A DECLINE in the number of Myanmar movies released this year is partly due to a rise in the number of cinemas screening DVDs, say prominent members of the film industry.

The chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organisation, U Myint Thein Pe, said 13 films were due to premiere this year but only six had been released by the end of September.

He said 16 movies had been released last year.

U Myint Thein Pe said the organisation had urged the film industry to do what it could to meet its production plans for the year.

U Min Din, the manager of Myo Ma cinema on Bogyoke Aung San Road, said there was no doubt that screenings of DVDs were contributing to a fall in audience numbers for film productions.

It was a challenge to attract big audiences to Myanmar films, he said.
U Min Din said many cinemas were screening DVDs of Myanmar and foreign movies while those with more upmarket facilities were using projectors to show films made overseas.

U Thet Lwin, the chairman of Shwe Man cinema on Bargayar Road, Sanchaung township, said screened a Myanmar DVD every week during November because of the shortage of domestically made movies.

Producer Daw Min Min Thet from Phyo and Min film and video production company said uncertainty about box office takings was one of the factors influencing decisions in the movie industry to postpone productions.

“We have to give careful consideration whether to go ahead with a new film because production costs have doubled and we cannot be sure of getting a return on our investment,” she said.

Daw Min Min Thet said the risk of suffering a loss was the main reason she had postponed production of a comedy, Hnit cho a yaung htine (years of dull sales), for three months.

Daw Min Min Thet said it cost at least K90 million to make a film, while a DVD cost about K30 million and generated a faster return on investment.

Well-known director U Maung Maung Oo said the market situation was the main reason he had delayed the planned December release of his adventure movie, Pin lel ko phyat yawe (crossing the sea).

Another reason was he wanted to remake a scene before he was satisfied with the film, U Maung Maung Oo said.

U Myint Thein Pe said MMPO was planning to encourage the production of more films by supplying production companies with imported film and allowing them to pay for it after the movie was released.

U Maung Maung Oo said other challenges facing the film industry included the quality of scripts and plots.

“We have many issues to consider before we can make international standard movies,” he said.