Mark Gatiss features in a short film shot in Bushey by a local director, shining a light on carers’ experiences.
Sean Young’s Moustache Man is loosely based on his own experience looking after his older brother and was filmed at Bushey Museum and Art Gallery, in Rudolph Road, during lockdown.
After being toured at film festivals, it has now been released to the public on YouTube and garnered praise for its portrayal of the struggles carers face.
“It’s really important to me because I hadn’t had the opportunity to express myself as a carer looking after my brother,” Sean, 35, said.
“It’s been heartwarming to have people who can connect to it on an emotional level get in touch to say how they related to it.
“A lot of carers have reached out to say how much they loved it and how much it meant to them.”
In the film, Sean plays Jack, who has been given the responsibility of being his mother's carer. This requires him to keep a constant schedule so that she does not become triggered by a spontaneous of sudden situation.
The ‘Moustache Man’ aspect comes in as he struggles with the role but attempts to imitate his father, who had seemed to have it all sorted before he died.
It was written in two stages, Sean said, having left an initial version which felt “very angry” for a few years before coming back to it and producing the final version which maintains the spotlight on serious issues while also finding the comedy in his situation.
The Bushey resident compared aspects to the film Groundhog Day, with how the necessity of routine can keep Sean and his character almost living the same day on repeat.
Alongside Sean, Eboni Dixon plays Nellie, Josie Lawrence from Whose Line is it Anyway and Eastenders plays Jack’s mum, and Mark Gatiss plays ‘The Boss’.
Historic film studios site on sale for £2.6m - homes plans mooted
Celebrity Traitors star reportedly seen amid filming at church hall
Owner 'so grateful' after busy opening day for High Street café
Sean met the League of Gentlemen and Bookish actor when they featured alongside each other in the first episode of the BBC’s Sherlock.
After striking up a conversation in a car, they kept in touch, with Gatiss acting as a “mentor” for Sean and previously featuring in his web series Two Housemates.
The former West Herts College pupil has been involved in creating TV and web video content for 14 years, while spending much of his time caring for his brother due to a mental health condition.
Share