Compositional editing

I was shown the following video by the illustrious Steven Kidd.



I was struck by the editing of the piece, and not surprised to see that the editor and director were one and the same (William Hoffman). I mentioned after that picking apart all the edits would be like a master class in compositional editing. Steve asked what I meant by that, and I realized I hadn't heard the term before.

What I am talking about may (probably) already have a name, but I have not been able to find it using the google.

When I use the term "compositional editing," it is in contrast to "narrative editing" and implies a focus on the part of the editor. Any time 2 or more pieces are placed in proximity, you have composition. Any time 2 or more pieces are placed in a sequence, you have narrative. So any edited footage must contain both compositional and narrative elements.

Compositional editing focuses on the content of the two pieces on either side of the cut in a more abstract way. This is often done visually, where the two clips "rhyme" in motion. For example, the line being drawn on the test paper cutting to the surgeon slicing flesh with a scalpel. Same movement, same direction. However, clips may also rhyme in theme, color, overall visual composition (within the framing of the shot), etc. One of the more interesting (and successful) cuts in the piece above moves from a close-up of a person stepping in (presumably dog) crap to a close-up of a tongue licking ice cream. Both motions are close and towards the camera, although the placement of the actor is in opposition. The tongue appears in the exact same place as the crap, causing a disconcerting moment for the viewer. While the two elements being acted upon are in juxtaposition thematically (crap and food), and in color (dark brown and white), their texture is similar, furthering the rhyme between the two.

As I mentioned previously, all editing has components of composition and narrative. The best techniques use both to tell a story, and there is certainly a story (or, more accurately, a number of tiny stories) being told above. But the narrative arises out of the composition, and not the other way around. In narrative editing, composition is second fiddle to driving the story forward. Although it must not be ignored, even in a simple conversation between two actors.

--Brent