“Eno” at Sundance: an AI-Driven Documentary
“Eno” premiered at Sundance 2024 as a pioneering documentary on Brian Eno, using generative AI to create a unique and changing viewing experience for each audience.
“Eno” premiered at Sundance 2024 as a pioneering documentary on Brian Eno, using generative AI to create a unique and changing viewing experience for each audience.
At Sundance 2024, the documentary “Eno” stands out not only for its subject – the legendary musician and producer Brian Eno – but for its revolutionary use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), altering the documentary viewing experience. Directed by Gary Hustwit, in collaboration with generative art specialist Brendan Dawes, the film utilizes an AI tool aptly named "Brain One" to create a fluid, ever-changing narrative about Eno's life and work.
“Eno” takes viewers on a journey through the career of Brian Eno, a key figure in the music industry known for his work with iconic acts like Roxy Music, U2, and David Bowie. However, what sets this documentary apart is its unique approach to storytelling. Each screening of “Eno” is different, courtesy of the AI's ability to shuffle and reorganize hundreds of hours of footage, interviews, and music projects. This innovative use of technology ensures that no two viewings are the same, offering a fresh perspective with each showing.
The AI's involvement in the documentary is a fitting tribute to Eno's own artistic ethos. Known for his pioneering use of generative AI in music, Eno has long been fascinated by the intersection of technology, art, and randomness. This is evident in his creation of “Oblique Strategies”, a box of cards designed to disrupt conventional thinking and foster creativity, a topic that is explored in the documentary.
Director Gary Hustwit's decision to use AI in the filmmaking process was driven by a desire to reflect Eno's experimental nature. “Brain One” was programmed with vast amounts of data, including Eno's music, art projects, and archival footage, allowing the AI to create numerous versions of the documentary. While some scenes remain constant to maintain a coherent narrative, much of the documentary's content is determined by the AI's selection, leading to a myriad of possible versions. This modular approach to filmmaking aligns with Eno's own creative process, offering different insights and focal points in each iteration.
Gary Hustwit’s past experience with music and design documentaries, including his previous collaboration with Eno, paved the way for this ambitious project. His vision of a dynamic, AI-driven documentary resonates with the growing trend of interactive and adaptive media content.
“Eno”, as it pushed the boundaries of documentary filmmaking, serves a deep dive into the life and work of Brian Eno as well as stands as a pioneering example of how AI can be harnessed to create a new form of storytelling, which can be fluid, and viewing experience that is also distinct.