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MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 1 MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 1 BUSINESS ALLIANCE HUB ENTERTAINMENT In Association with FILM MYANMAR ENTERTAINMENT Presents A Christina Kyi Film MUDRAS CALLING Written and Directed By Christina Kyi Starring Zenn Kyi Hla Yin Kyae Nann Wai Wai Htun Contact Information: Mona Strassburger Gabrielle Kelly Producer Transmedia Producer/ [email protected] Press Inquiries + 95 9 97406 7275 (Myanmar) [email protected] + 1 818 254 9282 (USA) 323 273 1601 (USA) © Business Alliance Hub Entertainment MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 2 CONTENTS Key Credits 3 Cast 4 Full Production Credits 6 Short Synopsis (250 words) 9 Logline – Full Synopsis (1,637 words) 10 Director’s Statement 14 About Myanmar Cinema 16 About the Production 18 About the Filmmakers 21 About the Cast 29 MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 3 BUSINESS ALLIANCE HUB ENTERTAINMENT In Association with FILM MYANMAR ENTERTAINMENT Presents A Christina Kyi Film MUDRAS CALLING Written and Directed By Christina Kyi Starring Zenn Kyi Hla Yin Kyae Nann Wai Wai Htun EXECUTIVE PRODUCER YE MIN CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS TAVORN STRASSBURGER, GUS STRASSBURGER, NWE NWE OO, THIN MYAT WIN, CHRISTINA KYI TRANSMEDIA PRODUCER GABRIELLE KELLY PRODUCED BY MONA STRASSBURGER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MAUNG MAUNG THA MYINT EDITED BY CENTRAL BASE PRODUCTION MUSIC SCORING AND SOUND DESIGN ZENN KYI SCREENPLAY BY CHRISTINA KYI DIRECTED BY CHRISTINA KYI MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 4 CAST Jaden Williams Zenn Kyi Hnin Thu Zar Hla Yin Kyae Nu Nu Nann Wai Wai Htun Sai Gyi Nyi Nyi Min Mya Wai Mari Cole Dr. Ye Maung Wunna Kyaw Nurse Thet Hter Shwun Pyae Paing Young Jaden Noah Lynnhtet Kyi Baby Jaden Myat Ko Young Sai Gyi Htoo U Moe Aung Win Htut Kyaw Daw Mya Mya Swe Zein Htike Thagyee Zaw Mhine Young Thagyee Ko Ko Zaw Mhine Bagan Musician Su Aw Chel Medicine Man Thit Htoo District Official Aung Kyaw Sai Lu Shin Mwe La Bagan Dancers Pyae Phyo Aung Thuzar Hlaing Bicycle Group MSL Mandalay Service of Language Kabyalut Dancer Chaw Su Hlaing Khaing Khaing Sabe Tin Zar Myo Maung Naw Ae Shee Phaw Master of Ceremony Thaung Nyunt Groom Bo Bo Bride Kyi Kyi Sein Parents Khin Yee Tin Htwe Kyi Win Mya Mya Sein Guests of Honor at Karaweit Sindhu Sagar Borja De Benito Porto Alessandro Rettondini Joanna Barnard Javier Curras Philippa Beale Nazrul Islam Borbala Kalman Richard Lacort Eduardo De Benito Luca Sartorelli MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 5 Alycia Ebbinghaus-Owens Felicity Gapes Mohammad Arshad Nicole Gray Cassim Mohame Elena Lopez Rey Miguel Matias Barreiro Alte’ Bester Masako Kataoka Tony Monaghan Leslie Maccracken Tassawar Xylophonist Soe Thiha’ Hnin’s Friends May Phoo Ko Nay Chi Su Zin Moe Htet Wint May Akari Htoo Yangon Driver Zaw Ko Ko Couple Crossing Street Myat Min Ei Khaing Thida Saw Wutyi Hlaing Airport Kyaw Win Maung Kyaw Lin Aung Gu Guu Moe Kyal Sin Myat Thandar Ko Win Pa Pa Kyaing Tha Pyay Nyo Motorboat Driver Ko Yin Inle Villager Kyaw Htun Inle Villager Lone Soe Inle Relative Han Win Set Inle Relative Daw Hla Inle Relative Daw Hter Inle Shan Drums Group Sai Loan and Group Medical Tent Patients New Ni Zarni Nyein Chan Myat Ko Htet Myat Moe Kyo Pyit MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 6 FULL PRODUCTION CREDITS Director Christina Kyi Screenwriter Christina Kyi Executive Producer Ye Min Producer Mona Strassburger Co-Executive Producers Tavorn Strassburger Gus Strassburger Nwe Nwe Oo Thin Myat Win Christina Kyi Transmedia Producer Gabrielle Kelly Assistant Director Khaing Mya Mya Soe Director of Photography Maung Maung Tha Myint Production Manager Pyae Pyae Edited by Central Base Production Assistant DP Ko Min Ko Mee Hlaning Thar Yar Aung Myo Oo Behind the Scenes Camera Saw Win Htut Costume Designer Soe Soe Nyan Make-up Artist Ahnge Lay (Lin Lin Artist) Location Sound Mixer Myo Ko (Miracle Post) Boom Operator Kyaw Zaya (Miracle Post) Drone Operator Nyana (MAV) Technical Personnel Phyo Nge Ye Zarni Thurain Htun Bagan Dance Set Designer Ko Nanda Kyaw Still Photographer Myittar Win Aung Gaffer Phyo Kyaw (Aung Pyae Sone) Htet Myat Aung Assistant Gaffers Kyaw Lwin Nyein Chan San Min Thet Zaw Ye Naing Lin Ka Yin Than Htay Inle Lighting Crew Zay Yar Win Ko Myo Dolly and Crane Mon Gyi Group Myo Min Group Production Assistant U Hla Myint MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 7 Lone Soe Kyaw Htun Bo Bo Ko Aung Kyaw Myint Editor Central Base Production Online Editor Central Base Production Editing Consultant Pauline Casalis Color Grading Central Base Production ADR Session Supervision Central Base Production Protools Operators Ko Ko Min (Pro Studio) Nay Oo (Pro Studio) Sound Design and Mixing Zenn Kyi Music Scoring Zenn Kyi Composer/Music Supervisor Zenn Kyi Dance Choreographer U Win Maung (Shweman) – Bagan