About
About SecondTrack
SecondTrack is a searchable archive of DVD and Blu-ray commentary transcripts. Directors, cinematographers, screenwriters, scholars, actors, and other crew members discuss the films, their production, and their reception.
The project transcribes commentaries from its disc collection so readers can find, compare, and cite passages. Timestamps connect each passage to its position in the commentary, and links connect related films, people, topics, and essays.
How the archive works
- Transcripts and metadata only. No commentary audio is hosted or linked.
- Personal library only. Every commentary is transcribed from a disc owned by the project.
- Fair use for research and criticism. Passages include timestamps so readers can cite the source.
- Verified disc editions. The exact disc edition is named as a bibliographic reference when it has been verified. Edition details are still being checked for some tracks; an edition is never inferred from the film alone.
How transcripts are produced
Studio-authored commentary captions are the primary source when available. They supply text aligned to the film's timecode. Speaker names are shown where the source supports them. For titles without commentary captions, OpenAI Whisper large-v3 transcribes the audio. Automated checks flag repetition, remove common transcription artifacts, correct names, and compare the text with film subtitles to identify dialogue from the film.
Affiliate disclosure
Links labeled "Find on Amazon" on commentary and film pages are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, SecondTrack earns from qualifying purchases. The links point to Amazon's standard search results for the film; they do not influence which commentaries are archived or how they are presented.
DMCA / takedown
Transcripts are fair use for research and criticism. If you believe specific content should be removed, contact contact@secondtrack.org. We review requests and respond within 7 days.