Film Release: "Yangon Street Songs" from Myanmar

"Yangon Street Songs" is a brief walk through the streets of Yangon, following and listening to the songs of the street vendors. The film is Creative Commons.

"Melodies ring through the streets of Yangon, Myanmar. From female monks giving blessings, to the singing of a street vendor selling sweet drinks, or a bus driver belting out the stops - Yangon hums with music."

Press Kit: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6CR5YjelTyeajUwV2RGWUhZS0E/view?usp=sharing

Yangon Street Songs (2016) Time: 2’13” • Myanmar

MULTIMEDIA
At YouTube • https://youtu.be/YY9mbXeZZNo At Vimeo • https://vimeo.com/154819874 Photos At Flickr • https://flic.kr/s/aHsktq3BjC

SUMMARY
Melodies ring through the streets of Yangon, Myanmar. From female monks giving blessings, to the singing of a street vendor selling sweet drinks, or a bus driver belting out the stops - Yangon hums with music.

STORY
Many of vendors in Yangon still use an ancient tool to advertise their goods and services - their voice. This short film highlights a handful of people communicating with the public through song. Two female monks walk the streets asking in song for food. At a bus stop, a ticket salesmen melodically calls out where his busses are going. A young man cries out in quiet residential streets, offering to buy old mattresses. Then there are the songs of drinks vendors and broom salesmen.

INTERVIEW WITH RYAN ANDERSON (DIRECTOR)
“My ears perked up when I was walking through Yangon’s side streets. I kept hearing sounds - songs and calls - which have died out a long time ago in most other parts of the world. I heard the music of people communicating, selling, through song. Isn’t it odd to think that at one time, humans around the world advertised their goods and services using just with the power of their voice? In particular, the young mattress vendor, he had such a clear powerful voice. He could compete with any young person studying opera at a music conservatory. And the vendors in Yangon, they have to sing. If they were to shout all day, they’d grow horse and loose their voices. I went back to my hotel and told the receptionist about my discovery and she was like, “Oh yeah, the mattress song? I know that song. It goes like this...”.

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OXLAEY • For the Modern Explorer • www.oxlaey.com

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• 2015 • Artist in Residence mygeorgetown / Think City • Malaysia
• 2015 • Official Selection • 60 Seconds or Less Video Festival • Just a Minute Video Festival • "Bricks"
• 2014 • 1st Place • ACA • "Last Ride to Crimea?"
• 2014 • Finalist • Smithsonian In Motion • "Bleached Hands"

OXLAEY MEDIA

OXLAEY is a not-for-profit project, creating short videos about up-worthy people. We focus on people expressing their local culture through work, beliefs, music, food, and tradition. We aspire to entertain while making a contribution towards documenting our world’s heritage. Our films are shot to be mobile-phone-sized windows on the world for modern explorers.

All OXLAEY films and unedited interviews are shared for free on the internet under a Creative Commons license. We seek to cooperate with others (media, bloggers, etc) in order to reach a larger audience and better showcase the stories and people we film.

We change the world - by setting an example that top-quality multimedia can be produced without money; by encouraging the individuals filmed in our stories through the act of filming them; and by sharing positive, authentic stories which fuel empathy and connect us with each other.

OXLAEY is led by Ryan Anderson and supported by an ever-changing group of professionals, volunteering their time and skills. You can boost the project by working with us on a short film, sharing our films with friends, or by donating gear, advertising space, lodging, a meal, or even cash.

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Contact Person: Ryan Anderson
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This release was published on openPR.