AFTER rising to the top of the international classical music scene, Warrnambool's own singing cobbler Peter Brocklehurst is coming home to take the lead role in a $12 million 3D film. The former rock singer, who went on to fill the Sydney Opera House several times before spiralling into an alcohol-fuelled depression, spoke exclusively to The Standard about his impending role on the big screen."We're moving back home, the prodigal son returns," he said this week from his shoe repair shop in Geelong. Brocklehurst plans to start another rock band in Warrnambool and relaunch his part-time opera singing career, in between running a "singing cobbler" business in Pomborneit. Brocklehurst said the film - for which he will be paid more than $1 million - will be directed by his friend Sandy Harbutt.Harbutt, 67, is best known for his 1974 cult Australian outlaw motorcycle gang film Stone, which has attracted the praise of ground-breaking director Quentin Tarantino."The majority of it (the new film) is about my time in a rock and roll band," Brocklehurst said. "I spent most of my rock and roll years in Warrnambool so if they don't (shoot part of it there), I will make them," he laughed. Harbutt said that he was in negotiations with potential investors for the "bikie musical" called Rock. But the Sydney-based director has finished the screenplay and plans to come to Warrnambool in the next two weeks to find potential shooting locations. Harbutt is even in talks with the management of Irish singer Andrea Corr, of worldwide pop sensation The Corrs, who he hopes will play Brocklehurst's "beautiful, mystical . . . ex-flame". Brocklehurst, who still has relatives in Warrnambool including his ill mother, is full of praise for the region that supported his early musical career. "I haven't got an enemy in Warrnambool. I've always filled houses with my rock and roll but when I started classical singing I thought they would shrug me off."Harbutt said Rock's budget was $12 million and it would be shot using cutting-edge three-dimensional (3D) technology. Audiences will need to wear special glasses to see the larger-than-life effect. "It's written specifically for Peter," he said. "A disillusioned opera singer hits the road busking to get back in contact with the world again and he meets up with a kick-arse motorbike band . . . these guys ride motorbikes up on stage at the start of their acts."Brocklehurst, whose character will be called Rock Johnstone, will be the frontman for the "supergroup", which Harbutt hopes will be made up of real Australian rock legends.Harbutt is hoping to convince country and western star Beccy Cole, former Midnight Oil drummer Rob Hirst and former Cold Chisel guitarist Ian Moss to appear in the film as band members. Classically-trained musician Iva Davies, from Icehouse, and Mental as Anything guitarist Reg Mombassa are also on the wish list. Harbutt was drawn to Brocklehurst after seeing his second appearance on ABC TV's Australian Story in June 2007, documenting his recovery from obesity, alcoholism, depression and a faded desire to sing. "It's just because he (Peter) can do so many things. As well as being the world's best singer, he actually likes to work with his hands and fix people's shoes." The opera singer's love of motorbikes and karate only heightened Harbutt's interest, as he has been looking for a suitable actor to play Rock for years. Harbutt hopes to have financial backing, his cast and the cameras rolling by January, just a year after Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson came to the south-west to shoot Charlie and Boots.