25 February
Yangonians chose to spend their weekend break trying to catch the filming of ‘Line Walker-2’, whose cast and crew were shooting scenes around the Sule Pagoda and Yangon City Hall.
“A helicopter scene, shootouts, and a car chase involving a gang of criminals with guns blazing were filmed yesterday for the Hong Kong action film. They were entertaining to watch,” said Ko Ye Lin, an onlooker from South Dagon.
Ko Soe Naing from 13th Street, Lanmadaw, expressed his amazement at watching an epic film scene being shot in Myanmar. Onlookers numbered in the thousand yesterday, he added.
Helicopter sequence
Air Myanmar Aviation Services Co. Ltd provided the helicopter for a scene in the action film. The chopper was lifted with a crane for a flying sequence as it could not actually be operated in downtown Yangon.
The company’s MD, U Ye Myint, said when they were contacted for renting out a chopper, they first considered piloting it from the airport and landing it near Sule for the filming. But, he said, due to aircraft restrictions, the helicopter was dismantled and shipped to Sule in a container truck. Nevertheless, the chance to help in filming a movie that will boost the image of the country was a great opportunity, said U Ye Myint.
With ‘Line Walker-2’ scheduled to continue filming on Sule Pagoda Road for the third day, the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA), YBS services, traffic police, and other departments are working together to redirect traffic and ensure there are no traffic jams.
U Thar Kyaw, traffic regulation secretary, said staff and officials from six traffic-related organizations helped with crowd control and regulating traffic from 6 am to 6 pm. He also echoed the sentiment that the film set had transformed into a form of public entertainment. He said people were waiting with lunchboxes in anticipation of the helicopter scene and arrival of the lead actor. He said avid fans stayed at the set all day and it gave him a sort of satisfaction to see their perseverance.
U Yi Htwe, a driver for YBS 36, said even though it was a weekend, there were a lot of people riding the bus to go see the film set in the morning. He said the diverted roads did not hinder traffic and the buses were able to operate as normal.
The left section of the road from Sule Pagoda to the pedestrian overpass at the junction of Anawrahta Road will be closed from 6 am to 6 pm from 22 to 26 February and traffic police are working round the clock to ensure smooth traffic.Yangon Synthesis Productions Company, who are taking shared responsibility for the film on Myanmar’s side, has issued an apology to the public for the temporary traffic inconveniences caused during the filming process and has kindly requested their continued patience.—Nyunt Ko Ko (Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)
