Experiencing Interruptions?

Gramps and Toby

Fishing on Highland Lake has always been a joy for “GRAMPS”, a classic “Boomer”. His granddaughter TOBY (9) pays a visit this weekend to his lakeside cabin in the woods. With no television and just a cell phone for gaming and social media, Toby reluctantly agrees to spend a day fishing with Gramps; a first-ever fishing event for Toby.
A beautiful, colorful fall day as Gramps rows, SWEET MELISSA, his trusty old row boat to various fishing spots on the lake. It isn’t a productive day. No fish landings. None the less, Toby has learned, quite readily, how to cast a crank bait accurately.
BUT, fishless, not even a bite, Toby is frustrated and resorts to her cell phone to manage the boredom.
The day on the lake is abound with various animal activity sightings. Gramps ensures that Toby witnesses and takes note of all: A blue heron hunting, Canadian geese in flight, cormorants staging, muskrats playing, a bear cub swimming, a large curious snapping turtle and finally a swooping eagle. Toby feigns lack of interest as the day fades.
Her crank bait rests on the surface fifteen feet from the boat just to the left of a sunken tree stump. Suddenly, Toby’s crank bait disappears. Her line goes taut and her rod bends almost in half. The reel’s drag screams as Toby is lifted from her seat.
Toby holds on for all she’s worth. Gramps hugs Toby at the waist preventing her from going overboard. A huge largemouth bass leaps skyward and submerges again. A second magnificent leap and the crank bait ejects from the fish’s mouth. Gone.
A quiet disappointment reigns and continues during the silent row back to the cabin.
Gramps secures Sweet Melissa to the dock. Meekly, Toby suggests a second day of fishing. Gramps agrees as they walk to shore.

  • Bill Thibeault
    Director
    I'm Phil
  • Ronald Pergola
    Writer
    I'm Phil
  • Bill Thibeault
    Producer
    I'm Phil
  • Ashlyn Hyde
    Key Cast
    "Toby"
  • Bill Thibeault
    Key Cast
    "Gramps"
    I'm Phil
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    6 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    100 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Bill Thibeault

Bill Thibeault is a life long singer/songwriter/musician, and now, first time film maker, from Norwich, CT. He’s also a Vietnam Veteran and survivor of the worst naval disaster of the Vietnam War. He lost 74 of his shipmates on June 3, 1969 when his ship USS Frank E. Evans collided with the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne . Even though they were in the Vietnam War, the 74 names are not on the Vietnam Wall because the collision happened outside the combat zone. In 2018 Congress passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to get the names on the wall but it did not pass in the Senate.
Hearing this news frustrated Bill and being a singer/songwriter, he wrote a song in July 2018 called “Recognition” about the Evans and the lost 74. It was released it on an album of the same name in January, 2019.
In January of 2021 at the age of 71, Bill decided to do something new and bought a camera. He started learning about film making and just finished his first short film called "I'm Phil". His goal is to produce a feature film about the sinking of his ship, the USS Frank E. Evans and the loss of his 74 shipmates.

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