Actors Wanted For Morris Co. Filmmakers' ‘Hookerman’ Movie

LONG VALLEY, NJ — Halloween is right around the corner, and for those who love to cozy up and watch spooky, suspenseful, and eerie movies this time of year, here’s your chance to be in one.

Long Valley filmmaker Antonio Sciortino and his production team, DreamScape Pictures, have announced a casting call for the upcoming short film “The Light Beyond The Tracks.”

The film is based on the story of The Hookerman, an urban legend said to haunt the Long Valley’s abandoned railroad tracks along Naughtright Road.

See Related: Local Filmmaker To Bring Long Valley Urban Legend To Screen

According to producer Sciortino, the film “is not a traditional horror film,” but “more of a suspenseful thriller, and we will also explore the origin of the legend.”

“I’ve always been fascinated by stories rooted in real places,” Sciortino said in a statement. “The Hookerman legend is part of our local DNA—this felt like the perfect story to bring to life on screen.”

Part of the project will be filmed on Cobblestone Lane in Long Valley, and other scenes will be shot at Donaldson Farms in Hackettstown, Sciortino said.

Fans may recognize Donaldson Farms from another one of Sciortino’s films, “Little Dreams,” as the film’s opening was shot there.

The production team is seeking to cast three boys and three girls, all between the ages of 17 and 21.

Interested actors and actresses should send a resume and headshot to Sciortino at cinematograficastudionj@gmail.com.

Sciortino said that once auditions are held and casting is completed, filming will begin shortly after.

The film will be directed by Shanna Heverly.

More From Patch: Actors Wanted For Long Valley Filmmaker’s Upcoming Series

Who is The Hookerman?

The folklore surrounding The Hookerman goes like this: A railroad worker tragically lost his arm in a train accident in the early 20th Century. The worker survived and replaced his lost limb with a hook, on which he hung a lantern.

Some versions of the story say The Hookerman wandered the tracks looking for his wedding ring, while other tales say he was looking for his missing arm.

One thing is agreed on among believers, however, that his ghostly lantern light can still be seen on the tracks to this day.

Weird NJ, a publication that shares content about urban myths, legends, and supernatural occurrences throughout the state, published an article in 2019 reporting on the legend.

The article features first-hand accounts of people claiming to have seen The Hookerman’s eerie light, and also proposes the idea that the lights people see are caused by a gas leak.

The video below follows a group of investigators looking to get to the bottom of The Hookerman legend in 2008: