An ad that documents the hilarious struggles of a law graduate in Sydney’s North Shore, including receiving an Audi for his birthday instead of a BMW, has started making the rounds on social media.
The ad, by YouTubeer Old Gregg, follows graduate Luke Williams who, despite having ‘tired-hand syndrome’ manages to ace his high-school exams, and despite excessive partying, snags a top role at his father’s law firm.
The spot is a parody of a moving Western Sydney University ad that follows refugee Deng Adut who was taken from his mother, forced to fight in Sudan before being rescued by the United Nations. He found himself in Adut, obtained a law degree from Western Sydney Uni and went on to become a lawyer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buA3tsGnp2s
The Western Sydney Uni ad received wide acclaim through the media circles after its release in September last year, with ad man Todd Sampson hailing it one of his favourite ads of the year on The Gruen Transfer.
“It’s an incredible story,” he said. “Alumni stories have been told many, many times, by many universities. But, what they focused on here was the trajectory of success, and that is a universal story about ambition, drive, hope and determination. I think they cracked it. It is one of my favourite ads of the year.”
The parody spot is created in a similar fashion to the original Western Sydney Uni ad. B&T has contacted Old Gregg, but had not heard back at the time of publication.
The Sydney Morning Herald spoke with the man behind the parody creation who said he made it to give his friends a laugh.
“I thought, wouldn’t it be great to make a parody featuring a protagonist who was the very antithesis of Deng,” he told the SMH.
“I scanned online for free stock footage and used it where possible. The Shore school rugby and drone shots were filmed by [a] photographer named Angus Humphris. He has given me his blessing to use the footage.
“I’m by no means a professional video editor. I should also mention I had no intention of monetising the video.”
The ad was posted to YouTube back in December 2015 and has since clocked up more than 60,000 views.
