THE BIG DAY ARRIVED

Another milestone achieved!

Firstly, I would like to say Thank you to NAFA for giving the students the opportunity to travel out of SG for a study trip. It had brought me to a greater height in my learning journey.

Secondly, once again I would like to say Thank you to both my lecturers Matthew & Grace for giving me this chance to be part of this Interdisciplinary Project & to contribute as much as I could.

So on 23 Sept was the Silent Actors: Puppets of Myanmar & Vietnam Exhibition Opening Night! The whole team of mine had been working hard for the pass 9 weeks for this showcase. Given 1&1/2 - 2 weeks to complete the post production of documentaries, installation & performance, I thought we really did a great job. The night less days we had really paid off.

I would also like to say Thank you to my family, granny, aunt, cousin & friends for coming to give their support during the exhibition opening night. I really hope you guys had enjoy the showcase we prepared.

Without you guys, this wouldn't be possible! Great job guys!

Yes! My Photo was selected to be exhibit after two round of editing.

Post Production & Preparation of Exhibition

The battle of post production begin immediately the next day we touched down Singapore. To be honest, we can't start piecing the footage as the interviews dialogue are not in English and we need our Myanmar friends to help in the translation.

At the mean time, the only I could do was just to choose the pick up shots that is relevant. It was only bit and pieces here and there because we need to know what was mention during the interview. We had to follow the direction of my director.

The translation took about 5 days to complete and we only had 15 days or less to complete the whole documentary. It was a sleepless 2 two weeks, however the experience working on this documentary was really awesome with the team that I'm working with.

All of us were much corporative and target to finish the final draft cut for review to our lecturers a few days before the actually opening of the exhibition.

Beside this documentary, we also had to pick up a few shots that we took during the trip to be nominated to be exhibit in the exhibition itself. I had to even do a montage of behind the scene for the exhibition.

We fought all the way and manage to complete on time! We did it!  

Day 4 Journey to Mandalay Myanmar

Last day in Mandalay! Nothing much today around noon we need to head to the airport. So the only thing I did was to head to the Market with my lecturers and some of my mates. The market was really cool. Sold lots and lots of stuff. 

This trip was just a memorable one! Next up is heading back to Singapore for Post Production! 

Day 3 Journey to Mandalay Myanmar

Time always pass so fast when we are enjoying or busy with stuff. It's the second last day of the trip and we again set off early for our final objective before we could enjoy the rest of the plans. 

Beside preserving the art form, Ma Ma Naing also conducted english class for student that want to learn english. Our motive to be there at the class was to take some pick up shots and interview the students regarding how well and how they got to know about the Mandalay Marrionette and English class that was taught by Ma Ma Naing. 

After we are done with the interview, we head off for lunch and supermarket to buy some snacks and food for our supper and of course snacks back to Singapore. 

In the evening, all of us head to the oldest bridge in Mandalay. U Bein Bridge was an iconic in Mandalay as it was there for decades. It was a nice place to chill too.. There were many stores along the path towards the bridge. 

Day 2 Journey to Mandalay Myarmar

Our main objective had arrived. We went to Mandalay Marionettes as early after our breakfast to interview the grandmaster & performer. I can say that the people at Mandalay Marionettes we communicate during our presents were really friendly. During the whole interview process, we were very lucky to have Ko Ko, our classmates for IDP to be with us to help on the translation.  I guess without him we may not be able to pull through and we will have a hard time due to language barrier. Not only him, we had our tour guide that actually was there every second with us to communicate to the local for us to understand better.

As the grandmaster of puppetry, obviously he doesn't want this art form to die off. He want this art form to be preserve and said that youngster are not expose to his art form, therefore not many of the new generation is keen to learn. He even mention is willing to teach and guide those who are willing to learn it. 

Ma Ma Naing even prepared the process of making of the puppets for us to capture and document. I think it was really interesting on how the actually carve it. The guys were really patience and skilful.

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After the interview, all of us head to the coffeeshop next to Ma Ma Naing theatre for lunch. It seem to be very popular as there's always people walking in to have their meals. Truly their food was really nice! It was just like Singapore Mee Pok but Myanmar's style with chicken. One of the best meal so far! It was Ma Ma Naing treat, really nice of her.

After main objective is complete, we head to Mandalay Hills that was one of their tourist spot. It was indeed a nice place to visit and maybe get some blessing. It was the highest spot in Mandalay itself. 

If we want to use our Digital Camera to capture picture, we need to pay a cost of $10 to get the ticket and attach it to our camera. The view was really amazing further more with the sunset just make my day. 

Day 1 Journey to Mandalay Myanmar

Finally the day that everyone had been waiting for. Reaching Changi Airport as early as 8.30am to check in and get our boarding pass. Feeling excited for the trip.

We then landed in Mandalay in the evening and plans for the 1st day was just very simple. Before heading to Mandalay City Hotel to settle down, we head to one of the restaurant for our first traditional dinner. I wasn't expecting any better food because it was my first time having Myanmar food. Amazingly, it was not that bad from what I thought.

As promised, we head to Mandalay Marionettes to watch the whole performances. It was then we started capturing the moment and documenting what was important for our up coming documentary that's going to be exhibit 2 weeks after we goes back to Singapore.

I was part of the production team and I head to the backstage to took some cut aways / pick up shots for the documentary. It was quite hard to capture the moment during the performance as the stage was really small and there were about 6 - 7 at the backstage preparing for the before and during the performance. I had only two small portion / corner of the stage to capture the moment. The whole perform took about an hour or so, a longer performance compared to performance Ma Ma Naing and her team performed when they were in Singapore for the workshop.

After the first day of experience, I really felt that the whole process of the performance was really worth watching.

Day 3 - Burmese Marionettes - Learning & Experiencing the Arts & Traditions

It marks the last day of workshop and I really came to understand more about Burmese Marionettes the Arts & Traditions.

For the past three days me and my whole team had learn and practice throughout the workshop on how to move the puppets smoothly and in nice way. It was really not easy as we need to multi task, moving the puppets in a way that follows the beat of the music.

At the last two hours of workshop, talented students had to put up a performance to wrap up this Burmese Marionettes - Learning & Experiencing the Arts & Traditions workshop. They really did a good job during the performance as they were only given 3 days to practice. Of course not forgetting the awesome performance that was performed by founder & puppeteers.

Is Burmese Marionettes really a dying art form? 

Is Burmese Marionettes modernising to attract the younger generation? 

Let's find out soon...