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: France
Country: France
Continental Location: Western Europe
What They Call Themselves: The French, Les Francais (Lay FRAHN-say)
Primary Language: French
Prominent Cities: Paris [capital], Lyon, Marseille, Nates, Nice, Toulouse, Rouen, Calais
Well Known Historical Sites: Eiffle Tower; Normandy Beach; Mont St. Michael; The Louvre; Notre Dame Cathedral; Arc D’ Triomphe; Palace of Versailles.
Currency: The Euro
Starter Phrases:
Hello: Bon jour (Bon ZHUR)
Goodbye: Au revoir (Oh VWAH)
Please: S’il vous plait (SEE Voo PLAY)
Thank you: Merci (Mare-SEE)
You’re Welcome: De rein (Duh Ree-AN)
How are you? Ca va? (Sah-VAH)
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Nicholas Sarkozy (pronounced Sar-KO-see, the President) & Carla Bruni (pronounced BREW-nee, pop singer/ First Lady); Thierry Henry (pronounced Terry AHN-ree, soccer star); Marion Cotillard (pronounced Ko-TEE-arr, Oscar winning actress, “La Vie En Rose”); Audrey Tautou (actress, “Amelie,” “Da Vinci Code”).
-Traditional Foods: Crepes; cheeses; Champagne.
-System of government: Republic
-Soccer is called “football.” The FIFA World Cup is the biggest team sporting event outside of the Us. France were runners-up in 2006.
-Like many European countries, France empties in August as the French take weeks at a time to travel for vacations.
-France is the size of Texas.
-The Channel Tunnel or Chunnel refers to a portion of the high speed train trip that connects Paris and London via a tunnel beneath the English Channel.
-The Louvre museum in Paris is home to the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo.
-The Tour de France is the annual cycling event that ends in Paris at the end of July.
-Their major national holiday is Bastille Day (pronounced Bah-STEEL), July 14th.
-Denim, the material used to make blue jeans, gets its name from the French city, Nimes.
What To Avoid:
References to losing the World Cup in 2006. Possibly references to the culture being snooty, or snobbish.
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: France
Country: France
Continental Location: Western Europe
What They Call Themselves: The French, Les Francais (Lay FRAHN-say)
Primary Language: French
Prominent Cities: Paris [capital], Lyon, Marseille, Nates, Nice, Toulouse, Rouen, Calais
Well Known Historical Sites: Eiffle Tower; Normandy Beach; Mont St. Michael; The Louvre; Notre Dame Cathedral; Arc D’ Triomphe; Palace of Versailles.
Currency: The Euro
Starter Phrases:
Hello: Bon jour (Bon ZHUR)
Goodbye: Au revoir (Oh VWAH)
Please: S’il vous plait (SEE Voo PLAY)
Thank you: Merci (Mare-SEE)
You’re Welcome: De rein (Duh Ree-AN)
How are you? Ca va? (Sah-VAH)
Cultural Notes:
Prominent People/ Celebrities: Nicholas Sarkozy (pronounced Sar-KO-see, the President) & Carla Bruni (pronounced BREW-nee, pop singer/ First Lady); Thierry Henry (pronounced Terry AHN-ree, soccer star); Marion Cotillard (pronounced Ko-TEE-arr, Oscar winning actress, “La Vie En Rose”); Audrey Tautou (actress, “Amelie,” “Da Vinci Code”).
-Traditional Foods: Crepes; cheeses; Champagne.
-System of government: Republic
-Soccer is called “football.” The FIFA World Cup is the biggest team sporting event outside of the Us. France were runners-up in 2006.
-Like many European countries, France empties in August as the French take weeks at a time to travel for vacations.
-France is the size of Texas.
-The Channel Tunnel or Chunnel refers to a portion of the high speed train trip that connects Paris and London via a tunnel beneath the English Channel.
-The Louvre museum in Paris is home to the Mona Lisa and Venus De Milo.
-The Tour de France is the annual cycling event that ends in Paris at the end of July.
-Their major national holiday is Bastille Day (pronounced Bah-STEEL), July 14th.
-Denim, the material used to make blue jeans, gets its name from the French city, Nimes.
What To Avoid:
References to losing the World Cup in 2006. Possibly references to the culture being snooty, or snobbish.
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