“In my opinion, audiences enjoy watching all kinds of movies, from all genres. But because so many people watch the Korean drama serials every night, they crave locally-made comedies. If the Korean shows on the MRTV and Myawaddy television networks were comedies, people would crave Myanmar drama movies,”

“There are many weaknesses in today’s film production industry. We don’t have the financial capability to create action, science-fiction and war movies, while there are strict rules that hamper the production of romance films. I think most people have enough drama in their life already without needing to watch more in the cinema, so comedy is really the only genre left that we can produce,”

“High quality, multi-function hand phones started entering the market earlier this year. Most people buy multifunction hand phones with a camera. The models are of medium price range. The demand is for hand phones that have multi-function access for entertainment purposes,”

“We [Myanmar] are not couch potatoes, but we love to enjoy the beautiful tapestry of Myanmar life, its traditions and cuisines, its different races, cultures and customs. We’re also very curious about neighbouring countries – it’s like being able to see the world from your own home,”

“It’s costly. I usually play at Canary internet shop in Kyauktada township, which charges K400 per hour and K500 when there is no electricity and they have to use the generator,” Ko Soe Aung said. “It also takes up a lot of time. How can you work or get a job when you are playing eight hours a day?”

“Everything can be a joke if you see the funny side. There is no one who doesn’t like jokes. And what is a problem for one person can be a source of laughs for others. But making jokes is not easy. If you don’t know how to make people laugh, you’ll be in trouble. Audiences are patient with other types of acting, but a comedian that who can’t make them laugh will soon know about it,”

“We read stories for pleasure; they entertain us. And we read them for profit; they enlighten us. Stories draw us into their imaginative worlds and engage us with the power of their invention. They provide us with more than the immediate interest of narrative – of something happening – and more than the pleasures of imagination: they enlarge our understanding of ourselves and deepen our appreciation of life”.

“Often we will try to predict the result of a football match with friends over a few beers while we are waiting for the match to start. Once it has started, we can support our favourite side by yelling, clapping and cheering, calling out the names of the players,”

Being handed a weapon, even a completely harmless one, was a momentous occasion: Instantly the months of training fell away and we regressed to being kids, playing pirates with our plastic swords. Of course, our sensei scolded us and then decided our lack of wushu discipline on this occasion meant that no, in fact, we weren’t ready to wield a weapon of any kind. We have not been offered the chance again.