Rob Sitch is one of the original members of the D-Generation Comedy troupe that provided the core members of Working Dog Productions. He has directed both of the groups feature films The Dish and The Castle and writes, and acts in the groups productions aswell. Rob has also written on current affairs, an example being an article concerning Australian politics in the wake of the last Australian federal election, which is included here. Rob is the most visible of the Working Dog team, but despite his role as director, insists that Working Dog is a collaborative team where everyone directs writes, and acts.
"Cynicism is satire without the substance".
PSB: Are you a big, super-duper star in Australia?
Sitch: No, I'm reasonably well-known. If you've been on the top ten most wanted list, gradually people get used to knowing your face. We've done a lot of television, and television sort of has that ability.
Sitch, who directs the film, emphasises the collaborative nature of Working Dog's style, and explains how the subject for the film was a result of a think tank where the team searched for film ideas.
ROB SITCH: There's definite appeal to a small town being the centre of the world even though the world didn't know it. And the more research we did the more photos we uncovered and � you'd see wonderful photos of very distinguished radio astronomers - in the middle of summer of course, it's 43 degrees out there - in shorts and thongs having just discovered the Magellan Clouds.
And you had these wonderful contrasts between high technology and small town. And these people were at the cutting edge of the world but this world class facility was stuck in the middle of a sheep paddock.
For most Australians, your race simply does not matter. Your religion is of no more consequence than your hobby. For all the glib generalisations about the 1950s and '60s, the rank and file of this nation wrote one of the proudest chapters in the history of human migration. I don't care what the world thinks of us, I care what we think of us.
Santo Cilauro also one of the original D-Generation has assumed the role of cinematographer for the group.