Lights, camera, action, North Haven. A nationally-known, 1988 alumnus of the town’s high school is returning with his latest film project.

Paul Marcarelli, recognizable as the actor asking “Can you hear me now?” in Verizon commercials, wrote and is co-producing The Green, a drama about an elite high school teacher wrongly accused of misconduct. As part of Marcarelli’s picture, North Haven High School will be filmed.

Looking to incorporate locals, Marcarelli and others involved with The Green held an open casting call Tuesday night at Guilford Free Library. Marcarelli said he was seeking 25 teenagers to play students, and may need another two dozen individuals for various parts and background roles.

“There were a ton of North Haven people there,” Marcarelli said. “There were a lot of North Haven High School kids there, which was very important. We want to include as much of the community as possible.”

Wrapped around the library interior, the line of hopefuls included those of all ages from surrounding areas. Intrigue and aspiration impelled approximately 200 to Guilford.

“I was curious,” said New Haven resident Denise Manscouo while awaiting her turn. “I decided to check it out to see if it’s a possibility.”

“I wanted to try my luck,” Guilford resident Ed Hobson said with a laugh, while queued. “I had my Wheaties this morning. I felt like a champion.”

Attendants were summoned into auditions four or five at a time, and emerged optimistically.

“It went really well,” said New Haven resident and actor Taylor Grate. “They mostly asked us questions. They were very friendly.”

Screen-time allure attracted an entire family. “I thought it would be fun for all of us to come down, me, my mom, kids, niece and nephew and sister-in-law,” said Leslie Hyman after her meeting with The Green’s producers. “I think it went fine. We’re really here for my sister-in-law, who’s the real actress.”

“I think it went great,” said Hyman’s sister-in-law Charlotte Dooling. “They were just extremely friendly. We went as a family unit.”

Hyman’s 10-year-old son James thought his hobbies lent him a leg-up. “I think it went well, because it involves something about soccer, and I’m good at soccer,” he said.

James’ twin sister Julia believed her age would be to her benefit. “I think I did pretty good, because when I was in there, everyone else were grownups,” she said. “I was the only kid. They said I did pretty good. I did a couple of plays when I was younger.”

Julia’s grandmother Sandra also enjoyed her experience. “I don’t think they’re looking for me, but it was fun,” she said with a smile, “or maybe I’ll become the star.”

Monday’s event will be The Green’s only local tryout.

“I’m thrilled by the turnout,” Marcarelli said. “We plan to pull from that casting call to populate our fictional town and our fictional school.”

“North Haven High School will be standing in as an elite high school facility in the fictional town of Millfield, Connecticut,” he added. “It’s pretty incredible to come full circle with North Haven High School, and use that unbelievable facility the students have there. I’m really blown away by it.”

Choosing not to perform on camera in The Green, Marcarelli will only serve as writer and co-producer. “That’s just enough hats for me,” he said. “I wrote the film based on a story I created with director Steven Williford.”

Once finished, The Green will follow a usual independent film path. “We plan on guiding the film through the entire festival circuit to appeal to distributors and gain the widest audience possible,” Marcarelli said.

Unsatisfied with simply casting local talent, The Green’s crew will also be partially filled by Connecticut natives. “We contacted state’s film commission to reach out to locals in terms of film professionals for the film’s staff,” Marcarelli said.

The Green is scheduled to shoot Aug. 14 through Sept. 3. North Haven dates are not yet finalized.

Formerly a student of NHHS media and library center coordinator Elsa Ruoff, Marcarelli is familiar with filming in town. “When I was there, I was running all over North Haven with a camera as a media student,” he said.

Now fulfilling his childhood goals, Marcarelli wished to thank North Haven school administrators for allowing him to shoot town property.

“I’m so grateful to everyone at the high school for making it so easy for us to use the school,” he said. “Principal Russ Dallai has been fantastic, Elsa Ruoff, Patricia Brozek and the Board of Education, Grant Peckham, everybody has been absolutely incredible. I hope they know how grateful I am. This means a lot to me.”