PITCH SHEET
Genre: Action Comedy
Title: To Catch a Fish

High Concept: (25 words or less)
What if the only thing standing between corporate greed and saving your family’s legacy… was a broken-down boat, a homemade lure, and desperation?

Logline:
Outgunned, underfunded, and totally unqualified, a shy 20-year-old and his band of fishing misfit must conquer the cutthroat world of competitive tournament fishing to stop a land-grabbing greedy banker from taking his grandparents' cherished lakeside sanctuary.

Elevator Pitch:
I have this action filled comedy called To Catch a Fish that answers the question - What if the only thing standing between corporate greed and saving your family’s legacy… was a broken-down boat, a homemade lure, and desperation?

Phone Pitch: (30 seconds)
I’ve got a commercial, character-driven action comedy called To Catch a Fish, that answers the question… What if the only thing standing between corporate greed and saving your family’s legacy… was a broken-down boat, a homemade lure, and desperation.
It’s a fresh sports underdog story set in the competitive fishing world — with quirky characters, high-stakes laughs, and a heartfelt family themes.
Think Happy Gilmore meets Grumpy Old Men, in the vein of Dodgeball:
It’s an underdog sports comedy where a misfit hero enters an absurdly competitive world to save his family home meeting the small-town charm, nature-based lakeside setting of Grumpy Old Men, It provides a heartfelt, high-energy comedy full of oddball characters, generational conflict, and big laughs with real stakes

Live/Zoom Pitch (3 minute or less)
I’ve written a character-driven action comedy called To Catch a Fish. Peter Villard is a character-driven screenwriter with a background in writing. His work blends heartfelt storytelling with unique, commercially viable worlds.
It’s about a timid 20-year-old named Lanny Flank who must enter the high-stakes world of competitive team fishing — of all things — to stop a greedy banker from stealing his grandparents’ lakeside home and the untouched forest that surrounds it.
Think Happy Gilmore meets Grumpy Old Men
Lanny transforms from a quiet recluse into an aggressive, out-of-nowhere competitor. He’s up against Credit Bills, the son of the ruthless developer who rigs the system, controls the town, and isn’t above sabotage.
Lanny has no confidence, no team, and no idea how brutal and bizarre the tournament is — but to save the only place that’s ever felt like home, he has to outwit the pros, master the chaos, and find his voice — on the water and off.
Producer’s Questions:
Production Budget: Based on research of the comp movies with “A” listers, I would guess that the budget may fall in the area of 15 to 20 million dollars.
• Happy Gilmore = 12 million
• Grumpy Old Men = 35 million
• Dodgeball = 20 million:
• McFarland USA = 17 million
• The Grand Seduction = 13 million
• Cool Runnings = 14 millions
1. Where do you see a home for this project?
Netflix
They love quirky, heartfelt underdog comedies (The Out-Laws, Hustle) and have a global appetite for small-town charm with universal stakes.
Amazon Prime Video
They’re investing in unique, character-driven stories with broad appeal — The Peanut Butter Falcon and Troop Zero are great comps.
Hulu
Known for genre hybrids and offbeat comedy (Palm Springs, Vacation Friends), Hulu could embrace the oddball sports angle.
Apple TV+
They excel at emotionally uplifting stories with humor (CODA, Ted Lasso). The generational angle and heart of this story would resonate with their brand.
Sony Pictures / Columbia (Theatrical or Streaming)
Sony has a strong track record with sports comedies and heartfelt underdog films (A League of Their Own, Here Comes the Boom).
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2. Casting Ideas (3 actors per role)
Lanny Flank – shy, awkward 20-year-old protagonist
• Lucas Hedges – excels at vulnerable, quiet characters (Manchester by the Sea)
• Noah Jupe – expressive, emotionally complex young actor (Honey Boy, A Quiet Place)
• Caleb Landry Jones – can bring internal struggle and slow-burn transformation (Get Out, Nitram)
Why they’d want it: Lanny has a full emotional arc, screen time dominance, and a redemptive payoff — a real actor's role.
Bill Bills – slick, ruthless banker/developer
• Walton Goggins – charismatic and dangerous with a comedic edge (Justified, The Righteous Gemstones)
• Jake Gyllenhaal – plays charming sociopaths well (Nightcrawler, Okja)
• Matthew McConaughey – magnetic villain potential with Southern charm (The Gentlemen, Wolf of Wall Street)
Why they’d want it: Scene-stealing villain with range — dramatic, manipulative, and hilarious.
Maxine Flank – warm, wise, unflappable grandmother
• Sally Field – nurturing yet strong presence (Maniac, Forrest Gump)
• Margo Martindale – perfect blend of heart and humor (The Americans, Sneaky Pete)
• Frances McDormand – powerful without overplaying (Nomadland, Three Billboards)
Why they’d want it: A richly layered role in a supporting matriarch with comedic and emotional depth.
Hollis Flank – stoic grandfather, nature-connected
• Sam Elliott – the definitive quiet cowboy (1883, The Hero)
• Jeff Bridges – soulful and grounded (The Old Man, Crazy Heart)
• Tommy Lee Jones – crusty, authentic, perfect for rural gravitas
Why they’d want it: A subtle, dignified role rooted in tradition, ideal for legacy actors.
Jill – guarded but strong, the emotional anchor for Lanny
• Kaitlyn Dever – strong yet vulnerable (Dopesick, Booksmart)
• Sophie Thatcher – emotionally rich performances (Yellowjackets)
• Thomasin McKenzie – layered performances with heart (Jojo Rabbit, Leave No Trace)
Why they’d want it: Jill has trauma, toughness, and a quiet romance arc — emotionally rewarding and complex.
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3. Successful Comps
• Happy Gilmore – High stakes sports competition
• Grumpy Old Men – Small rural town with lakes and fishing backdrop.
• Dodgeball – over-the-top team competition, absurd yet emotional
• McFarland, USA – small-town sports drama with family/community stakes
• The Grand Seduction – charming scheming, small-town resistance vs. corporate greed
• Cool Runnings – underdog sports team from outside the system
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4. One-Sentence Industry Answers
Why this project?
To Catch a Fish combines a fresh sports setting with an emotionally rich coming-of-age journey and underdog victory — it’s heartfelt, hilarious, and highly castable.
Why now?
Audiences are hungry for uplifting, character-driven stories that offer hope, humor, and heart without relying on IP — and this delivers all three.
Why am I the right person to write it?
I write stories grounded in human vulnerability and transformation, and To Catch a Fish draws directly from personal experience with rural life, family, and identity.


