This short film, produced by Wacky Hat Productions, was filmed on location at the New Bedford Port Society’s Seamen’s Bethel. Rather than serving only as a backdrop, the Bethel plays an active role in the film. Its aisles, pews, and quiet presence help anchor the story in a place that has long welcomed people seeking meaning, understanding, and moments of pause.
About the Film
The film follows a man who reluctantly recounts an experience that still unsettles him. After attending what he believes to be a Moby-Dick Marathon, he instead finds himself witnessing a toddler wedding. What unfolds is a story that is humorous, strange, and unexpectedly thoughtful.
Told as a reflection after the fact, the film captures the feeling of trying to make sense of an event that resists easy explanation. The narrator’s discomfort and disbelief are familiar emotions, reminding viewers of moments in their own lives when expectations gave way to something entirely unplanned.
The presence of children in ceremonial roles adds an additional layer of innocence and surreal humor. The film gently challenges adult assumptions about ritual, meaning, and memory, inviting viewers to sit with uncertainty rather than rush to resolution.
The Setting
The choice to film at the Seamen’s Bethel was intentional. The Bethel has long been a space where stories intersect, from mariners traveling across oceans to visitors passing through New Bedford. It is a place connected to Herman Melville and to the enduring legacy of Moby-Dick, making it a fitting setting for a story about mistaken destinations and unexpected encounters.
Within these walls, the idea of arriving in the wrong place takes on symbolic meaning. The Bethel becomes a space between intention and outcome, seriousness and absurdity, tradition and reinterpretation. The film draws on that tension, allowing the setting to quietly shape the tone of the story.
Creative Team
Directed by
Drew Furtado
Screenwriters
Drew Furtado
Chris Gauthier
Amanda Pedersen
Child Wranglers
Nora Furtado
Steve Krol
Sara Krol
Patrick Stone
Crystal Stone
Nicole Motta
Cast
Chris Gauthier
Amanda Pedersen
Albert Furtado
Noelle Krol
Marshall Stone
Lake Stone
Maple Stone
Norman Furtado
Penelope Krol
Jane Motta
Grace Motta
The involvement of families and children both on screen and behind the scenes helped shape the film’s tone. Great care was taken to create a respectful and supportive environment during filming, especially within a historic and sacred space such as the Seamen’s Bethel.
Thank you for taking time during your visit to the Seamen’s Bethel to engage with this piece of contemporary storytelling. By watching, you become part of an ongoing tradition of stories shared within these walls, connecting past and present in unexpected ways.