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: Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Continental Location: Asia
What They Call Themselves: Hong Kong People/ Hongkongers
Secondary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Victoria [capital], Kowloon.
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar
Starter Phrases:
Hello: Neih hou (NEE how)
Welcome: Foonying
How are you?: Neih hou ma? (NEE how MAH?)
Fine, Thank you: hou hou (how how)
Goodbye: joigin (joy-geen)
Thank you: dojeh – for a gift; mgoi – for a service
You’re welcome: msai
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Jackie Chan, John Woo, Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Stephen Chow (actor, “Kung Fu Hustle”, & “Shaolin Soccer”).
-Hong Kong was officially returned to China by the British in 1997, after being a colony since 1842. They drive on the left-hand side. Hong Kong still boasts a large fleet of double-decker buses used for public transportation.
-The official name is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is a largely self-governing territory of the People’s Republic of China (mainland China). Hong Kong, itself, is an island, although portions of the territory are a peninsula.
-The regional flag of Hong Kong is usually flown with the Chinese national flag. The flower in the center is a Bauhinia Blakensis, a species unique to Hong Kong. The natives of Hong Kong speak and write Cantonese Chinese; while those from mainland China speak and write Mandarin Chinese.
-Popular movies that were filmed in Hong Kong include “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”; “Kung Fu Hustle”; “The Dark Knight”; “Enter The Dragon”; and “Rush Hour”.
-Hong Kong hosted the equestrian events for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
-The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the sixth largest in the world.
-The unique and very tall skyline of Hong Kong is a result of having the world’s greatest number of skyscrapers, at 7,650. It is the world’s “most vertical city.”
-The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway in Hong Kong, which carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. Running from Central district to Victoria Peak via the Mid-Levels, it provides the most direct route and offers good views over the harbor and skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
What To Avoid:
They may not get references to cartoon superhero “Hong Kong Phooey.”
Confusion with Mainland Chinese who speak a different dialect.
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: Hong Kong
Country: Hong Kong
Continental Location: Asia
What They Call Themselves: Hong Kong People/ Hongkongers
Secondary Language: English
Prominent Cities: Victoria [capital], Kowloon.
Currency: Hong Kong Dollar
Starter Phrases:
Hello: Neih hou (NEE how)
Welcome: Foonying
How are you?: Neih hou ma? (NEE how MAH?)
Fine, Thank you: hou hou (how how)
Goodbye: joigin (joy-geen)
Thank you: dojeh – for a gift; mgoi – for a service
You’re welcome: msai
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Jackie Chan, John Woo, Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Stephen Chow (actor, “Kung Fu Hustle”, & “Shaolin Soccer”).
-Hong Kong was officially returned to China by the British in 1997, after being a colony since 1842. They drive on the left-hand side. Hong Kong still boasts a large fleet of double-decker buses used for public transportation.
-The official name is Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. It is a largely self-governing territory of the People’s Republic of China (mainland China). Hong Kong, itself, is an island, although portions of the territory are a peninsula.
-The regional flag of Hong Kong is usually flown with the Chinese national flag. The flower in the center is a Bauhinia Blakensis, a species unique to Hong Kong. The natives of Hong Kong speak and write Cantonese Chinese; while those from mainland China speak and write Mandarin Chinese.
-Popular movies that were filmed in Hong Kong include “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”; “Kung Fu Hustle”; “The Dark Knight”; “Enter The Dragon”; and “Rush Hour”.
-Hong Kong hosted the equestrian events for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
-The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the sixth largest in the world.
-The unique and very tall skyline of Hong Kong is a result of having the world’s greatest number of skyscrapers, at 7,650. It is the world’s “most vertical city.”
-The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway in Hong Kong, which carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. Running from Central district to Victoria Peak via the Mid-Levels, it provides the most direct route and offers good views over the harbor and skyscrapers of Hong Kong.
What To Avoid:
They may not get references to cartoon superhero “Hong Kong Phooey.”
Confusion with Mainland Chinese who speak a different dialect.
