INTRODUCTION
My name is Jim Winburn, the founder of "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and
Stunt School." For more than 30 years, I have been working with major theme parks and
independent live show producers as a stage performer, stage stunt coordinator, stage director
and company manager.
I began my training by studying at various Junior colleges, learning to mold my rough unskilled
talent into a musical stage career. But, as faith would have it. I worked myself into an acting
and stunt career in the motion picture industry. As years passed, I worked as a independent
actor and stuntman with many of the top stuntmen and women of that time. They taught me the
tricks of the trade and how to be a professional stuntman in the stunt world. Within a few
years, I got my first break as a stunt coordinator on a low budget film "Bare Knuckles.".
Produced and Directed
by Don Edmond
Times were hard trying to keep myself employed as a actor/stuntman in a film industry. Then
one day I was invited to Universal Studio Tours Hollywood to audition for a position in the
western stage show, playing the relief cowboy comedian on the weekend.Working under a
American Guild of Variety Artist (AGVA) performer contract for three years, and under a
studio contract with Universal Studio Tours Hollywood for the next eight years, allowed me to
work in the motion picture and television.
MY SECOND BIG BREAK
Ron Benson head of Universal tours operation, called me into his office and ask me to work
with a outside company "Landmark Productions" on a new park show name "Conan." In that
production meeting, I met Peter Alexander. Mr Alexander later would be the producer of "The
A Team live Action SFX Show" for MCA Entertainment. I received a called to come
to Peter Alexander P&D Office and discuss the story line of this new action car show.I became
the stage director and stunt coordinator on "The A Team Live Action SFX Show." That ONE
action show, became the number one entertainment live show in the theme park industry for the
next four years. It was like firing an cannon, whose blast was heard around the world. Peter
Alexander "A Team Live action SFX Show" started, a hold new trend of new type of
entertainment for the major theme parks industry around the world.
PAYING MY DUES
From 1962 to 1965 I auditioned for every touring productions that was posted in the trade
papers. My talent was good, but my audition skill was very poor. The reason my skills was
poor, was that "I just didn't know how to present myself to the casting directors."
But, I need to take you back 20 years earlier, where I began working as a live show performer
and a stuntman at Universal Studio Tours Hollywood Theme Park. From the time I was in
grammar school, high school and through my enlistment period in United States Air Force. I
was working as a performer for such places as the Officer Club, Airmen Clubs, USO shows and
Seamen Clubs in Okinawa and Japan. After I received my honorable discharge from the Air
Force in September 1959. I began performing on stage again, this time with various dance
bands, jazz group and symphonic orchestras. I enrolling in Mount San Antonio College,
majoring in theater and music.
In 1970 I signed a performer contract with Universal Tour Studio Theme Park Hollywood, to
perform in the original "Wild West Comedy Live Action Show." (Not the current western
show that is currently being performed today at Universal Hollywood and Orlando Theme
Parks).
As a live show performer and a working Hollywood motion pictures stuntman. I trained hard
with some of the top stuntmens in the "Stuntmens Association of Motion Pictures and
Television" with such professionals as; Paul Stader, John "Bear: Huggin, Bob Herron, Bill Hart,
Roydon Clark, Hank Calia, Bill Lane, George Robotham, Bob Terhune, Buff Brady, Bob Hoy,
Ted White and many others to find out, "What I needed to know to be successful in
performing on stage or in front of camera." Once, I learned and understood the basic of
performing in front of camera and on live stage, my career took off.
Looking back over the 35-plus years. I must have auditioned, cast and trained hundreds of
young men and women for theme park live shows around the world. I work closely with the
entertainment contractors and the theme park operators/Intertainment Departments to cast
the best talent for their live entertainment shows in their area.
AUDITIONING
I watched hundreds of men and women do poorly in their auditions. The reason they fail was
that they just didn't know the basics of auditioning. And in most cases, the young man or
woman had no formal training for any type of stage work. And that's what "Academy for
Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" is all about. Teaching you the basics of
performing on stage and in front of camera.
WHAT WILL THE ACADEMY DO FOR YOU?
The Academy will teach you the basic understanding of performing on stage. Like the old
saying, "Walk, talk and chew gum at the same time."
The Academy will teach and train you in the art of stunt works and educate you in the safety
procedures for stage and in film work.
The Academy student will learn to work around special effects and understanding audience
responses.
The Academy will teach common sense, responsibility, safety on stage and the rules and policy
of theme parks operations.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" is a unique type of
training school within the theme park industry. Throughout United States and the rest of the
world, there are hundreds of theme parks, large and small, that entertain millions of people per
years. And what does all these theme parks have in common? They all need talented
performers in their live shows.
After years of working at theme parks such as Universal Hollywood, Universal Orlando, Six
Flags Over Texas/Time Warner/Premier Inc., and numerous of oversea theme parks, very few
of the cast performers understood the basics of performing on a theme park stage,
The "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" can take your raw talent
and give you the basic tools to be the best you can be on stage and in front of camera. For
answers to any questions you may have.
Please email questions to Jim Winburn at jamesbwinburn@yahoo.com.
