Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) has launched the first Stunt Training Academy in Malaysia to groom and fulfil the dreams of local talents keen on developing long-term career opportunities with MAPS.
The Academy provides aspiring individuals a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn the art of becoming a professional stunt performer and to showcase their talents in STUNT LEGENDS – South East Asia’s first car & bike ‘live’ stunt show in MAPS, Ipoh, Perak.
“We are truly honoured to establish the first Stunt Training Academy in Malaysia, providing local talents the perfect opportunity to learn from the best stunt specialists in the industry. Essentially, we hope MAPS will inspire more Malaysians to ‘live their dreams’ in pursuing full-time career in this exciting industry and making them the pride of the nation in this stunt show!” enthused Darren McLean, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MAPS.
Stunt Training Academy will offer three key modules, namely Body Control, Precision Driving and Stunt Riding. All three modules are guided by lead trainer Cameron Ambridge, who can be seen in Mad Max: Fury Road and currently working on the next instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean, “Dead Men Tell No Tales”.
While safety remains to be the top question in mind, commenting on the issue, Cameron Ambridge, lead trainer of the Academy enthused, “Safety is paramount in this industry. While spectators’ hearts skip a beat when a stunt is performed, it is a controlled performance, carefully thought after at every step of the stunt. In training, the stunt individual will thoroughly mark and test each step and procedure of the stunt, ensuring the safety aspect is not compromised. Stunt individuals are taught to break falls as part of their basic training, hence minimising injuries and untoward accidents during the performance.”
Expressing her excitement, Ilia Iryani, a 29-year-old female participant from Seri Kembangan, Selangor said, “It is a dream come true for me to be part of this. Going through the basic training thus far, there is no doubt that there is much more to learn in this predominantly male-driven industry. I look forward to the final outcome of this journey and the opportunity to perform in MAPS’ STUNT LEGENDS show. I am grateful to have MAPS providing this platform to realise my career potential. Don’t miss the last chance to enrol for this stunt training, check out MAPS website www.mapsperak.com and ride the wind!”
The Stunt Training Academy will be conducted in PROTON Tanjung Malim between October 19 to October 25, targeting a total of 120 participants. An audition will be conducted in November and a total of 50 participants will be shortlisted. At the final stage, their mettle will be put to the test in the selection of the top 25 participants that will be fully employed by MAPS for the STUNT LEGENDS show – a key highlight among the 40 attractions featured in MAPS – Asia’s First Animation Theme Park, targeted to open in mid-2016.
At the event, Darren McLean has also announced the partnerships between MAPS’ Stunt Legends, PROTON Holdings Berhad and KTM Malaysia CKD.
PROTON Holdings Berhad is contributing to the Academy through the use of PROTON Tanjung Malim facilities in Perak and their vehicles. According to Dato’ Abdul Harith Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of PROTON, “PROTON Holdings Berhad is honoured to be a part of this exciting collaboration. We are pleased to be the Official Stunt Training Academy Partner with MAPS. It is a great opportunity to be associated with internationally renowned Stunt Legends who will be training our local talents in Proton cars. With the opening of MAPS in Perak in 2016, I believe it would definitely drive more tourists to the state of Perak and we are happy to contribute to the development in this sector.”
KTM Malaysia CKD, a long standing influential player in motorsports and product innovation will be sponsoring bikes for the Stunt Training Academy. Commenting on the partnership, Yeoh Teik Poh, the Financial Controller for KTM Malaysia CKD said, “We look forward to a great partnership with MAPS by combining our strengths and passions in local talent development and hope to elevate the positioning of Malaysia in this exciting industry,” Yeoh said.
