Television documentary production

Down Under series

Broadcast on SBS Television in 2005, repeated 2007.

The Down Under series is a 6 episode production that focuses on Australians in 6 different world cities – Singapore, St Petersburg, Budapest, Glasgow, Dallas and Montreal. Each city’s background is viewed by riding on the local underground, metro or light rail system.

What the critics said about the Down Under series:

“The shows have been running for a couple of weeks and I’ve become attached, like you might to an odd new friend you suddenly discover you like in spite of feeling you already have too many friends. The idea is fun, modest if a bit loopy – kind of travelogue meets magazine-style profile meets trainspotting documentary – but the well-crafted show is a great example of the inroads that (George) Lucas’s revolution is making into TV culture. (Richard) Snashall is a player in a pivotal moment in entertainment culture.”
- Graeme Blundell, The Weekend Australian

“Viewers who recall the engaging doco Down Under Paris will be tempted to step aboard this series of rattlers as Richard Snashall trawls the globe bumping into expat Strines in unusual places. We’re everywhere!”
- Doug Anderson, Sydney Morning Herald

“The Down Under series is really terrific!”
- David Kilby, ABC Radio

“This low-budget documentary series about expat Australians and underground rail systems in far-flung cities has a daggy charm that sets it apart nicely from slicker travelogues.”
- Fergus Shiel, The Age (Melbourne)

Down Under St Pete

	In St Petersburg with key subject Garry Wilson, former head of Coca Cola in Russia, now in charge of one of the country’s largest confectionary companies, Sladco.
Not only does Mikhail Gorbachov sit on Garry’s board of directors, he’s done business with and knows President Vladimir Putin well. In a previous life, Garry worked in Australia in the music promotions business, dealing with everyone from Bon Scott and Paul McCartney to the Little River Band. A fascinating person, it’s amazing to hear what this boy from the western suburbs of Sydney has done with his life.
	St Petersburg Metro comment: Deepest in the world, stunningly designed stations, very clean and efficient and carefully monitored by a militia of babushkas in aprons. Be careful when you pull out your camera!

Down Under Singapore

	A part-time woolgrower and internationally known arts manager, Geoff Street has done just about everything when it comes to live performance. In Down Under Singapore,
Geoff is wrapping up a four year contract as Programming Director for Singapore’s spectacular arts centre, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Throughout his career Geoff has been a lighting technician, director and performer, a career that came about when he accidentally became manager of the Memorial Hall at his school in Melbourne!
	Singapore light rail comment: Ultra modern and smooth, it’s a joy to listen to the continuous rings of mobile phones and watch the lightning fast SMSing skills of Singaporeans. Great art and cultural attention given to the stations on the new North Eastern Line.

Down Under Budapest

	A former Queensland Palm Seed Collecter, Anthony Gall is now one of Hungary’s most respected architects. He speaks fluent Hungarian and authored a book about Kos Karoly, a 20th century Hungarian architect and folk hero.
However Anthony manages to maintain his tropical sense of humour, and reflects fondly on his days growing up in and around Mackay. His Hungarian wife, Cecilia, teaches Australian Cultural Studies at a university in Budapest and is a bit of an expert on Australian women writers. They have two delightful daughters, Esther and Emma, and a cat called Mici – who was born in Brisbane and now lives in Budapest!
	Budapest Metro comment: Line 1 is the oldest on the continent, and is a little like a showride. There’s no advertising on the platforms and trains play a little melody upon arrival at each station.

Down Under Montreal

	Hailing from Sydney, Anita Nelving studied at Bathurst before getting into the heady world of PR and marketing. She kicked off her career at Sydney’s Taronga Park Zoo. A possibility of work with Cirque du Soleil came about just before a backpacking holiday to Western Australia.
While caught in a cyclone in the town of Exmouth, Anita decided life was too short and that she did want to join the circus after all. She is now manages publicity for Cirque’s North American touring shows and is based in Montreal, where she lives with her partner, Jason, an ex-gymnast and Cirque performer who is now trying to break into acting.
	Montreal Metro comment: Groovy baby! Take a shagadelic ride back into 60s architecture on the Montreal Metro. The clever design of each station always leaves commuters with personal space, it never feels like peak hour ever really peaks. A very trippy ride. Be sure to visit Matt McLauchlin’s Montreal Metro web site, it’s one of the best in the world.

Down Under Dallas

	Leroy Ellis would often scoff at his mother watching the television show, Dallas, and say to himself “if I ever lived in a place like that….”
After two years living in the Texan city, he realised with a thud that “I’m here after all!” Married to Erika, a native of Chicago, Leroy holds a PHD in Organic Chemistry and has created methods and techniques now widely used by the gas and petroleum industries. He was a former star with the Dallas Magpies, an amateur AFL side, and is a keen diver and diving instructor. Leroy and Erika live in Richardson, on the north side of Dallas, and have two cattle dogs. Erika is also at the top of the science world, working for Texas Instruments.
	Dallas light rail comment: Sit back and relax and get where your goin’ faaast on the Dallas Area Rapid Transit. One of the newest light rail systems in the world, the DART stations are beautifully landscaped and the carriages are comfortable and clean. When the trains get into central Dallas they go along the streets, effectively changing the feel from a suburban rail system to an inner city tram ride. Even hometown boy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, is commemorated at his local station of Hampton.

Down Under Glasgow

	For Sydney lovers of dining out in the early 1980s, Bon Cafard was the place to go. Co-owned and operated by Martin Teplitzky, you could head to seedy Darlinghurst, sit in very earthy surrounds, get blasted by Led Zeppelin, and eat sensational seafood and whatever else took Martin’s fancy for that week’s menu.
Martin then moved to London is now living in Glasgow, after he married a Scottish girl. He has also lived in France and Italy, and provides some fascinating and highly personal insights into the heady world of running restaurants, and how that can affect your life. We meet Martin during his time looking after a number of Bar Buddas in and around Glasgow, where he is the Executive Chef.
	Glasgow underground comment: Martin says the world’s third oldest underground rail system is “a bit like a traveling toilet” due to various smells and substances encountered on the Glasgow underground. Despite a desparate need for an upgrade, this circular system is well patronized by locals. It derailed on its opening day back in 1896, much to the amusement of Derek Smith from Glasgow Transport Museum, who says the Scottish like a “spectacular failure”.

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