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Communication lessons learned from an experimental AI-generated movie
A movie about Brian Eno provides insights into harnessing the strengths of new technology
Gary Hustwit’s new film, Eno, a bio-pic about the British performance artist, musician, and producer Brian Eno, uses new AI generative software to produce a unique viewing experience. Each time the film is shown, the AI software dubbed “Brain One” (an anagram for “Brian Eno”) sifts through the many clips and scenes and generates a new compilation. Gary Hustwit’s website says, “Each screening of Eno is unique, presenting different scenes, order, music, and meant to be experienced live.”
According to Ben Davis, a critic at ArtNews — who has seen the film three times — about two-thirds of the film remains about the same, but the other third has a mixture of footage that can change your perception of the film. Is it truly directed or edited when AI has the final cut?
Brian Eno first found fame an original member of the legendary Roxy Music, a British new wave group, with Bryan Ferry. Eno went on to produce some of the most definitive music of our time with David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2 and Coldplay. He also composed the ubiquitous the startup sound for Microsoft Windows.
Hustwit, known for Helvetica, the film about the ubiquitous typeface, knows what he is doing. I saw a version of Eno in Pleasantville, NY, and except for the annoying gimmick of showing a shaky screen while the AI is “thinking” about the next segment, I thoroughly enjoyed what was on the screen. It was exciting to see what came next. Who knows if the version I saw will be anything like the one you might see? But if Ben-the-critic is right, this film has a solid foundation that is enhanced by the shuffling supportive scenes.
Let’s explore how Hustwit’s use of AI teaches us about using AI in our communications.
1. Employ disruption to find new creative solutions.
Two-thirds of this movie provides a core story that is exquisitely told and edited…
