cinema.
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  20. ^Burlingame, Jon (27 September 2019)."Film Historian and Author Rudy Behlmer Dies at 92".Variety.
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  26. ^O'Leary, Niamh J. (2012). "Ambition and Desire: Gertrude As Tragic Hero In Feng Xiaogang's The Banquet (2006)".The Upstart Crow.31.Clemson, South Carolina:Clemson University:63–80.ProQuest1419374379(subscription required).In his audio commentary on the DVD, Hong Kong cinema expert Bey Logan states that mainland Chinese martial arts period films 'tend to be about the defeat of the one by the many'.
  27. ^"Table of Contents: Iron Monkey".Trinity College, Cambridge(videorecording).Cambridge, United Kingdom:University of Cambridge.Special features: Audio commentary with Donnie Yen and Bey Logan
  28. ^Marchant, Tim (4 February 2005)."Musa (2001)".Movie Gazette.1147/musa.
  29. ^Williams, Tony (1 January 2009).John Woo's Bullet in the Head.Hong Kong University Press.p. 68.ISBN978-962-209-968-5.
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  37. ^Cornish, David (18 October 2012)."Looper Director Makes Downloadable Commentary for In-Theater Use".Wired.
  38. ^Sciretta, Peter (30 August 2007)."John August Releases The Nines Audio Commentary Online"./Film.
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  40. ^Smotroff, Mark (24 October 2016)."The Monkees Complete Series Blu-ray Box Set".Audiophile Review.
  41. ^Salmons, Tim (18 November 2022). Hunt, Bill (ed.)."Night Gallery: Season Three (Blu-ray Review)".The Digital Bits.
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  52. ^Weintraub, Steve (23 April 2012)."DVD Deal: Sex and the City The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)".Collider.
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  55. ^Villarreal, Phil (14 September 2010)."The PhilmGuy's DVD Review: 'Glee'; 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'".OK Magazine.
  56. ^Rich, Jamie S. (2 December 2007)."Seinfeld - The Complete Series".DVD Talk.
  57. ^Cressey, Earl (2 September 2002)."Friends: The Complete Second Season".DVD Talk.
  58. ^My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Season 1 DVD Audio Commentaries(audio). Hasbro. 2012.
  59. ^Stephen HillenburgandTom Kenny(2020).SpongeBob SquarePants Audio Commentaries(audio). Nickelodeon.
  60. ^The Flintstones - The Complete Series DVD Extras(audio). Hanna-Barbera. 2004.
  61. ^Miller, Gordon S. (13 May 2020)."The Jetsons The Complete Original Series Blu-ray Review: Meet George Jetson".Cinema Sentries.
  62. ^Weinberg, Scott (13 November 2005)."Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection Vol. 2".DVD Talk.
  63. ^Milligan, Mercedes (8 May 2023)."'South Park Season 21-25' Box Set Comes Home in July ".Animation Magazine.
  64. ^Jane, Ian (24 October 2006)."Beavis and Butt-Head - The Mike Judge Collection".DVD Talk.
  65. ^Iverson, Dan (31 August 2007)."Robot Chicken - Season Two (Uncensored) Review".IGN.
  66. ^Rea, Darren (12 September 2007)."Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume Two - DVD review".Sci-Fi-Online.
  67. ^Garratt, John (11 December 2012)."Did Queen Take Themselves Seriously? 'Queen: Greatest Video Hits', PopMatters".PopMatters.
  68. ^Kemp, Mark (19 February 2009). "Beastie Boys: Paul's Boutique – 20th Anniversary Remastered Edition".Rolling Stone– viaRock's Backpages(subscription required).
  69. ^McGrath, Rick (June 2002). "The Maysles Brothers' Gimme Shelter (Criterion DVD)".Culture Court– viaRock's Backpages(subscription required).
  70. ^Wolf, Jessica (January 2006). "Rhino Ready To Charge Ahead".Home Media Retailing.Vol. 28, no. 2. p. 13.ProQuest197606250(subscription required).
  71. ^Gans, Andrew (6 March 2012)."Godspell Launches Free, Ten-Part Audio Commentary Series, Featuring Stephen Schwartz".Playbill.
  72. ^Totilo, Stephen (16 October 2006)."Game Developer Confessions: Rare Commentary Explains Whys And Hows".MTV.Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2008.Retrieved8 September2009.
  73. ^abcdeAllen, Dominic (6 January 2023)."8 Games With Developer Commentary".TheGamer.
  74. ^Strom, Steven (28 January 2015)."Grim Fandango Remastered is a flawed remake of a considered masterpiece".Ars Technica.
  75. ^Hoss, Brian (30 March 2016)."Day Of The Tentacle Remastered (Crossbuy) (PS4) Review".High Def Digest.
  76. ^Ryan, Jon; Sanchez, Miranda."Director's Commentary Collectibles - BioShock: The Collection Guide".IGN.
  77. ^Webster, Andrew (21 September 2016)."Audio commentary is a perfect excuse to replay your favorite games".The Verge.
  78. ^Faulkner, Cameron (12 November 2020)."Half-Life: Alyx now has over three hours of developer commentary".The Verge.Retrieved3 September2023.
  79. ^abcdeMcGowan, David (1 July 2022)."There's Just No Point in Doing a Commentary Where Everyone's Just Going to Sit and Criticize the Movie: Auteurism and the Creation of Hoax" Unruly "Extra Features in the DVD Era"(PDF).Quarterly Review of Film and Video.39(5): 1008–1033.doi:10.1080/10509208.2021.1896350.
  80. ^Carr, Kevin (6 November 2014)."39 Things We Learned from the Banned 'Dr. No' Commentary".Film School Rejects.

Sources

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Further reading

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