For someone who have lived in France for decades, the premise of this "romance" is impossible. You just can't arrive in France and work without a work permit. Secondly, if you can't speak French, you will be incapable of calling upon the multiple tradesmen and services needed. Finally, the lighthouse may be subject to stringent building codes, especially if it has been designated as a historical entity.
It would have made more sense to cast the interior architect as a Frenchman, or even another European (who can work in France). If you wish to cast an American, it should be one who is binational, or at least bilingual with decades of working in France; they do exist. There are many fine trained English-competent actors in France besides Gilles Marini in the chosen age group.
Even Moriah's decision to be an artisan in France, a country with one of the oldest training guilds in craft, the Compagnons du Devoir, which is a rotational apprenticeship program of several years with Master Craftsmen around France. I doubt that anyone could compete with a Compagnon in any specific craft in terms of technique, historical context and even accreditation. When the Statue of Liberty required some metal recladding and repair, metal craftsmen Compagnons were recruited as one of the few craftsmen worldwide who work with such materials. The same when the Ante Bellum Colonial buildings were damaged by hurricane Hugo; only the Compagnons had the craftsmen who could repair and reproduced architectural elements long lost in N. America.
Basically, the premise is so far-fetched that it destroyed the real potential for a good romance in a magical setting. What's next, setting the Beauty and the Beast in skyscraper?
It would have made more sense to cast the interior architect as a Frenchman, or even another European (who can work in France). If you wish to cast an American, it should be one who is binational, or at least bilingual with decades of working in France; they do exist. There are many fine trained English-competent actors in France besides Gilles Marini in the chosen age group.
Even Moriah's decision to be an artisan in France, a country with one of the oldest training guilds in craft, the Compagnons du Devoir, which is a rotational apprenticeship program of several years with Master Craftsmen around France. I doubt that anyone could compete with a Compagnon in any specific craft in terms of technique, historical context and even accreditation. When the Statue of Liberty required some metal recladding and repair, metal craftsmen Compagnons were recruited as one of the few craftsmen worldwide who work with such materials. The same when the Ante Bellum Colonial buildings were damaged by hurricane Hugo; only the Compagnons had the craftsmen who could repair and reproduced architectural elements long lost in N. America.
Basically, the premise is so far-fetched that it destroyed the real potential for a good romance in a magical setting. What's next, setting the Beauty and the Beast in skyscraper?