Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong? Where do I fit in?

[Gnome]

Well I've been reading up a lot of useful information in the forums and it has all been very helpful so far. I hope this isn't a repeated thread, I tried to research as much as I possibly could before posting. So basically I took a Chinese Language course at my college and the instructor is pushing me to apply for a scholarship at the Confucius Institute, I think its just a standard CSC scholarship. I am currently working for Rosetta Stone with their new Totale software in the Mandarin Language program. By the time I get ready to head to China I will have at least a year of language study under my belt.

Alright now that you have some basic information here is my question. Which city should I apply for? University within the city is important but as of now I need to know which city works better for my situation. I'm a software engineering student and will be graduating with my Bachelors in June 2010. I don't thoroughly enjoy software but I need a 4 year degree, so in my spare time I do a lot of video work. I film, edit and produce stuff on a professional basis all the time. I'm also an actor and stuntman. I want to pick a city that will not only help me learn Mandarin, but will also have opportunities for work, and students with the same interest.

Any help you guys could give me would be greatly appreciated. I will be applying in the Spring for a 6-9 month study starting in September. I might consider staying longer if I find a job that pays well, or I will come back to Seattle, WA and find a job that allows me to travel back and forth. I really want to get into Chinese Movies or at least independent films with other students. I'm also interested in the new Chinese culture as it expands and traditional Chinese culture.

Here are some of my stunt reels.

http://www.vimeo.com/6407239

http://www.vimeo.com/5509976

http://www.vimeo.com/5136025

Crash Reel

[ktszsan]

Here are a couple of objective points to consider:

1. If the dialect you intend to work on is Mandarin, Hong Kong is out of the list. Although Mandarin is a national dialect, and an increasing number of people in Hong Kong are becoming fluent in Mandarin, living in a city where the population speaks both only adds to the confusion of the originally difficult language to tackle.

2. If you're leaning towards film production and technology, you have a better shot at networking in Hong Kong than Shanghai or Beijing. Both realms of media and technology have a considerable number of censorship in China - you have to be careful about creativity. While in Hong Kong, which is governed by the Basic Law, and a large part of it still more British than Chinese, you'd have a higher degree of freedom in your creation along the lines of your work.

3. If you are looking for high monetary gains, Hong Kong again stands out. Hong Kong ranks #1 as the world's freest economy for 15 consecutive years by Wall Street Journal, and it is also the home of the highest number of millionaires per capita in the world. Plus, there are more English speakers and obviously more people who are "trilingual" (speaks English, Cantonese and Mandarin), you'll be more likely to succeed in finding a high-paying job.

Here's my subjective opinion, adding to the above points:

If #2 and #3 matter to you, then I'd suggest that you go with learning Cantonese instead of Mandarin, especially if you are uncertain about relocating to China for a long period of time. Cantonese is more often heard in Chinatown's throughout the States and the world - if you don't use it in Hong Kong, you can use it in Seattle.

[Gnome]

Well perhaps Hong Kong is out of the equation then. I don't have any interest in learning Cantonese, at least not until I get a really good grasp on Mandarin. I guess my question now becomes Beijing or Shanghai? I've read a few reviews here saying that Shanghai is a bit more ghetto, but also more developed. Any thoughts on this?

[ktszsan]

I wouldn't necessarily say Shanghai is more "ghetto" than Beijing. Obviously, both cities have areas that are shady, but that's the same with most places in the world. If you avoid going out late at night to places you probably shouldn't go, you usually won't have a problem.

I'm not sure what factors may play a role in your choice, but here are a few more things to consider:

1. Accent + Dialect: Beijing-ers' Mandarin Chinese (although classified as "standard" Mandarin Chinese) also has an interesting accent with heavy "r" sounds. You rarely hear that outside of Beijing - and that's a lot of Chinese who speak Mandarin without that accent. You may or may not become confused with the differences. Similarly, Shanghai has its own dialect which you'd often hear while you're there. Generally speaking, it sounds like a completely different language despite the similarities in grammar.