Dance Htait Tin San – Thone Pan Hla’ Bagan Dance Htait Tin San Thone Pan Hla History Consultants U Win Pe U Win Htut Kyaw Script Editor Susan Sojourna Collier Acting Coach Thierry Bleu Traditional Musicians - Thiri Mg Mg and Group (Recorded at Wai Yan Studio) Sai Wine (Drum Circle) Thiri Mg Mg Six Drum Set Hla Htut Gong Circle Wai Yan Mg Mg Timing Bells & Clapper San Sint Mg Mg Oboe/Flute San Lwin Harp Song (Recorded at String Studio) Harpist Cho Thway All the music for the movie were recorded at: Pro Studio String Studio Esus5 Studio Original Soundtrack “Destiny” written & performed by Zenn Kyi Band - Rose of Sharon (ROS) Recorded @ Esus5 Studio Vocal Track recorded @ Pro Studio Mixed and Mastered by Kyaw Zay Ya @ Pro Studio MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 8 Sponsors Wellwoman/Wellman by Vitabiotics Ltd UK Shwe Ingyinn Hotel (Mandalay) Bagan Hotel River View, a member of KMA Hotels Hupin Hotel Nyaung Shwe Hupin Inle Khaung Daing Village Resort Business Alliance Hotel (Yangon) Golden Myanmar Airlines Mya Nandar Restaurant (Mandalay) Easia Travel (Yangon) Oriental Ballooning (Bagan) Amata Boutique House (Bagan) Bagan House Lacquerware Shwe Pyi Nann Thanakha Gallery (Bagan) Aythaya Vineyard (Taung Gyi) Aung Nan, Myanmar Handicrafts Workshop (Mandalay) Special Thanks Daw Swe Zin Htike U Maung Thin (SIG Group) U Aung Gyi (MD, Golden Myanmar Airlines) Mr. Bert Morsbach (Founder, Aythaya Vineyard) U Maw Maw Aung (Bagan House Lacquerware) U Ye Min Thu (Aung Nan, Proprietor) Ma Saung Klyar (Easia Travel) Daw Stella Kyaw Win (Group General Manager, KMA Hotels Group) Ma Khine Moe Moe Wint Mr. Ashok Kumar (Wellman/Wellwoman) Mr. Vipul Singal (Wellman/Wellwoman) L’Alchimiste Restaurant (Yangon) Nway Zin Myint Aung U Thein Tun Aung U Zarganar U Lu Min (Chairman, MMPO) MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 9 MUDRAS CALLING SHORT SYNOPSIS (243 words) Myanmar born, US-raised music student Jaden, makes his way through the crowded streets of Yangon, Myanmar to research his thesis on Burmese traditional music. His guide, beautiful and proud Burmese dancer Hnin Thuzar, accompanies him as he travels through the unique landscape of Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake in Shan State. When he asks her help locating his birth parents, their journey takes on another dimension. As he gets to know her, their cultural divide becomes more apparent, but it takes a tragic accident to make him realize he’s falling in love with her. Directed by Christina Kyi, “Mudras Calling” is both a personal exploration of birth roots and a love story. Even as he is entranced by Hnin’s beauty, strength and sense of self, his world is thrown into turmoil. As he explores Myanmar, discovering the timeless landscapes and the deep rooted faith of its many tribes, he finds out unexpected truths about himself. While Jaden is provoked to question his own world view, Hnin fights for her life after a terrible accident. By saving her, he’s able to save himself. Whether they can overcome their differences is an open question, but the ‘mudras’ of the title - hand gestures that call out to Buddha, seem to beckon him back to Myanmar. From the medicine man to the musicians, as the love story unfolds against life and death, we travel in our own way through the history of this long hidden country – Myanmar. MUDRAS CALLING - Press Kit - Page 10 MUDRAS CALLING FULL SYNOPSIS (1,637 words) LOG LINE – When US-raised Jaden returns to his birthplace Myanmar, to search for his roots, he discovers a shocking truth, a new love and ultimately a possible future in his homeland. Seemingly all-American Jaden arrives in the chaos and heat of Myanmar’s vibrant capital city Yangon. For him it is a two fold journey from the USA; to research his thesis on Burmese music and to find his birth parents. On his first night in Yangon he is awakened by a disturbing dream of a crying baby. As he showers we see a distinctive birthmark on his back and the dream is quickly forgotten. Exploring the teeming streets the next day he comes across a dance performance by a striking performer whom he photographs. Her name is Hnin, a travel agent and guide who ends up planning his trip through Myanmar. She invites Jaden to join her at Shwedagon Pagoda, a shimmering gold monument and sacred destination for all Burmese. Asked about his faith and finding out he has none, both Hnin and her friend Nu Nu are surprised. In their culture religion and family are everything. When Hnin learns to her surprise, that Jaden was actually born in Myanmar, her pride is stung. She asks why he concealed the information. He is taken aback but as he is starting to have feelings for her, he doesn’t explain or defend himself as they head off to Bagan. In Bagan, home of hot air balloons floating over a sea of stupas, the sacred landmarks of the region, he meets with traditional musicians to record their work and starts to feel at home.
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