Private Project

The Whale Guitar: Instrument of Change

Inspired by Herman Melville's epic tale, "Moby-Dick or The Whale", a late-blooming singer/songwriter and former toy designer, Jen Long, acts on a startling vision and commissions the design and build of a remarkable custom electric guitar. It's body is "The Whale" itself as it snags the mad Captain Ahab in the tangled ropes of his own obsession, and prepares to launch a boat of his whalers to their doom. The entire guitar reinterprets Melville's tale as an Anthropocene climate change warning, with the whale representing the seas and storms of climate change arising on this "third day" of late stage capitalism. Hundreds of guitarists, including J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr., and Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females, have played and signed this "Instrument of Change" to amplify the alarm to turn our ship of over-production and over-consumption around while there is still time. As the embroidered strap featuring Starbuck's last words implores: "oh! Ahab, not too late is it, even now, the third day, to desist."

  • Shawn Tetrault
    Director
  • Jen Long
    Writer
  • Jen Long
    Producer
  • Shawn Tetrault
    Producer
  • Mike Ryan
    Producer
  • Jen Long
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 22, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Motif Magazine Environmental Film Festival
    Providence
    United States
    April 13, 2022
    Work in Progress
    1st Place
  • LA Documentary Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 1, 2023
    Best Music and Sound
  • CHAIN Film Festival NYC
    New York
    United States
    August 6, 2023
    Selection
  • Rhode Island International Film Festival
    Providence
    United States
    August 10, 2023
    Selection
  • Equinox Mountain Environmental Film Festival

    United States
    September 22, 2023
    Selection
Director Biography - Shawn Tetrault

Shawn Tetrault is a dedicated filmmaker with over two decades of experience in various aspects of the production industry. Hailing from Warwick, Rhode Island, he has honed his skills as a videographer, editor, and content creator, all while maintaining a passion for independent narrative film, corporate media, podcasting production, graphic design, animation, and music video production.
Throughout his career, Shawn has continuously sought to build his expertise as a writer, director, editor, and cinematographer, while also gaining valuable experience in narrative storytelling, documentary work, and corporate presentations.
Shawn's journey has also led him to explore various other aspects of production, such as podcast production, live-streaming, graphic design, and motion graphics creation. Through his dedication and adaptability, he has been privileged enough to gain skills in multiple areas of the production process, including audio recording and post-editing.
His creative endeavors have extended to co-founding a podcast and working on compelling documentary-style projects. Shawn remains committed to pushing his boundaries, embracing continuous learning, and seeking opportunities to become an even more effective and skilled filmmaker.
With a modest and determined approach, Shawn Tetrault continues to pursue his passion for storytelling, always eager to contribute his talents to the world of film and visual media.

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