Film museum collection threatened by renovation delays
June 30, 2016 | In the PressFrom Myanmar Times (http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/lifestyle/21134-film-museum-collection-threatened-by-renovation-delays.html)
U Aye Kyu Lay, the organisation’s vice chair, said the museum had been closed for repairs four months ago, but since the start of monsoon, rain had been coming through the roof every day.
“We’re afraid more damage will be caused, but we are still working in the interior of the building,” he said.
The MMPO has raised K1 billion for renovation, but it will not be enough, he said.
“We discussed rebuilding the museum, but the membership of the working committee changed and the plans were delayed. We need to replace the antiques inside the museum, too, so we need more funds,” said U Aye Kyu Lay.
Once renovated, the two-storey, half-timbered museum in the MMPO compound on Wingabar Road, Bahan township, will have a photo section room, a small cinema that screens only old Myanmar movies, and more antiques that are not already on display. These include Myanmar’s first movie camera, which was made from a wooden box and worked by hand, and other objects from the early era of film that have been stored separately and shown only to select visitors like international film organisations.
The museum is located in the former offices of the A-One film production company, which bought the building in 1946. In 1995, the silver jubilee of Myanmar film was celebrated in Yangon. At that time, the then-information minister was a member of the working committee.
“Before the celebration, we invited donations even of small things that were connected to Myanmar film. Unexpectedly, people from all over the country came forward to donate all kinds of artefacts, including pamphlets and photos,” said U Aye Kyu Lay.
After the celebration, the working committee decided to display the memorabilia. The MMPO was moved to larger premises and its original offices became the film museum in 1998.
