Massachusetts Mystery Filming in Fairhaven, Dartmouth Finally Has an Answer

People enjoying the shoreline in South Dartmouth and at West Island Beach in Fairhaven this past weekend may have noticed cameras rolling, portions of the beach blocked off and actors dressed in period clothing moving around the coast.

It turns out the filming was for a new short film project called Cuffee Taxed, centered around the true story of Captain Paul Cuffee, a Black and Indigenous mariner whose roots trace directly back to the SouthCoast.

According to writer, producer and director Anita Allison, crews spent Saturday filming at a private South Dartmouth residence near Russell’s Mill and the Slocum’s River before wrapping up Sunday at West Island Beach in Fairhaven. The locations weren’t random choices, either. Allison explained that the Slocum’s River was actually one of the waterways Cuffee himself sailed during his lifetime.

The SouthCoast Story of Captain Paul Cuffee

If the name Paul Cuffee sounds vaguely familiar, there’s a reason. While his story isn’t always front-and-center in history books, Cuffee played a major role in Massachusetts history and beyond.

Born on Cuttyhunk in 1759, Cuffee later lived in what is now my hometown of Westport, which at the time was still part of Dartmouth. He became a wealthy and influential ship captain with a fleet of vessels staffed by Black and Indigenous crews, something nearly unheard of during that era. Allison described him as someone who "continually reinvested his wealth back into his community and fought for opportunity and self-determination for Black Americans".

Cuffee also made history as the first Black man to meet with a sitting U.S. president and helped establish the country’s first interracial schoolhouse. Later in life, he became heavily involved in efforts to help formerly enslaved people relocate to Sierra Leone in West Africa, years before the movement became more widely known nationally.

Why Anita Allison Felt Compelled to Tell His Story

Allison, who has family ties to Marion and grew up spending time on the SouthCoast, said she first discovered Paul Cuffee through an exhibit at the New Bedford Whaling Museum.

After learning more about him, she fell down what she called a “rabbit hole” researching his life and accomplishments. She said the project became deeply personal after realizing how inspirational and relevant Cuffee’s story still feels today.

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Rather than making a traditional historical drama, Allison described Cuffee Taxed as an adventurous, fourth-wall-breaking film aimed at younger audiences while still honoring local history.

SouthCoast Premiere Planned for August

The short film is expected to premiere August 13 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum with both a public screening and a fundraising gala planned.

For many locals, the filming may have started as a mystery this weekend. Now it’s shaping up to become something much bigger: a spotlight on a fascinating SouthCoast figure whose story deserves far more attention than it gets.