Singer's career takes off after CTV's Idol

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Alberta's Sheldon Elter wasn't too upset when he was eliminated from the 2006 edition of CTV's Canadian Idol on July 12. The young Metis man had made it into the top 22 finalists on the talent show, an accomplishment that few fame-seeking singers achieve.

"The national exposure the talent show gave me resulted in a ton of phone calls, including one from APTN to star in Hank Williams First Nation, the series based on the hit movie of the same name," he said.

The Hank Williams series kicks off in November, so filming was about to start when he joined the cast. The six half-hour episodes will continue to develop the unique characters that the movie introduced. Produced by Peace Country Films Ltd., in partnership with the Woodland Cree First Nation, the series was shot in Peace River country.

"I'll be playing Huey Bigstone, who was played by Bernard Starlight in the movie. He was phenomenal, so he'll be a hard act to follow, and that was recognized in a subsequent Genie nomination," said Elter. "I feel really lucky to be picking up where he left off." A day of shooting at West Edmonton Mall was also enjoyed in mid-August when a stunt sequence was filmed in the deep sea adventure lake.

Popular actor Gordon Tootoosis again leads the cast as Adelard Fox, and the writers of the movie, Aaron James Sorensen and Jordan Wheeler, are writing the series, explained Elter. Filming took place in Peace River, Grimshaw, Bear Lake, Dixonville and Cadotte Lake and wrapped in late August.

The original film was nominated for five awards by the Alberta Motion Picture Industry Association and won best original music at the Nashville Independent Film Festival, as well as best director at the American Indian Film Festival. Sorensen, who still makes his home in Dixonville, Alta., has said he has made minimal changes for the small screen version. For the APTN production, well-known series writer Larry Mollin of Beverly Hills 90210 fame has been retained as story editor.

Elter was born in Peace River and attended high school in Grimshaw. He came to Edmonton in 1998 and attended Grant MacEwan's Theatre Arts program, enjoying the training that made him a well-rounded singer, actor and playwright. He has written an award-winning play called Metis Mutt, which has been published in the NextFest anthology of plays and has toured throughout Canada and New Zealand after premiering in Edmonton at the Roxy Theatre. What started out as a 10-minute scene became a full-length play, sold-out at the Fringe in 2002.

The 27-year-old former construction worker said appearing on the Canadian Idol competition and reaching the top 22 was a life-altering experience.

"I felt absolutely privileged to be amongst the other competitors. It gave me a lot of confidence about my ability to sing, because they were top-notch performers and very talented."

He especially enjoyed his friendship with fellow Idol contestant Rob James, as they are both of mixed heritage. "Rob is half Jamaican, and a prairie boy too as he's from Winnipeg. We had lots of fun, talking about our shared experiences and planning a possible musical theatre project together. We became good buddies, right from the time we were chosen in the top 200."

Elter said the contestants were cheering for each other, even while wanting to win themselves. "It was hard to see anyone eliminated. The judges, the producers, the other contestants, everyone wanted each of us to succeed and we felt that support."

His mother, Pat L'Hirondelle, who still lives in the north near Grande Prairie, has been his greatest fan.

"She has encouraged me and supported me every step of the way. She got out of an unstable alcoholic relationship to raise me and my brother on her own, and our life got better after that. I have her to thank for everything," he said.

Elter paid for her ticket to Toronto when Canadian Idol was in progress. "She'd never flown, and she'd never left Alberta, and seeing her excitement was as much un as the Idol experience was." His girlfriend Kristi Hansen has also been a major factor in his success, supporting him every step of the way, he said.

Currently, Elter has a play in progress, writing when he gets the time. He plays in a ukulele band, covering everything from Johnny Cash and Neil Young to Guns and Roses. "We enjoy busking wherever we can.