2. "Hip-ness": Your research is correct - Shanghai is without doubt a hipper city than Beijing. For the younger generation, it will definitely be more appealing for its impressive architecture and notorious nightlife. But that doesn't mean that Shanghai is "more dangerous" than Beijing, as I have my fair share of stories. With your background in IT, Shanghai would probably be a more logical choice. Plus, you're more likely to network better in Shanghai rather than Beijing as it is a port city and is the center of trade in China (not counting Hong Kong). Business-oriented elites and the smart and younger crowd are likely to be found in Shanghai other than Beijing, thus you get a more diverse crowd. You may get a general sense that people in Shanghai are more "civilized" (personal opinion).

3. Weather: Shanghai is much more humid and warmer than Beijing. There are signs of dessertification (sand blowing from the dessert due to global climate change) in Beijing. Neither city is going to be good for your respiratory system, but at least Beijing has become more restrictive on smoking in public places since the Olympics.

[roddy]

Sounds like you might be best off at either a 'sports' school - ie, in Beijing there's a 首都体育学院 - or a ‘performing arts' school - again in Beijing, something like the 中央戏剧学院. There are others, and Shanghai no doubt has equivalents - find a list of Chinese universities online and browse through the Beijing and Shanghai listings. They'll all do Chinese language classes, plus there will be plenty of people around interested in the same things. The most prestigious ones are probably in Beijing, but that doesn't mean necessarily best for your needs.

However, if you're going via the CSC scholarship, there's no guarantee you'll get the school, or even city, you want.

[gato]

Mainland China's film and television industry is concentrated in Beijing. That might be a consideration.

[Gnome]

Thank you, that was all very helpful. It seems that both places would have what I'm looking for. I wish I had a chance to take a trip to Shanghai and Beijing before applying. I will do a bit more research on specific institutes and see if I find something that really sticks out.

[myann23]

If you want to film in film, it's Beijing hands down. Most of the major film companies are there. Unfortunately, the Hong Kong film industry is sort of dying, as many of the companies are opening up offices in Beijing and focusing on mainland pics. Shanghai has some companies, but not nearly as much as Beijing.

Gotta really push hard on the Chinese if you want to work in the industry. Take 2 years off if you can - you're still young. The government is gradually opening up the industry and overall it looks promising, but there are still obstacles.

[cui ruide]

2. "Hip-ness": Your research is correct - Shanghai is without doubt a hipper city than Beijing. For the younger generation, it will definitely be more appealing for its impressive architecture and notorious nightlife. But that doesn't mean that Shanghai is "more dangerous" than Beijing, as I have my fair share of stories. With your background in IT, Shanghai would probably be a more logical choice. Plus, you're more likely to network better in Shanghai rather than Beijing as it is a port city and is the center of trade in China (not counting Hong Kong). Business-oriented elites and the smart and younger crowd are likely to be found in Shanghai other than Beijing, thus you get a more diverse crowd. You may get a general sense that people in Shanghai are more "civilized" (personal opinion).

My personal experience is to the contrary--music and art seem to be based in Beijing, with some form of rock, punk, folk, ethnic, international music show any night of the week. I live in Gulou and I can't throw a rock without hitting something "hip." I went to a Carsick Cars show in Shanghai this summer, and was underwhelmed with the crowd's energy. The week before they played in Beijing and it was a riot. I'd agree that there's a lot of "business-oriented elites" and a "smart and young crowd" and very glamorous, but without a doubt Beijing is the center of diversity--there are people here from all over China and the world--young and old, both. I went out three nights in a row with young folks I know living and working there, and frankly I was a little bored.

In addition to the professional and institutionalized film-related opportunities here, I can personally vouch for an amateur scene as well. There's at least one very dedicated group on Beijingstuff.com

[ktszsan]

Again, the hip-ness part was more of an opinion from personal experience --- from visiting both places, I felt Beijing to be more "segregated" while Shanghai was generally "younger".

I think our diverse suggestions/input would all contribute to Gnome's choice

[Gnome]

Your outlooks are definitely giving me a lot to think about. It seems like both places hold my interests, and although I'd really enjoy the business oriented smart generation of shanghai, I think Beijing might be a better choice. Simply for the fact that I want as much diversity as possible with lots of opportunities to work my video editing, acting and stunt career.

What are your thoughts on the Beijing Film Institute? Would that be a good place for me to apply or should I stick to a Sports Institute?