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The Patriot Printer - Background Information

The Patriot Printer film is a dramatic recreation of Isaiah Thomas publishing the May 3, 1775, issue of The Massachusetts Spy. Although the film seeks to be as historically accurate as possible, including incorporating some of Thomas’s actual own words in the spoken dialogue, the production does take some liberties for the sake of dramatic license.

The Patriot Printer was filmed in the printing office at Historic Deerfield, in Deerfield, Massachusetts in the autumn of 2005. When Thomas smuggled his press out of Boston in the spring of 1775, he set it up in the basement of Timothy Bigelow’s home in Worcester. That structure no longer exists. The filmmakers chose Historic Deerfield to show the type of equipment that a Colonial printer would have used and to give some indication of how an eighteenth century printing press operated.

The opening sequence with Thomas holding a pistol and speaking of the need for paper and gun powder is the invention of the filmmakers. Although it is possible, there is no evidence that Thomas owned a gun or kept one in his work space. However, he was frequently threatened by the Royal Authorities and his printing press was threatened with destruction. He himself does describe being present at Lexington and Concord but he does not specifically mention taking up arms and fighting. The Massachusetts countryside certainly was alarmed throughout the spring of 1775, with many residents concerned about a retaliatory attack from the King’s troops. Thomas was clearly a firebrand as is evident by his words and his actions as a printer. This opening sequence reflects the spirit of both Thomas and this particular moment in American history.

Cast (In order of appearance)

• Isaiah Thomas - Neil Gustafson
• First post rider - Terri Carlson
• Second post rider - Brian Mahan

Crew

• Camera - Dave Bartlett
• Sound Engineer - Sound Engineer
• Make up Artist - Jeremy Oneail
• Production Assistant - Dawn Michaud
• Director - Joel Westbrook

Writer/Producer

• James David Moran

Executive Producers

• Peter B. Kaufman
• James David Moran

Special Thanks to:

• Dave Charron
• Colonial Williamsburg
• Cottage Antiques
• Historic Deerfield, Inc.
• Old Sturbridge Village
• WGBY-TV
• Eric Workman
• MAS. XV REG.
• Produced by
• Intelligent Television