Elise Hu

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I'm your host, Elise Hu.

Film generally seems like a fixed medium.

The scenes are shot, the edit is made, and the final version is just that.

the final version.

But in this talk, filmmaker Gary Hustwood challenges the idea that a movie must tell just one story and one story only.

He shares how he made the documentary Eno about the musician and composer Brian Eno and how it's possible that this film never ends the same way twice.

At this point in the talk, Gary pauses to show what he means.

There's a large screen behind him, and on the screen to Gary's left, composer Laurie Anderson pops up and reads a card.

Retrace your steps.

That shot is followed by images of Eno walking backwards.

On the screen behind Gary, showing a different iteration, musician David Byrne picks up a card and reads.

Turn it upside down.

Followed by different footage.

And on the screen to Gary's right, we see Laurie Anderson again.

And this time she reads... Gardening, not architecture.

Followed again by footage we haven't seen before.

Thank you.

That was Gary Hustwit at TED 2025.