Filming has wrapped on a director's first feature film about men's mental health, shot in just eight days.

Peter Tyrrell, from Gravesend, has directed his company Pink Pebble Productions' first feature film, Should Have Waited, which follows family-man Paul as his mental health deteriorates and his life falls apart.

Peter met producer Joyce Chang and director of photography David Veitch "years ago", and said the three of them "clicked really well". They began working together by making a commercial, a short film called Pebble Stones, and a music video for Surrey musician Madeline Castrey, who has written the soundtrack to the trio's new feature film.

Following the pandemic, the three creative minds set up their company Pink Pebble Productions, and set to work on their new feature film. Producer Joyce chose the "Pink" of Pink Pebble Productions, to symbolise the company's support of women in film.

Peter first wrote the script for the film around eight years ago, although at the time it was just a few pages long.

The 39-year-old said: "My initial motivation to write it was because there are two routes to progress within film – either use famous people or have a script for festivals which evokes strong emotions.

"My mum died six years ago due to cancer, and I didn't grieve. Six months later, I was forced to take time off work, and I lost my girlfriend, my house and my job. All I had left was guilt and extreme anxiety.

"I still remember looking down from London Bridge, wondering if anything was worth it anymore.

"When we adapted the script ready to make, I put so much added realism into the film – from my life and how I felt, how I was as a person – and to this day I still feel like mental health is a very taboo subject that people don't like to talk about."

Joyce said of the film's plot: "Our film is about mental health. It's about a family man whose world sort of crashes down around him, and his state of mind just deteriorates quite rapidly. With the film we just want to spread some awareness for mental health.

"Hopefully for the people who watch the film, it will have a bit of an impact on them, so it makes them think about how they treat people, like on a day-to-day basis.

"We hope that as many people as possible watch this. That's what it's all about really, we just want to make an impact, and make people more aware of mental health. Being kind matters and every mind matters – just look after yourself."

The film's message is a personal subject for many of the cast and crew, including Essex mum-of-two Tracey Edwards, who plays bartender Alex.

She said: "The film is very close to my heart. Very, very close. I have suffered with mental health myself for many years, but three years ago, sadly I lost my nephew through mental health. It's a very, very sad time, it's something you don't ever get over.

"That's why this film is so, so important to me, because it gets the message across, about how mental health still isn't recognised as much as it should be.

"Although people are more aware of it, it still needs more awareness, because we are losing too many people through mental health, and sadly, children as well.

"So this film really makes people stop and think, that if they're seeing someone acting a bit different or their mannerisms are a bit different, that they might be suffering with their mental health, and reach out to them.

"I hope it makes people think more and realise more, and think, 'hang on, my friend was acting a bit funny the other day, I wonder if he or she is okay, perhaps I should ask, perhaps I should reach out.'"

Actor Rico Morris, who has played the lead in a number of short films, and supporting roles in several feature films, portrays lead character Paul. He said: "As we know a lot of men suffer in silence, and it's very relatable.

"I've been through my own mental health issues, like we all do really. It's a story that needs to be told and I'm happy that I was chosen to tell the story.

"I just hope that the message, without giving away what happens, I want people to speak about any problems they're going through, and understand that bad things happen to everyone and it's not the end of the world.

"There's a support network there for everyone, whether it be friends, family, or there's people you can call, charities. I don't want there to be such a stigma around it."

Tresor Cedric, who plays Paul's best friend John, has also played a lead role in the 2015 film Last Word, which won awards in Ghana. He said: "It's kind of like a taboo that men don't cry and all of that. So that kind of drew me to it, that we get to experience this film through a man's eyes.

"My hope is that as people are watching this film, they understand that as men we do bottle up our emotions, but that's because, in a weird way, we do live in this catch-22 world.

"We get told to talk about our feelings, but when we do, we get put down or we get ridiculed. So if we talk about our feelings and we get ridiculed, what's the point of talking about our feelings, you know?

"So I hope that people that watch this, they'll see that the internal struggle, the internal battle of trying to keep everything together, it's a massive mental battle."

The company set up an indiegogo page to help fund their film. However Peter, Joyce and David will not make any money from the profits and hope to reach a£30,000 target to cover the payment of the cast and crew.

To see things such as storyboard postcards, premiere tickets and props click here.

Peter said: "We are seeking funding for our film but despite us not raising the money for the film, we promised ourselves, our crew and our actors we will still make a film, and we are paying everyone too."

To help film within a budget, Peter crafted a make-shift fruit machine and a rain machine to use during scenes.

The company also hired people who do not have much experience. Peter said: "We love to give chances to lesser-known cast and crew first and foremost, as long as their audition is believable or their ambition to learn their craft is good.

"We had two production assistants sent to us from an employment and training scheme called Orange Bow. Although they didn’t have a lot of experience, they were willing to learn."

Joyce said: "I feel like in this industry, often friendships are built and connections are built, and then if you're going to apply for a role, they always give the opportunities to their friends, and the next time there's a production, the same people come on, and it's just like a cycle that never ends.

"And for the people who don't have much experience, they don't get much of a look-in. So what we wanted to do really was just let anyone apply, it didn't even have to be someone with much acting experience. If they're right for the role, and if their acting is great, then they could just come on board.

"And we support women in film. Obviously I'm female and I'm the producer. We just want to break through the stereotypes and just whatever we do, let women have more of a role in this industry."

Other members of the crew included photographer Madga Szotek, who has had her projects exhibited in the UK and Spain, make-up artist Maya Vanderlist, who has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and former chef turned make-up artist Andreea Vladaea.

Sound mixer for the film, Thanos Sarafis, has previously worked in independent productions for nine years, as a sound engineer, session musician, and film producer.

Musican Madeline Castrey made the film's soundtrack. She has a background in West End theatre and was the first ever 16 year old to be admitted onto a degree course at the London College of Music.

Alongside Rico Morris, Tresor Cedric, and Tracey Edwards, the cast also includes producer Joyce Chang, who portrays Paul's wife, also named Joyce.

Actor Chris Hudson plays Paul's manager Jack, and actress and songwriter Iveta Drulyte portrays Jack's wife Jenny. Lauren Carver, who has recently landed a role in the second series of a Netflix show airing this year, plays a character named Janet.

Paul's daughter Maddie is played by Isabella Nightingale-Mercado, whose theatre credits include Annie, Footloose and the Wizard of Oz. His parents, Jeff and Julie, are played by Tony Clarke and Joy Isa, respectively.

Peter said: "There are no words to describe how I feel to finally make my film a reality. Joyce and David have been amazing, along with the cast and crew, but my vision for this film, and to see every idea coming to life on screen is like an unimaginable dream.

"We shot a scene where David was the client, so I was using the camera while he was in a few scenes. I'd had a vision of the shot for months, and I shot four takes of what I had envisioned. After the fourth shot, I was so, so excited that I knew I had the shot."

The cast and crew shot the entire film over eight days, while everyone continued with their day jobs, filming at each of the film's locations for just one day.

Filming began on October 10 at the Prince of Wales pub in Belvedere, Bexley, and wrapped at the end of October.

Peter hopes to release the feature for Mental Health Awareness Week – from May 15 to 21, 2023 – and push the film to festivals including Raindance, Sundance, Cannes, and BFI London.

He said if even one member of the cast or crew received an accolade, the company would have a boost when creating their next film.

Although Peter is a chef by day, he hopes to be able to "make films forever".