The Shooting Gallery

Series two, episode one
Between ‘4thought.tv’ and the late, lamented ‘Animate’ strand, C4 continues to make a virtue of championing the niche, albeit in a bit of a graveyard slot where ‘The Shooting Gallery’ is concerned. But it’s well worth seeking out for its eclecticism and stubbornly individual visions, especially in the case of tonight’s animation, ‘The Making of Longbird’.

First, though, comes a more straightforward prospect: ‘Crossing Over’, Chris Purcell’s short documentary history of the Abbey Road zebra crossing, narrated by Roger McGough. It’s unavoidably slight, but filmed arrestingly and with a keen eye for composition. The Bafta-winning ‘…Longbird’, meanwhile, verges on self-indulgence with its wilfully obscure narrative, but the visuals are consistently interesting and the oddball humour inclusive rather than alienating.

Offering a new angle on the mockumentary, it follows Will Anderson as he attempts to bring back to life the work of a legendary (fictional) Russian animator. Vigorous arguments with a cartoon bird (sounding not unlike hated insurance-touting meerkat Aleksandr Orlov) ensue, and the conclusion is satisfyingly macabre. If this is one possible future of British filmmaking, we’re in for quite a ride.