18 February
Residents of Kyauktada Township eagerly observed the cast and crew of the Hong Kong film Line Walker-2 (Operation Midnight Shadow) rehearsing a scene of the movie near City Star Hotel, situated between Maha Bandoola Park Street and Anawrahta Road, yesterday.
Hong Kong Police and the Myanmar Police Force will be cooperating on an anti-trafficking operation in this sequel to the 2014 Line Walker film.
U Phone Kyaw Myint, a resident of Kyauktada Township’s Ward 2, said he is happy a movie is being filmed in his community and ensured that all the local residents are willingly supporting the film which will raise international awareness on Myanmar. He said the film crew began preparing for the scene since 7 am.
Veteran actor and director U Maung Maung Myint (Arts) also came to observe the film rehearsal. “Shaw Brothers was a film company working from a small room on the corner of Bar Street (now Maha Bandoola Park Street) since the colonial times,” said U Maung Maung Myint. “You could say they came back to Myanmar to reminisce. Seeing them reminds me of the old film industry. We didn’t have modern equipment but we were able to produce quality films. There are professionals capable of that still.”
U Maung Maung Myint said the Hong Kong film coming to Myanmar benefits the nation and the people, such as collection of duties and taxes and their paying for accommodation. He also said their professionalism is something to be admired and copied. “Even though it was just a rehearsal for a scene, they were conducting it like it was the actual shooting day. Their commitment to their job is plain to see.”
The section of Anawrahta Road up to City Star Hotel were temporarily closed from 10 am to 4 pm for the rehearsal yesterday. The Myanmar Traffic Police, Yangon City Development Committee, Myanmar Police Force and other authorities helped in diverting the traffic.
Police Captain Kyaw San Oo of Kyauktada Township’s traffic police said he and eight other officers helped in diverting the cars around the designated filming area. Daw Swe Zin Htike, managerial member of the Film Development Centre, said the first Line Walker film was also shot in Brazil where roads were closed for the duration of the filming. “If you want your scene to be portrayed in the global film market then you close off sections of the road whether you’re in America, London or Paris,” said Daw Shwe Zin Htike. “But you must understand that we nobody blocks off the entire road. There are always alternate routes or divergences planned.”
U Han Lin Aung, Assistant Director of the Film Promotion Division under the Information and Public Relations Department, said the film crew used two crane trucks to practice a jumping action scene with one of the actors. He said they are preparing the setting for another scene to be shot at the YMCA building while the actual filming will take place on the 21st.
Line Walker-2 will be employing international movie settings such as the use of gunfire, explosions, car battle scenes, helicopter shooting scenes, police cars, and special police force vehicles. Also observing yesterday’s rehearsal was Yangon Region Pyithu Hluttaw MP for Botahtaung Township, Daw Myint Myint Soe, who said it is a tremendous pride to be hosting a film such as this. She said it is admirable that an international film will be including our regional scenery at a time when we are unable to penetrate into the global market.—Thi Thi Min, Min Thit (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
