YANGON, MYANMAR – In Myanmar, it has long been a cherished tradition to hold a prayer ceremony before the commencement of a film production, seeking blessings for the success of the project and praying for the safety, well-being, and protection of everyone involved. Honoring this meaningful cultural tradition, Mandalay Productions hosted the first prayer ceremony at Dhamma Nanda Vihara Monastery in Half Moon Bay, California, for the Burmese American feature film, followed by the second prayer ceremony at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. These two ceremonies, held on opposite sides of the world, represented an important spiritual connection between the U.S. and Myanmar teams as they prepared to embark on the ambitious production journey of Myittar.

The primary purpose of these ceremonies was to seek blessings for the official launch of production and principal photography of this first co-produced Burmese American feature film, while also offering heartfelt prayers for the many disadvantaged orphans in Myanmar whom the project seeks to support. The ceremonies further reflected the team’s sincere hope for the safety and well-being of both Mandalay Productions teams in Myanmar and the United States throughout the demanding filming schedule. By bringing together cultural tradition, spiritual reflection, and the charitable purpose at the heart of Myittar, these prayer ceremonies marked a deeply meaningful beginning to the production, uniting everyone involved around a shared hope for a successful journey and a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable children.