BEING the "only woman" in a team of fearless coast guards was a challenge for Sabahan actress Julia Farhana Marin.
Even though her no-nonsense trainers did not expect her to "do everything the guys did", Julia felt pushed to the limits.
"My two months' training by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) at the Malaysian Maritime Academy in Kuantan, Pahang, three years ago was gruelling.
"I had to perform tasks that I never thought I could," said Julia at the launch of her new film Coast Guard Malaysia: Ops Helang's theme song, Yes Sir.
The song, performed by Ariff Peter and Zamani Ibrahim, was launched at the Subang Maritime Air Station in Subang recently.
20KG SUITS
Julia, 28, who plays the heroine Lieutenant Melati said a typical day of training lasted 17 hours, from 6am to 11pm, with short breaks.
"Standard operating procedures were strictly observed and training always began with a 10km jog.
"This was followed by three hours of arms training. We had to wear 20kg combat suits," said Julia, adding that the weapons were heavier than she thought.
"We had to swim at night, and jump off 5m high board into the pool. I braved myself by focusing on the cool water below."
TOO TOUGH
Julia said during breaks, she cried to herself as she felt that the training was "too tough".
"But I had to be mentally and physically tough and show moviegoers that female leads can be stronger than the guys.
"Thinking of our very own Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh motivated me. Thank God, I did it," she said, adding that the training was 10 per cent of what real coast guards underwent.
REVAMPING THE SCRIPT
The film's producer, Arie Zaharie, said he and the late director, Pitt Haniff, revamped the script 14 times to ensure that their two-hour film was to MMEA's expectations.
"The actors had to speak like real MMEA personnel and were taught to punch and handle weapons the proper way," he said, adding that the main characters, including the villains, had believable back stories.
GUILT-STRICKEN HERO
Coast Guard is co-produced by Metrowealth Pictures, Arie Zaharie Productions and Flying Deals. The RM14.5 million film hit the big screen on Thursday, and stars Julia, Saharul Ridzwan, Emma Maembong, Jay Iswazir Ismail, Sabri Yunus, Aziz M. Osman, Black, Hazama Azmi, Ayie Hushairi, Mustaqim Mohamad and Wanna Ali.
It tells the story of MMEA member Lieutenant Hafiz (Saharul), who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after his teammate was killed in a rescue mission.
On his wedding day, Hafiz's wife and family members are kidnapped and held hostage by pirates, and he is tasked with rescuing the hostages.
INNER DEMONS
Hafiz teams up with Lieutenant Melati to lead the mission, and along the way, he is forced to battle his inner demons.
Filming took place in Langkawi, Kuala Perlis and Kuantan over two months in 2020.