It’s a wrap for the shooting of feature film My Feral Heart – a touching story of a young, independent man who has Down’s Syndrome–which was all shot in Stambridge, Rochford and Rayleigh.

The star of the film is Steven Brandon, from Mersea, who in real life has Down’s Syndrome. His touching performance was said to have blown the production team away.

He plays Luke, who is the carer for his mother. When she suddenly dies, he is put into a rural care home.

Luke feels like a fish out of water as he doesn’t need caring for, so often sneaks out. It’s then that hemakes an unusual discovery and stumbles across awild and life-changing friendship.

The film is now in its post-production stages, and has just been submitted to the Cannes film festival, with Bafta Award-winning composer Barrington Pheloungworking on the soundtrack.

Steven, 33, dreamt of being an actor for years.

“I wanted to be in EastEnders,” he said, clearly a fan of the soap. “I sawan advert for Mushroom Theatre company in a brochure and decided I wanted to go.”

Mushroom Theatre, inRayleigh, is a fully-inclusive theatre company, intergrating able-bodied performers alongside disabled children, or those with special needs.

It was when Duncan Paveling, the writer of the film from Westcliff, and director Jane Gull, who grewup in Rochford, were researching for the film and visited Mushroom Theatre, they discovered Steven.

After working with the Mushroom Theatre team and Steven’s father to make sure he could cope with the film’s demands, it was time for Steven to have a go at reading the script and trying out for the film.

Steven said: “I didn’t find it hard, but when we filmed, the days were quite tiring because theywere long.”

Steven added that some scenes, such as the funeral shoot, were hard emotionally, because he had to drawon personal experiences.

“That’s what actors do,” he said. “I thought about my grandad dying, which made me cry.”

Steven’s dad, Mike Brandon, whowas on set every day of the shoot, added: “They couldn’t believe Steven could do everything in one take.”

Amanda Hart,amember of staff at Mushroom Theatre whowas also on hand both on and off screen, said: “We saw some of the film during the wrap party and we were crying – Steven is really acting! He is brilliant!”

Tomorrow isWorlds Down’s Syndrome Day – a global awareness daywhich has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

Through the campaign, people all over the world are encouraged to help raise awareness of what Down’s syndrome is, what it means to have Down’s syndrome, and howpeople with Down’s syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

Duncan Paveling, writer of the film, said: “I stood chatting to Mike (Steven’s dad) in a very cold barn in Stambridge while we were filming. It was clear how proud Mikewas of Steven, as well as grateful of the opportunity the film presented for him. At the time, I recall feeling just as grateful myself – as I knowall involved were – as to the wonderful individual and personality Steven is.

“Mikewent on to share a story of how when Stevenwas born a doctor had told him Stevenwould never amount to anything. I think it’s safe to say he has been proved so verywrong.

“My Feral Heart has never been a film about disability – in fact, quite the opposite, it’s all about ability.”