Louis Rocky Bacigalupo, a graduate of Jefferson Township High School, has found success in the film industry, and a pilot episode he wrote and acted in for his original series "The Mortician" is now available on Amazon Prime.

JEFFERSON -- When Louis Rocky Bacigalupo was a student at Jefferson Township High School, he said, he was not involved much within the school's music or dramatic programs.

Bacigalupo, 26, who grew up in the township's Lake Hopatcong section, has since found success in the film industry, and a pilot episode he wrote and acted in for his original series "The Mortician" is now available on Amazon Prime.

Bacigalupo's show, which was discovered at the Independent Television and Film Festival in Manchester, Vt., has left viewers asking for more episodes following the pilot's cliffhanger. Bacigalupo said he has subsequent seasons lined up once he has acquired funding to film them.

"I like creating series and making shows," said Bacigalupo, who after drafting "The Mortician" finalized his script within three weeks.

Bacigalupo graduated from Jefferson Township High School in 2010 and the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts in 2017. While in high school, he leaned more toward music as a guitarist and bass player, performing with the bands Free Movie Tuesday and Above All Fallen. He has acted in a range of roles in independent films and television; "The Mortician" is his first credit as a writer and producer.

"The Mortician" is a serialized drama and psychological thriller that focuses on its troubled lead, "Laurence," played by Bacigalupo. Laurence gains control of his father's funeral home and sparks the suspicion of a local priest, "Alastair." The series has been described as American Southern Gothic in style, with Western-style, larger-than-life characters.

Bacigalupo adapted his script, originally written with the Northern New Jersey area in mind, after approaching Texas-based Rear Naked Studios with the project. The film was mostly shot over a period of three weeks in 2018 on location in Texas, which Bacigalupo said is an area known for lower production costs and fewer filming restrictions.

"I loved the storyline for Louis' script," producer Simone Tan said. "We don't just pick any scripts. The storyline is great, and he's really good with developing the characters."

Tan, who worked with director Ramsey Attia on the project, said she envisions "The Mortician" as a series also suitable for AMC or Netflix.

Bacigalupo handpicked the cast and was one of the show's executive producers. His co-stars are actors who, like Bacigalupo, spend their time auditioning for and acting in a range of projects. One of them is Alastair Wharton, 29, who grew up in a small Australian village, Numeralla. Wharton first studied filmmaking in Sydney, before relocating to New York, where he met Bacigalupo. Wharton's character, who is also named Alastair, is a young religious leader who finds himself torn by his attraction to a female character, "Sadie."

"This was a really meaty role, and I really enjoyed playing this character," Wharton said.

With the pilot picked up by Amazon Prime, Wharton believes "The Mortician" "could really fit in well with their lineup."

"I think Louis is a great talent and he gets stuff done," Wharton said, "so if the rest of the series does get picked up, I know he'll deliver something good, and I hope I'll be a part of it."

Carly Wilkins, 25, was cast as Sadie, the love interest of Bacigalupo's Laurence and the source of character Alastair's conflicted heart. Wilkins, who is from Juliustown in Burlington County, also met Bacigalupo on a previous joint acting project. She said Bacigalupo was then working on "The Mortician" script; he invited her to read for Sadie and then cast Wilkins in the role.

"I fell in love with the role of Sadie," said Wilkins, who said she related to Sadie's journey as a small town girl.

Wilkins made the move to New York to begin as an actress and recognized Sadie's struggles in her character development. Sadie falls for Laurence, who is considered the town's "bad boy."

Wilkins said many of her previous acting experiences have been as a stage actress, but her work in "The Mortician" has now kicked open the door and she was since cast into roles in two other pilot episodes.

To view "The Mortician" on Amazon Prime, visit: www.amazon.com/The-Mortician/dp/B07M8HKGTM.

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Jennifer Jean Miller can also be reached by phone at: 973-383-1230; and on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/JMillerNJH.