Moustache Man
Moustache Man follows a son, Jack, taking care of his mother after the passing of his father. His absence left a mother dealing with grief and her own mental illness, and a son trying his best to care for her while trying to get things back on track. Maybe the best way to do this is to become his father? So obviously he must grow a moustache!
Project
Moustache Man
Moustache Man follows a son, Jack, taking care of his mother after the passing of his father. The father, the rock of the family, died unexpectedly, leaving a mother dealing with grief and mental illness, and a son trying his best to care for her while trying to get things back to normal. By becoming the one thing that made everything "right", his father.
Step 1 - Keep a repetitive routine with his mother, including asking her what she wants for dinner, even though he knows the answer will always be the same – pasta bolognese.
Step 2 - Keep positive. Although this means neglecting himself, Jack tries to keep a positive outlook around his mother to uplift her mood and to give her less to worry about.
Step 3 - Grow a moustache. His father always had one and it made his mother smile. It also reminds Jack of what he needs to do, as a head of the family, as a breadwinner (at his father's old workplace), and as a carer. He needs to step in as the father, in order for everything to be better.
The film will have an off-set 70's feel to it, although the actual year will be unspecified. The visuals for the film will have accents of vibrant colours but mainly muted, especially when the mother is on screen. The rest of the scenes at Jack's workplace will see lots of orange, yellow, beige and peach.
For the mother's scenes, the set design and the dialogue will feel more natural and slightly darker. This visualises his mother’s state of mind as well and Jack's own daily slog. This conflict reflects what Jack is attempting to reconcile: his life at home and the outside world in which he is living.
Under the comic surface is a serious message.
The aim of the film is to highlight not only the day-to-day drama of being a carer, but also the monotony. It can be dramatic one moment and then, next, silent.
It's important to highlight the unsung heroes, those who are suffering silently; those who are doing their best to help.
I want to show the quiet fight for normality, and the difficulties we all go through in life while trying to live a full and happy one.
I want the film to show that these issues aren't new. The times I've heard members of an older generation refer to old acquaintances as "he was always so angry, he was so downtrodden, he was so grumpy" and not realise they are describing someone who may have mental health issues, is astonishing. Especially when they reveal the mantra "yeah people just got on with it". Which we all do still to this day, particularly in relation to men.
Jack doesn't talk about what's happening at home, possibly to his own detriment, so he battles his demons alone. Likewise, Sean is also a carer and all too familiar with the tribulations Jack faces.
At its core Moustache Man has a real mission: to highlight the carer. We are hoping through our fundraising campaign and with the reach of this film, that the message that carers are not invincible, and they too need caring for, will be shared. We are keen to start a dialogue from which will emerge a wider awareness by representing the carer front and center on screen. It is this cause which drives the film and why we are so passionate to see it made.
This appeal is born from personal plight. Sean has spent his early twenties caring for his older brother and has experienced first hand the resilience and dependability that is required in a carer. Rather than let it consume him, Sean channeled the weight of his responsibilities into a marvelous script. And managed to make it funny! This makes the powerful message really palatable to a broader audience. This is why we are so ambitious to see it reach a lot of people both on the festival circuit and beyond.
2020 has also made this film even more important than ever. Thanks to Covid, carers have not had any freedom away from their duties. Their worries have increased, the support for them, monetarily and socially, has decreased. This film will show we are thinking of you, we understand, we care.
Sean Joseph Young - Jack
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1746737/
Mark Gatiss - The Boss
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0309693/
Mandeep Dhillon - Nell
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3778244/
Sean Joseph Young - Writer/Director
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1746737/
Hope Moon - Producer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8730284/
Priyanka Chavda - Producer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8568960/
Paul O’Connell - DOP
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1667936/
James Cleave - 1st AD
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4185873/
Chris Hyde - Associate Producer
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9236222/
Ryan Watson - Campaign DoP and Editor
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1714328/
We are so grateful to have reached our goal last week! The support so far has been incredible and we are very excited to be sharing the next steps of our project. Since reaching our initial goal we made the decision to add a stretch goal to further help with the costs of making this short film. From the very start, we made a conscious decision that everyone involved was to be paid fairly. We are now able to also provide them with support for expenses, something which we were limited too. Furthermore, though we had already factored in Covid costs including ensuring everyone who would be present on the set would be trained and equipped accordingly; we are now able to support cast and crew further. Ensuring we are in line with guidelines provided by the Government as well as organisations including ScreenSkills and the BFI.
£10 - social media shoutout!
£30 - final film livestreamed to you - plus filmmaker QnA!
£50 - Personalised signed scripts from Mark Gatiss and the cast!
£100 - 'Thank You' end credit on film + IMDB
£150 - Personal (probably virtual) invitation to visit set!
£250 - 'Associate Producer' end credit on film + IMDB
£500 - 'Executive Producer' end credit on film + IMDB
Follow us on social media to see exclusive behind the scenes journey from page to screen!
Insta: @MoustacheManFilm
Twitter: @MoustacheManSF
Facebook: @MoustacheManFilm
Please share and help spread the message: ‘WE CARE”.
Message from Sean:
I’d like to thank my brother, Daniel. For, without him, this film would not exist. This film would not exist if it wasn’t for his bravery, his strength, his good looks and his perseverance in the face of his demons. I hope to grow up to be as strong as you.
Finally, we would all like to thank you for donating. It is not just this film that you are supporting, but the message that carers are seen and appreciated. They are worthy of representation. Thank you for allowing a dialogue about the role of a carer on whose shoulders so much weight is beared. Thank you for caring.