Whispers Script?

[LostLaura]

Hi Gregg,

Thanks for being so informative and responsive to everyone here! I know we all really appreciate it.

I saw timdorr's recent question about the hidden audio in the show, and I am so glad that you basically gave a "no comment" answer. As the OP and hostess of that thread, I would be so sad if you shot us down!

I have another question about the Whispers, though. (I'll phrase this question just about the Whispers since you've given "no comment" on the hidden audio, although my question really pertains to both phenomena.) I'm hoping as the script coordinator, you will know the answer!

Can you tell us if there is a separate Whispers script for episodes where there are Whispers? Some actual scripts have been made availabe online here, and every time a new script is released, we all get so excited to see if there is any new insight into the Whispers dialogue.
So far, the scripts haven't revealed what the Whispers are saying, though. In the Whispers thread, several of those episodes have been analzyed for hidden audio. But even if we are wrong about there being hidden audio, which I don't think we are, we know for sure that there are actual loud Whispers at the end of Solitary. The Green Revision of the script for Solitary is available on that website, but this is all that it says (re: Sayid spinning around at the end of the episode):

THE WHISPERING OF VOICES, seemingly all around him.

So, I'm wondering... Some of the scripts available on that website are the Network Draft. If we had the Network Draft, rather than the Green Revision, of Solitary, would we see what the Whispers were saying? Or, does it not matter which draft (even final) you get, but you will never see the actual Whispers dialogue in the script?

I've been guessing for awhile that the Whispers are never revealed in the script, so as to keep the dialogue a secret even from the actors and others who work on the show. That's just a guess, though. Can you confirm? And also, if the dialogue is not in the script, who writes it? Is it always Damon? Is it Damon and Carlton? Is it the writer(s) of that specific episode? Is it the writer(s) of that specific episode, with guidance from Damon? Is it the audio technicians??? In other words.... how secretive is the Whispers dialogue??? Who gets to know for sure what is being said???

Thanks, Gregg!

[Gregg Nations]

Hello, Laura.

Basically, none of the whispers dialogue is in the scripts. The Network Draft is an earlier draft than the green revision draft. The green pages are based on the Production Draft, which comes out after the Network Draft. So a green revision would be the latest (until of course the next revisions).

The whispers are done in post during ADR sessions, and that is done by either Damon, Carlton, the writer of the episode or another writer if they're too busy. They typically write up the ADR dialogue, we fax it over to post (they're in a different building than us), and then post will have the ADR team record it.

And honestly I have no idea why it isn't in the script. I really don't think it's because it's so top secret.

[LostLaura]

Wow, thank you so much, Gregg. If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a couple follow-up questions. Now that I know that the colored revisions come after the Network Draft, I wonder how one would discover what the name of the very last version of an episode script is. Would that one be named "Final Draft" or something obvious like that? Or is the final draft sometimes just another color and an outsider wouldn't necessarily be able to identify it as a final draft?

Regarding the whispers: I guess this is sort of an opinion question, since you said you're not sure why the whispers aren't in the script. You said that you don't think they're so top secret, and I find that really interesting, because as we analyze the audio, we find lots of exciting and interesting information! Maybe the whispers aren't a secret from the rest of the staff of the show, but maybe the writers/producers worry about scripts getting out and exposing the secrets of the whispers to the fans? Or is that too conspiracy-minded of me? Maybe the whispers script might be done after the script is finalized, simply because it's post-production work and easier for the writers to not have to worry about it until later?

Thanks, Gregg!

[Gregg Nations]

Script security is always an issue and that could very much be the at the heart of not putting the whispers in the scripts. There are scenes for the season finale that are not given to everyone and sometimes not even to the actors in the scenes until they show up on set. That's something planned for and dealt with through a different distribution process. However, that type of issue has never happened in regards to the whispers. So it probably is waiting until ADR to deal with it.

I do a final production draft for the writers of the episode, but it's internal and not distributed. As a fan you'll probably never know what the final revision color is unless someone who has a copy of the script leaks it, which probably would not be looked upon nicely. I should point out that the scripts available on the website are first season scripts. The cover page is also missing the following info:

"© 2004, Touchstone Television Productions, LLC. All rights reserved. This material is the exclusive property of Touchstone Television Productions, LLC, and is intended solely for the use of its personnel. Distribution to unauthorized persons or reproduction, in whole or in part, without the written consent of Touchstone Television Productions, LLC, is strictly prohibited."

We started watermarking the scripts after "All the Best Cowboys..." because of scripts leaking out. Now every script is numbered and watermarked.

[LostLaura]

Hi Gregg,

Thanks for your thorough reply. Sorry about the situation with the fan site.... I'll mention what you said to the owner....
umm, what can I say? I appreciate seeing the scripts but I appreciate that you all need to be careful about the scripts so.... I guess that's the Catch-22 of fan/VIP interactions?

Anyway, thanks again. Your replies were very helpful and informative. Your explanation on the process of who writes up the whispers and how they're handled regularly was very informative... it gives up hope in the thread that this process is done quite regularly--maybe even every episode!

LostLaura