Rebranding France and Other Imaginative Matters

The sun is coming up as the high speed train takes me south to Nice for the next five days, with the grassy landscape frosty with morning dew. It’s France, the French countryside, it’s pristene and it’s beautiful. Why would I trade five-hours-forty-minutes with such eye candy for all the hassles and expense of a one-hour-fifteen-minute flight from Orly airport? I wouldn’t.

REBRANDING FRANCE

Many of you may have seen the article in the New York Times by David Segal, on December 10th, “As Brexit Looms, Paris Tries a Business Makeover.” If you didn’t, read it now, then take notice of what’s in my proverbial crystal ball:

The British are leaving Britain thanks to Brexit. Americans are leaving the U.S. thanks to Donald Trump. The French who once left France for greener pastures in Europe, North America and other parts of the world will return to France thanks to Emmanuel Macron and his encouraging policies. That’s already happening.

All of these people, but mostly the young French who return to their beloved France, will bring with them a new proficiency in the English language, an entrepreneurial spirit, an optimistic viewpoint and a love of France that will inject a new spirit and vibrancy into the very fabric of the nation. With that there will be positive change for a much brighter future and a new way of looking at equality, economics and growth.

Mark my words. Now is the time to invest in France.

PARIS NOIR

Yesterday’s Après Midi featuring the one-hour-long documentary “Paris Noir, African Americans in the City of Light” by authors, film writers/director-producer-editors, Joanne and David Burke, attracted and amazed an overwhelming attendance of about 60 people. They first launched the film in 2016, a culmination of a 15-year labor of love. A year later, the launched a book to be its companion.

I’ve seen the film about four times and each time, I learn something new. During the Q&A we learned that while the Burkes would love nothing more than to see it aired on TV, they’d need about a $500,000 to pay for all the rights to do so, and of course, it would be impossible for them personally to fund that. I’m personally hoping that some smart producer will see the value in it and would make it available worldwide as the role of the African American in France since World War I, particularly in comparison to how they were treated in their home country, is a message that is important to spread.

For those of you who haven’t attended one of our Après Midi gatherings in the past, I urge you to plan on stopping by sometime. It’s an event that has taken place since 2003, the second Tuesday of every month except August when we take a Summer break. It’s an open and free gathering, enhanced by a speaker from the community who offers something special to share with everyone! Speakers range from authors who have a new book out to filmmakers to specialists in their fields — always a topic of interest with an open forum for questions and discussion. There is no need for registering in advance…just come any time, but the earlier you get there, the better your seat! Visit our Après Midi page to stay up on what’s up next!

Read more about yesterday’s event.

IMAGINATIVE STORM/CREATIVE FORM

For all you writers and would-be writers, before the next Après Midi in January, poet and storyteller James Navé is opening The Imaginative Storm Creative Writing and Storytelling Workshop to Parler Paris readers!

This is your chance to explore the artistic opportunities that emerge when you write through the Imaginative Storm to the Creative Form. During your time together, you’ll generate spontaneous new work inspired by movement and
improvisational exercises, insightful conversations, and traditional poems and stories recited as writing prompts. You’ll exchange ideas with your peers. You’ll learn how to use the Imaginative Storm to form techniques when you’re called
upon to teach future workshops. You’ll expand your network, have insightful breakthroughs in your writing, and walk away excited about what you plan to write and tell next.

For over twenty-five years, James Navé has traveled the world in the service of poetry, art, performance, creativity, and storytelling. He teaches people how to exhume their buried dreams, trust their creative instincts, and design life
on their terms. His signature Imaginative Storm Workshops have helped many people launch successful storytelling and writing careers.

Navé hosts Twice 5 Miles Radio on WPVMFM in Asheville, NC. He is the director The Taos Storytelling Festival. He designed The Artist’s Way Creativity Camp in Taos, NM with creativity author Julia Cameron and is a founding member of
TEDxNewYork Salon which has been hosting a weekly NYC salon since 2009. Navé is the Poetry Emcee the LEAF Festival Poetry Slam. He has facilitated writing and creativity at Timex, Canada, Pepsi, the National University of Ireland, Galway,
North Carolina Outward Bound, Gettliffe Architecture, Boulder, Create Oklahoma, LKB Coaching Associates, Paris, Adrian Leeds Real Estate Group, Paris, and The Open Center, NYC. Navé holds an MFA in Poetry from Vermont College and has
memorized over 500 poems, and performed them too, all over the world.

Don’t miss this special workshop:

DATE: January 5, 2018
TIME: 3-6:30 PM
PLACE: Upstairs at Café de la Mairie – On the corner of rue des
Archives and rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris Métro Lines 9, 3 & 11,
stations Temple, République or Arts et Métiers
PRICE: 85€

Register Now: jamesnave.com or email [email protected]

A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds
Adrian Leeds Group

Respond to Adrian

P.S. We host and promote a number of special events, seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the year. You’ll find them listed on our Conference and Events page. Be sure to check it out periodically!