9 November 2026 | By Molly Lipson
Tim Lane has released a teaser clip from his short film directorial debut, Mr Pisspants. Painfully awkward Mr Patrick 'Pisspants' Pearson can’t control his class, land a joke or string a sentence together around Polly, the colleague he secretly loves. Then a sharp student offers him a deal: she’ll help him win Polly over if he helps her cheat her A-levels. Their reckless arrangement becomes an unlikely friendship…what could go wrong?
At its heart, Mr Pisspants is a story about two lost souls, both struggling in their own ways, who find themselves helping each other navigate the awkwardness of life. It's a comedy, but I wanted there to be warmth and sincerity beneath the humour,” says Lane. With comedic dialogue by co-writer and star of the film Ralph Jones, this is Lane’s first short film following twenty years in the industry as an award-winning creative director and filmmaker. He’s the founder of creative studio Lane + Co and previously worked at Penguin Random House where he established the Penguin Creative tea.
"Visually, I wanted to capture the look and feel of independent cinema from the 1990s and early 2000s. We approached every shot with this in mind, using vintage lenses from the 1980s, considered lighting, and carefully chosen locations, costumes and props to create a distinctive, almost nostalgic aesthetic,” he says.
You can watch the exclusive teaser clip below.