Mr. Bean

Joins The Empire

Fan Film

Project Overview

Mr. Bean Joins The Empire is a 24-minute crossover fan film that brings the world of Mr. Bean into the Star Wars universe. Written by Cedric Grafas, the script reimagines four classic Mr. Bean sketches as an homage to both franchises.

 

The project was my first narrative film of this scale. Produced entirely as an unpaid passion project, we filmed across three locations over four days with a five-person crew and completed post-production over the following three months during evenings and weekends. Post-Production crew was two heads strong.

 

The film premiered on the big screen at the official screening at the Fantasy Basel in 2024, followed by a live interview panel. Experiencing the audience laugh at the moments we carefully refined remains one of the most rewarding moments of the entire production.

Directing the Production

Besides directing the cast, I was responsible for storyboarding, shot planning, and creating the shooting schedule.

 

The greatest directing challenge was comedy. The original Mr. Bean sketches rely on precise timing. Every gesture, pause, and reaction in our film had to feel deliberate without appearing rehearsed. Achieving that rhythm required careful communication with the actors and constant attention to pacing throughout filming.

 

With no production budget, the enthusiasm of both cast and crew became one of the project’s greatest strengths. Everyone volunteered their time, and many contributed their my knowledge of Star Wars lore to help maintain authenticity and continuity. Working with practical locations also meant carefully framing and adapting each environment so it felt like a believable part of the Star Wars universe rather than simply a place we happened to film in.

Creating the World

Beyond directing, I handled dialogue editing, ADR recording, sound design, foley, sound mixing, VFX, compositing, title animation, and rotoscoping for the opening sequence and first sketch.

 

None of the production audio ultimately made it into the finished film. Instead, the entire soundtrack – including dialogue, ambience, foley, and effects – was recreated in my studio. Most sound effects were performed and recorded using everyday objects chosen to match the physical behavior of the originals. Bags, clocks, bells, and various other items became the raw materials for building the film’s sonic world. One unexpected challenge was constructing a believable audience laugh track from multiple recordings, blending them into what feels like a single crowd without obvious repetition.

I recreated the iconic Mr. Bean opening by carefully studying the original sequence and reverse-engineering the techniques used to produce it. Additional compositing work included seamlessly removing signage and objects from locations while integrating Imperial graphics into the environment.

 

Many practical effects were built specifically for the production. I achieved the burning book effect using a modified stage illusion. I engineered a concealed ignition system from a disassembled electric lighter, remotely igniting a fuel source inside a specially prepared prop.

 

Multiple hero books were built for different purposes; readable study books filled with technical diagrams from the Star Wars universe, a reusable cutaway prop, and a dedicated effects version.