Katelynn Olson, a stunt performer from Utah, has joined the stunt team on the Paramount+ series Marshals, the Yellowstone spinoff. according to a recent report, Olson's path from childhood reenactments of action sequences to paid stunt work involved years of odd jobs, training at the Stunt Performers Academy, and a near-miss with a college soccer career.

From roof jumps to fire burns: The Stunt Performers Academy certification

Olson trained at the Stunt Performers Academy in Los Angeles under veteran coordinator Banzai Vitale, earning certifications in fire burns and high falls, the report states. This formal training was the bridge between her childhood habit of jumping off her family's roof in Kamas, Utah, and the professional set of Marshals. The academy provided the physical and mental foundations required to perform stunts safely, a critical step given that the report quotes Olson noting that getting hit by a car is "not a matter of if, but when."

A Groundhog Day loop: Why Studio C became Olson's holding pattern

Before her big break, Olson worked on BYUtv's Studio C, a hub for Utah's film community. the report describes her experience there as a "blessing and a holding pattern," where she and her colleagues would share ambitions for the offseason but inevitably return the next season. Olson herself recalled it was "like Groundhog Day." This period of stability nearly derailed her dream, but a late-night call from a colleague about a nearby production pulled her out of the loop.

The 4:30 a.m. grind: Balancing production gigs with stunt training

After returning from Los Angeles, Olson's daily routine began at 4:30 a.m. and ended at 12:30 a.m., according to the article. She balanced production gigs—including craft services work that involved hauling "trash bags dripping with lobster juice"—with rigorous stunt training. this relentless schedule underscores the financial and physical sacrifice required to break into stunt performance, especially for those without direct industry connections.

What Marshals means for Utah's film ecosystem

The Marshals production filmed near Olson's hometown, and the report highlights that her local connections—including a church congregation introduction to writer-producer Chet Thomas—were instrumental. This raises a broader question: how much does Utah's growing film industry rely on local talent versus imported crew? Olson's story suggests that while Hollywood remains the epicenter, spinoff productions like Marshals can create pathways for regional performers if they endure the grind. However, the report does not detail the size of the stunt team or whether other local hires were made, leaving the scale of this opportunity unclear.