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.".
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 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 and listen to the top
professionals stuntmen, such as Reggie Parson, Chuck Hayward, 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 30-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 to
cast the best talent for their live entertainment shows.
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 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 telephone
or email us at sensei@riverajudoclub.com.
CLICK HERE for more Academy Information