Query Letter:
Subject: Query: Action-Comedy Feature – "To Catch a Fish"
Dear [Manager/Producer's Name],
I’m reaching out to share my original action-comedy feature To Catch a Fish, a spirited underdog story with heart, humor, and a splash of romance—think Happy Gilmore meets Grumpy Old Men, in the Vein of Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story.

What if the only way to stop a land grab… was competitive fishing?
Lanny is a brilliant but socially awkward 20-year-old who’s never taken a real risk in his life—until a corrupt small-town banker rigs the system to force foreclosure on his grandparents’ untouched wilderness sanctuary. Desperate to stop him, Lanny enters the last place he belongs: the unpredictable, cutthroat world of professional team fishing.

They know nothing about winning—except they have no choice.
Lanny and his oddball crew of misfit anglers must overcome sabotage, humiliation, and their own fears to out fish the pros and win the grand prize. But the deeper they get into the tournament, the more Lanny discovers: this banker’s scheme isn’t just legal—it's unstoppable unless someone makes a scene big enough to expose it all.

Will they save the land—or go down with the boat?
Set against the backdrop of a peaceful Midwestern Lake ruled by a ruthless banker, To Catch a Fish blends comedic misadventures, local charm, and an uplifting message about family, courage, and fighting for what matters. The story also features a sweet cross-family romance and a satisfying David-vs-Goliath payoff that audiences of all ages can root for.

The screenplay is complete and available upon request. I believe it would appeal to fans of ensemble comedies with heart and small-town flair, and I’d love the opportunity to share it with you.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards,
Peter Villard, AIA
pvil04@comcast.net
651-343-2604
WGA Registration #2309371