Khin Maung Kyaw

Bio

Khin Maung Kyaw is a resident cinematographer and filmmaker at Tagu Films. He began his career in 2009 as a self-taught cameraperson in his hometown of Thanbyuzayat in Mon State. He graduated from the Yangon Film School in 2011. Since then, he has worked as an independent cinematographer for news agencies and shot several documentary projects, some of which have won prizes in local and international film festivals. His films include When The Boat Comes In, Home Work and The City Where they Live.

Reflection

When I was a child and did my own Shin Byu, I was afraid to sleep alone at the monastery. I had always slept with my parents before. So, this was my first time sleeping alone. But my mother told me, “You don’t have to be scared. You’re a monk now. Nothing can scare a monk. You have power.” Her words comforted me and I was able to sleep alone at the monastery.

The shoot went very well. We were fortunate enough to have a caring family who was very welcoming to our crew. Although the sun was extremely hot, the festivities made up for the extreme weather. Shin Byu is a time for a young man to become an adult after becoming a novice. Although I have been one myself, it was interesting to observe these age-old traditions as an outsider for the first time. For parents this is a time of immense pride and I was able to feel them beaming with pride on having become parents of a Shin Byu.