Improving the World... One Interaction At A Time.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Australia
Improve the World: Australia
Country: Australia
What They Call Themselves: Aussies
Primary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Canberra [capital], Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
Famous/ Historical sites: Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock.
Currency: Australian Dollar
Starter Phrases:
Hello: G’Day (short for Good day)
You’re Welcome: No worries
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Cate Blanchett (Oscar winning actress); Ian Thrope (Olympic swimmer); Nicole Kidman; Hugh Jackman; Russell Crowe (Oscar winning actor actually born in New Zealand); Heath Ledger (Oscar winning actor); Mel Gibson (actually born in the USA); George Miller (director, “Mad Max”, “Babe”).
-Australia is the world’s smallest continent and its largest island.
-Although independent, Australia is part of the (formerly British) Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II is their reigning monarch. She is referred to as the Queen of Australia. They also drive on the left hand side.
-Australia is made up of 6 states and 2 territories. The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The territories are the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory, where the capital Canberra is located.
-The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef, lies a short distance off the north east coast and extends for over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
-Native to Australia are animals like the dingo, kangaroo, koala, and the wombat; the sal****er and freshwater crocodiles; and birds such as the emu and kookaburra. Plants like eucalyptus are indigenous there, too. The Tasmanian Devils is a rodent native to the island of Tasmania.
-Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), are iconic rock formations located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory.
-Professional Cricket is as big in Australia as baseball is here. A single game of Cricket is called a match or a test match (against an international opponent). Ricky Ponting is their national team captain and on par with Derek Jeter & Manny Ramirez for success, endorsements, and controversy.
-The indigenous people of Australia are the Aborigines.
-The “Mad Max” trilogy was filmed in Australia.
-Australia hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
What to Avoid:
Confusion with Kiwis (A.K.A New Zealanders).
Its history as a penal colony.
Russell Crowe’s ability to chuck a telephone or his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
A Performers Guide to Cultural Interactions
By William Draven
As an actor at a major motion picture studio, and theme park in Hollywood, as well as a magician I frequently get the opportunity to entertain for from all over the world. A year ago or so a document was released within our entertainment department that outlined different countries, and some good information you can use to create meaningful, lasting encounters with their people.
I immediately saw the advantage of this information for the magician community because what are we if not entertainers? We can use just about any tool at our disposal to help create that one magic moment with our audience that can make it even that much more memorable. So I got permission to share the information with you. Of course this project will take some time to post up, so I'll be updating this based upon two factors. The first being how well received, and appreciated it is from you the community, and the second how relevant the community feels this information is as applied to their lives. That is to say if not encouraged, I won't keep it up. Otherwise, I'll post new threads titled: "Improving The World: {country name}" that that specific file relates to.
Without any further delay, I bring you our next country: Australia
Improve the World: Australia
Country: Australia
What They Call Themselves: Aussies
Primary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Canberra [capital], Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.
Famous/ Historical sites: Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock.
Currency: Australian Dollar
Starter Phrases:
Hello: G’Day (short for Good day)
You’re Welcome: No worries
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Cate Blanchett (Oscar winning actress); Ian Thrope (Olympic swimmer); Nicole Kidman; Hugh Jackman; Russell Crowe (Oscar winning actor actually born in New Zealand); Heath Ledger (Oscar winning actor); Mel Gibson (actually born in the USA); George Miller (director, “Mad Max”, “Babe”).
-Australia is the world’s smallest continent and its largest island.
-Although independent, Australia is part of the (formerly British) Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II is their reigning monarch. She is referred to as the Queen of Australia. They also drive on the left hand side.
-Australia is made up of 6 states and 2 territories. The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. The territories are the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory, where the capital Canberra is located.
-The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef, lies a short distance off the north east coast and extends for over 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles).
-Native to Australia are animals like the dingo, kangaroo, koala, and the wombat; the sal****er and freshwater crocodiles; and birds such as the emu and kookaburra. Plants like eucalyptus are indigenous there, too. The Tasmanian Devils is a rodent native to the island of Tasmania.
-Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), are iconic rock formations located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory.
-Professional Cricket is as big in Australia as baseball is here. A single game of Cricket is called a match or a test match (against an international opponent). Ricky Ponting is their national team captain and on par with Derek Jeter & Manny Ramirez for success, endorsements, and controversy.
-The indigenous people of Australia are the Aborigines.
-The “Mad Max” trilogy was filmed in Australia.
-Australia hosted the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, and the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
What to Avoid:
Confusion with Kiwis (A.K.A New Zealanders).
Its history as a penal colony.
Russell Crowe’s ability to chuck a telephone or his band 30 Odd Foot of Grunts.
