A comedy about companionship and the strange people met along the way. 

A Feature Film written, directed & produced by Dena Darvish Derakhshan.

A self-professed slacker in Los Angeles is forced to watch his friend’s dog for five days.

What begins as a quick favor in return for some quick bucks, unfolds into a journey through the strange social landscape of lonely gig workers in big cities. Awkward dog owners, unpredictable encounters, public confrontations, absurd situations, and moments of unexpected humanity in between.

But underneath the comedy is something deeper: A man and a dog refusing to give up on each other.

The Story

Max is unmotivated, directionless, and but fully capable of taking care of himself and only himself. When he suddenly becomes responsible for Lucky, his friend's dog, his life is disrupted in every possible way.

As Max navigates parks, sidewalks, apartments, stores, and the eccentric personalities of Los Angeles pet culture, he’s forced into situations that are uncomfortable, hilarious, and sometimes dangerous.

What starts as irritation slowly becomes a true connection. Lucky becomes more than a responsibility. He becomes Max’s only real companion.

When real danger appears, Max discovers he is willing to protect Lucky at all costs and always the willing friend, Lucky protects him too.

Why DOGSITTER Works

DOGSITTER combines character-driven comedy, relatable urban frustration, emotional companionship, social satire, Los Angeles culture, and broad audience appeal through pets and human relationships.

This is not just a “dog movie”. It's a comedy about modern isolation, human behavior, responsibility, and friendship. All told through the unique lens of pet ownership culture in Los Angeles.

Tone & Audience

DOGSITTER balances awkward comedy, emotional realism, and unpredictable street-level encounters.

The film appeals to: comedy lovers, pet owners, independent film audiences, younger urban viewers, fans of authentic Los Angeles storytelling.

Production & Financing

DOGSITTER is designed as a scalable independent feature film with strong commercial potential.

Estimated Budget

$1 million total production plus $500,000 in the marketing budget.

Current Financing Goal

Seeking: Initial target raise of $500,000. We are almost 1/5th there to begin production.

We are seeking: Executive Producers, Co-Producers, Private Investors, Distribution Partners, and Product Placement Opportunities.

Existing Materials

The project currently includes: a completed screenplay, a concept scene with local actors, business planning presentations, investor presentations, and creative direction and visual development guides.

Why This Film Matters

People today need original stories like DOGSITTER. The film explores companionship in a world filled with tension, overstimulation, loneliness, and absurd public behaviors. At its core, the film asks, "What happens when the only dependable relationship in your life is with a dog?".

Investment & Industry Inquiries

For production, financing, partnership, or distribution inquiries:

lucky@dogsittermovie.com

I want you to offer me a longstanding deal.

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I do have other feature screenplays written and ready to go.

denaderakhshan.com 

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Embedded teaser or sizzle reel

Director statement

Moodboard/stills

“Why now?” market positioning section

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IMDb and social media links

Press kit PDF download

Investor deck download

Festival strategy section

A professionally cut 60–90 second teaser improve investor response.