Patricia Walker / en From environmental science to sci-fi thrillers: 老司机直播 student makes feature film debut /news/environmental-science-sci-fi-thrillers-u-t-student-makes-feature-film-debut <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">From environmental science to sci-fi thrillers: 老司机直播 student makes feature film debut</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Alexis-Whelan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Lnn_kbr1 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/Alexis-Whelan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ksDBzsNN 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/Alexis-Whelan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=FGmZ6bW5 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/Alexis-Whelan.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Lnn_kbr1" alt="photo of Alexis Whelan"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>Christopher.Sorensen</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2019-02-01T11:36:08-05:00" title="Friday, February 1, 2019 - 11:36" class="datetime">Fri, 02/01/2019 - 11:36</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"> Alexis Whelan, a second-year student pursuing a degree in environmental science at 老司机直播 Mississauga, has been acting since age nine and has already appeared in several short films (photo by Yasmeen Alkoka courtesy of the Medium)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/patricia-walker" hreflang="en">Patricia Walker</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/environmental-science" hreflang="en">Environmental Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/u-t-mississauga" hreflang="en">老司机直播 Mississauga</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Alexis Whelan</strong>, a student at University&nbsp;of Toronto Mississauga, will make her feature film debut in <em>Level 16</em>, a dystopian science fiction thriller by Canadian director and independent filmmaker&nbsp;Danishka Esterhazy.&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Level 16</em>,&nbsp;set for release March 1,&nbsp;follows the story of Vivien (Katie Douglas), Sophia (Celina Martin), and several other orphaned girls, including Whelan鈥檚 character. They live&nbsp;in the mysterious Vestalis Academy. At Vestalis, the girls are taught four key virtues: obedience, cleanliness, patience&nbsp;and humility in order to become 鈥減erfect鈥&nbsp;adoptees for wealthy families 鈥 or so they say.</p> <p>This is Whelan鈥檚 first role in a feature film. She describes the experience as 鈥渞eally exciting鈥 but confesses she became 鈥渁 little nervous鈥 when the film started to gain traction.</p> <p>鈥淣ow everyone is going to watch me for the first time and I hope they like what they see,鈥 she says.</p> <p>Whelan, a second-year student pursuing a degree in environmental science, describes her character as 鈥渟uper complex.鈥&nbsp;Motivated by a desire to be popular, Ava is not afraid to step on people鈥檚 toes&nbsp;to get to the top of the social ladder, but as Whelan explains, 鈥渟he is still human and has feelings.鈥</p> <p>Whelan鈥檚 favourite thing about being a part of <em>Level 16 </em>was working with the predominantly female cast. 鈥淲e formed this kind of sisterhood,鈥 she says.</p> <p>As for working with award-winning director Esterhazy, Whelan says, 鈥淪he was approachable and accommodating. She set the bar pretty high for any director that I work with in the future. I hope they鈥檙e on her level.鈥</p> <p>When filming began, Whelan had just started her first year at 老司机直播 Mississauga. Despite having a demanding filming schedule and taking five courses, she is proud to have&nbsp;successfully completed her courses.&nbsp;She feels strongly about having something to fall back on&nbsp;if her acting career doesn鈥檛 go in the direction she envisions. Whelan is also passionate about the environment and hopes fame will give her a platform to advocate for environmental issues.</p> <p>Daughter to an Egyptian mother and a Scottish father, Whelan&nbsp;began acting&nbsp;at age nine, appearing in a 2013&nbsp; television show produced by none other than Steven Spielberg 鈥 <em>Lucky 7</em>. Since then, Whelan has appeared in several commercials, including ones for Sirius XM and Rogers Communications Inc., as well as several short films.</p> <p>When asked about her future plans and whether she intends to move to an acting hub like Los Angeles or New York, Whelan says she would prefer to land a role in a national network show 鈥 although she added she鈥檚 open to the idea of working in the United States&nbsp;because it could&nbsp;catapult&nbsp;her career.</p> <p>鈥淚 really like Canada,鈥 she says.&nbsp;鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would want to live in the U.S. long-term.鈥&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 01 Feb 2019 16:36:08 +0000 Christopher.Sorensen 152428 at