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. For example, American cinematographer
Garrett Brown, the inventor of the
steadicam, is featured throughout the audio commentary track for
The Shining, where he discusses his work with the ground-breaking technology. The DVD of the science-fiction movie
Sunshine, directed by
Danny Boyle, contains an audio track with English
physicist and professor of
particle physics Brian Cox. In the cast commentary for
The Silence of the Lambs, former F.B.I.
criminal profiler John Douglas, an advisor to the filmmakers, offers his anecdotes about the film. The box set of
The Ultimate Matrix Collection, has two audio commentaries on each film, one by philosophers who loved it; Dr.
Cornel West and
Ken Wilber, and one by critics who hated it;
Todd McCarthy,
John Powers and
David Thomson. The DVD release of
Ghostbusters contains a video commentary track with director
Ivan Reitman,
Harold Ramis, and
Joe Medjuck, with silhouettes of the trio added to imitate
Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Blu-ray edition of the film
Galaxy Quest includes a tongue-in-cheek trivia commentary called "Galactopedia", by American graphic designer
Michael Okuda, known for his work on
Star Trek, and
Denise Okuda, co-author of the
Star Trek Encyclopedia. On the DVD release of
Bowling for Columbine,
Michael Moore allowed his
interns,
secretary and production assistants to record the audio commentary for his documentary. In the commentary for
True 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. For
The Goonies audio track, many of the original cast members,
Sean Astin,
Josh Brolin,
Corey Feldman and
Martha Plimpton, along with director
Richard Donner, reunited and watched the film together, offering their opinions on the classic comedy film.
Film directors commentary Film directors can also provide their perspective into how a film is made. In his commentary for the 1970 film
M*A*S*H, director
Robert Altman gives 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 the
Vietnam War. Director
Mel Brooks discusses in his audio commentary for
Young Frankenstein how 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. Director
Oliver Stone in his audio commentary for
Wall Street, explains how his family influenced the making of the film, and speaks candidly about the actors, mildly criticizing them, particularly
Charlie Sheen. In his commentary for the 2003 film
Shattered Glass, director
Billy Ray is joined by
New Republic editor 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. Director
Francis Ford Coppola in his audio commentary about his epic film
The 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", and in the 2007 DVD release of
Hearts of Darkness, a
documentary about the production of
Apocalypse 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 where
Martin Sheen was drunk and cut his hand, and relays how the opening shot with a huge explosion in the jungle was completely unintentional.
Film historians and critics Film historians are frequent contributors of audio commentary, including:
Tim Lucas who has recorded numerous audio commentaries since his first, for
Mario Bava's
Black Sunday;
Peter Cowie has provided commentaries for numerous DVDs of
Ingmar Bergman's films, including
Wild Strawberries, written and directed by Bergman;
Donald Richie has recorded commentary tracks for many
Japanese films; and respected historian
Rudy Behlmer, who is primarily known for his
audio commentaries of American classic cinema, most notably
Casablanca,
Gone with the Wind and
Frankenstein.
John Fricke has recorded, or participated in, several audio commentaries for
Judy Garland's films, including
The Wizard of Oz,
Babes in Arms,
Easter Parade,
For Me and My Gal,
Girl Crazy,
Meet Me in St. Louis, and
The Pirate.
Film critics are also frequent contributors to commentaries like: American film critic
Roger Ebert who recorded DVD audio commentary tracks for many classic films, including
Citizen Kane and
Casablanca, and
Richard Schickel who has
provided commentary for
Double Indemnity,
Strangers on a Train,
On the Waterfront and
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Leonard Maltin has also offered commentary on several films including,
Marx Brothers A Night at the Opera, and
The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection (volume 2).
Hong Kong action cinema expert Bey Logan is a frequent commenter for
Asian films, including
Fist of Fury,
The Banquet,
Iron Monkey,
Musa and
Bullet in the Head.
Animation historian
Jerry Beck has recorded dozens of audio commentaries for animation productions, including
Sinbad the Sailor and the
Looney Tunes Golden Collection series, and historian
Michael Barrier also regularly contributes commentary to selected shorts in DVD packages, including the
Popeye the Sailor DVD series, and for the first five
Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD box sets. == In-theater audio commentary ==