Small role in film a great experience for Hatter Oulette

By Mo Cranker on August 23, 2018.

SUBMITTED PHOTO
Medicine Hatter Joel Oulette sits on the set of the 2018 movie ÒAlpha.Ó Oulette played an extra in the film, which had parts of it shot near Brooks.

mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker

A Medicine Hatter is getting some time on the big screen in the film “Alpha.”

Joel Oulette is 16 years old, attends Medicine Hat High School and says he has been acting since he was a child.

“Probably around five is when I started,” he said. “Getting screen time in a feature film like this is always a great experience — I’m definitely happy to have this experience.”

“Alpha” is an American historical drama adventure film directed by Albert Huges. The film stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leonor Varela and Jens Hultén. It follows a young hunter who befriends an injured wolf during the Ice Age. Oulette’s role is that of an extra during one of the film’s scenes.

“I play a little hunter in the movie,” he said. “When I’m on screen I make an arrow head and the chief doesn’t like it so he pushes my head back into my hut.

“The movie is in theatres now so people can go check it out if they want.”

Oulette says it was not a strenuous process to get the screen time in the film.

“Because this is an extra role, it isn’t any huge process or anything,” he said. “My agency told me about it so I had to get fitted in fur coats and stuff like that — it was a great experience.

“When you’re on-set they feed you great food — it was awesome.”

Oulette says he will be playing a larger role in an upcoming film “Monkey Beach” and that he enjoyed his time working on “Alpha.”

“It was a lot of fun being on set,” he said. “It was cool having a hotel paid for and getting my makeup done and stuff like that.

“All of the actors were really nice and it was great meeting all of the people that were there.”