My name is Jim Winburn, the founder of "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and
Stunt School." For more than 30 years, I have been working with major theme parks and
independent live show producers as a stage performer, stage stunt coordinator, stage director
and company manager.
I began my training by studying at various Junior colleges, learning to mold my rough unskilled
talent into a musical stage career. But, as faith would have it. I worked myself into an acting
and stunt career in the motion picture industry. As years passed, I worked as a independent
actor and stuntman with many of the top stuntmen and women of that time. They taught me the
tricks of the trade and how to be a professional stuntman in the stunt world. Within a few
years, I got my first break as a stunt coordinator on a low budget film "Bare Knuckles.".
Produced and Directed
by Don Edmond
Times were hard trying to keep myself employed as a actor/stuntman in a film industry. Then
one day I was invited to Universal Studio Tours Hollywood to audition for a position in the
western stage show, playing the relief cowboy comedian on the weekend.Working under a
American Guild of Variety Artist (AGVA) performer contract for three years, and under a
studio contract with Universal Studio Tours Hollywood for the next eight years, allowed me to
work in the motion picture and television.
MY SECOND BIG BREAK
Ron Benson head of Universal tours operation, called me into his office and ask me to work
with a outside company "Landmark Productions" on a new park show name "Conan." In that
production meeting, I met Peter Alexander. Mr Alexander later would be the producer of "The
A Team live Action SFX Show" for MCA Entertainment. I received a called to come
to Peter Alexander P&D Office and discuss the story line of this new action car show.I became
the stage director and stunt coordinator on "The A Team Live Action SFX Show." That ONE
action show, became the number one entertainment live show in the theme park industry for the
next four years. It was like firing an cannon, whose blast was heard around the world. Peter
Alexander "A Team Live action SFX Show" started, a hold new trend of new type of
entertainment for the major theme parks industry around the world.
PAYING MY DUES
From 1962 to 1965 I auditioned for every touring productions that was posted in the trade
papers. My talent was good, but my audition skill was very poor. The reason my skills was
poor, was that "I just didn't know how to present myself to the casting directors."
But, I need to take you back 20 years earlier, where I began working as a live show performer
and a stuntman at Universal Studio Tours Hollywood Theme Park. From the time I was in
grammar school, high school and through my enlistment period in United States Air Force. I
was working as a performer for such places as the Officer Club, Airmen Clubs, USO shows and
Seamen Clubs in Okinawa and Japan. After I received my honorable discharge from the Air
Force in September 1959. I began performing on stage again, this time with various dance
bands, jazz group and symphonic orchestras. I enrolling in Mount San Antonio College,
majoring in theater and music.
In 1970 I signed a performer contract with Universal Tour Studio Theme Park Hollywood, to
perform in the original "Wild West Comedy Live Action Show." (Not the current western
show that is currently being performed today at Universal Hollywood and Orlando Theme
Parks).
As a live show performer and a working Hollywood motion pictures stuntman. I trained hard
with some of the top stuntmens in the "Stuntmens Association of Motion Pictures and
Television" with such professionals as; Paul Stader, John "Bear: Huggin, Bob Herron, Bill Hart,
Roydon Clark, Hank Calia, Bill Lane, George Robotham, Bob Terhune, Buff Brady, Bob Hoy,
Ted White and many others to find out, "What I needed to know to be successful in
performing on stage or in front of camera." Once, I learned and understood the basic of
performing in front of camera and on live stage, my career took off.
Looking back over the 35-plus years. I must have auditioned, cast and trained hundreds of
young men and women for theme park live shows around the world. I work closely with the
entertainment contractors and the theme park operators/Intertainment Departments to cast
the best talent for their live entertainment shows in their area.
AUDITIONING
I watched hundreds of men and women do poorly in their auditions. The reason they fail was
that they just didn't know the basics of auditioning. And in most cases, the young man or
woman had no formal training for any type of stage work. And that's what "Academy for
Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" is all about. Teaching you the basics of
performing on stage and in front of camera.
WHAT WILL THE ACADEMY DO FOR YOU?
The Academy will teach you the basic understanding of performing on stage. Like the old
saying, "Walk, talk and chew gum at the same time."
The Academy will teach and train you in the art of stunt works and educate you in the safety
procedures for stage and in film work.
The Academy student will learn to work around special effects and understanding audience
responses.
The Academy will teach common sense, responsibility, safety on stage and the rules and policy
of theme parks operations.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" is a unique type of
training school within the theme park industry. Throughout United States and the rest of the
world, there are hundreds of theme parks, large and small, that entertain millions of people per
years. And what does all these theme parks have in common? They all need talented
performers in their live shows.
After years of working at theme parks such as Universal Hollywood, Universal Orlando, Six
Flags Over Texas/Time Warner/Premier Inc., and numerous of oversea theme parks, very few
of the cast performers understood the basics of performing on a theme park stage,
The "Academy for Theme Park Live Show Training and Stunt School" can take your raw talent
and give you the basic tools to be the best you can be on stage and in front of camera. For
answers to any questions you may have.
Please email questions to Jim Winburn at jamesbwinburn@yahoo.com.
