Behind the scenes of the mind-blowing MINI video

To show just how adrenaline-pumping the latest MINI Cooper S (F56) is, MINI Malaysia created a video that exemplifies the legendary go-kart agility of the MINI as four extreme stuntmen compete against the car on land, water and air. From a BMX freestyle rider and professional Flyboard instructor to a paramotor pilot and seasoned skydiver, these said stuntmen - namely Fizzy, Shuk, Rizlan and Nasa - performed a range of tricks and manoeuvres.

To keep you on your toes, rally driver, performance driving instructor and Malaysian Gymkhana Champion, Ivan Khong (IK), piloted the F56 that's completely devoid of any modifications around Putrajaya, Malaysia, in high-speed fashion, as he pushed the car towards an edgier, ultra hot hatch demeanour.

The popularity of the video, which is almost hitting the 50,000 views mark on YouTube, landed us in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recently and we got talking to the people behind the video, including the brainchild of the idea, Raja Aris (RA), Stunt Coordinator and Natasha Karim (NK), Head of MINI Malaysia, on their enduring optimism, enthusiasm and, of course, their love for all things exciting.

SGCM: How did the idea of combining four stuntmen and a MINI Cooper come about?

NK: The main idea was derived because of the launch of the new MINI. We wanted to focus on power, sportiness and performance but we also had to consider the core elements of MINI, which are edgy, energetic and exciting. We also wanted the video to have a stronger connection because MINI isn't just your ordinary metal on wheels. It has a soul, so to speak, so we have to create an emotional approach. This is where the stuntmen come into play.

SGCM: You mentioned you guys had to focus on power, sportiness and performance. Is that why you selected the Cooper S instead of the base Cooper?

NK: In terms of the halo model and the positioning of the car, the Cooper S is a more appropriate model or the 'hero' against these stuntmen.

SGCM: Despite the fact that the stunts were performed by professionals, what safety precautions were taken?

RA: The weather was one safety issue for Rizlan, our paramotorist, as well as Nasa, our base jumper, because their stunts could not be performed if the wind was too strong or if it was raining. Considerations such as ramps for Fizzy, our BMW Freestyler, to land from a high ground was also considered. Of course, paramedics were on site, too.
SGCM: How much time was taken to film the short video?

RA: We only had two days to film the entire video. We did it on Saturday and Sunday. The video went on air on Friday, just in time for the launch here.

SGCM: What challenges were faced during the filming of the video, considering you guys only took two days to shoot?

RA: We took about three weeks to plan this. We knew Putrajaya was the most ideal place but it was challenging to incorporate all the stuntmen's discipline within a 1km radius. For the base jumper, we needed a tall building and that belonged to one of the ministries. We only got the approval on that Friday afternoon.

NK: I think another challenge was also the weather. It was actually drizzling on Saturday but was sunny on Sunday. So the guys doing the editing of the video had to make sure the weather in the video was perfect.

SGCM: Ivan, I understand the MINI has grown a bit. Has it made life more difficult for you to carry out the various manoeuvres?

IK: Not really because I've been involved in motorsports since 1988 and I'm also an instructor for BMW and MINI, so I feel very comfortable with the car.

SGCM: What are some of the unique characteristics of the new MINI Cooper that you like the most?

IK: The torque. The generous amount helped me a lot in terms of my stunts. Even at low rpm, the car will just pull off and that's good because I don't have a lot of space to play with.

SGCM: Were there any close shaves?

IK: Yes, there was. I was told to get closer to the barricade. When I drove down and pulled the handbrake, there was a camera sticking out by more than an inch. I clipped the camera lens then. That was the first run on Saturday.
SGCM: Fizzy, tell us how you felt about riding into the lake. Was it hard to retrieve the bike after that?

Fizzy: I was afraid my bike would sink! I held on to my bike with my legs after the first take. I was panicking. We took three takes for this.

RA: We had four guys behind the jetty to ensure Fizzy's safety. But in the end, three guys had to save his bike and one had to ensure Fizzy's safety. We had to put three small empty water bottles on his bike so it'll take a longer time to sink.

SGCM: Is there any way the video could have been made better than it already is?

NK: I would't change anything because if you look at all the stunts, you can somehow relate to the Earth element. You have an element of water, a two-wheeler, the sky and flying. Plus, we wanted this video to be an online viral so the length of the video was extremely important. We could have added in more stuntmen but that would have made the video longer.

SGCM: How much does it cost to make a video like this?

NK: I knew you were going to ask this! I won't be able to reveal to you the actual cost because there were a lot of people involved for this video. But I would say about 10 percent out of the campaign budget was spent on this video.

SGCM: Can we expect another video?

NK: The next one has to top this for sure.