Description:

In this latest instalment of the Optus, ‘It Starts With Yes’ campaign, we remind Australians that extraordinary opportunities start with yes. And that Optus is there to facilitate your journey every step of the way.
This film tells the story of an everyday steel worker who has a dream to play violin professionally.
But he doesn’t play your standard classical music. He plays the music he grew up with. The music Australia grew up with.

So, on his break at the mill, his workmates encourage him to play something and plays a classical version of a song that represents his day-to-day lifestyle. The 1985 rock classic and unofficial Australian anthem, ‘Working Class Man’ by Jimmy Barnes.

It’s a song that The Guardian called, “Probably the greatest power ballad Australia has ever produced.” And despite being released 37 years ago, it has amassed nearly 50 million streams on Spotify, sits in practically every ‘Top Ten Australian rock songs’ list and is still pumped on national radio around the country, daily.

As the story progresses and our protagonist (played by renowned violinist, Eric Avery) is offered a chance to join the Australian Contemporary Orchestra, the music builds, hitting the big notes of the original but reimagined, composed and performed by an orchestra. The high-energy rock track was modernised and transformed into a piece of music that represented the two sides of our character. The steel mill (Which is the same steel mill seen in the 1985 music video) and the stage.

The film builds to a crescendo musically and through the storyline where our character follows his passion and joins the orchestra.

The new rendition of a classic connected with Australians, with comments on social saying, “I cried when I just saw this on TV. I wish this was a whole movie.” And “I love this version of this classic”, as well as, “Why can’t ads take notes from this. What an incredible ad.”