Dawn Treader Movie Blog: “Falling in Love in Narnia”

February 12, 2010 Paul Martin NarniaFans.com, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Movie News 63

At long last, the story that I’ve been waiting so long to reveal to the world. Here is a very special Narnia story, that happened last fall, as described by publicist Ernie Malik.

What is it like to fall in love in Narnia?

by Ernie Malik

A curious question you may think. We bring it up here, while cruising along on our third voyage through this wondrous world created by C.S. Lewis, because the wonder of love did happen…to six couples who worked on both the first and second film adaptations.

Because of the lengthy hours (60-90 per week is the norm) and concentrated amount of time a movie crew spends together practicing its craft, it is only natural that acquaintances, friendships and even romance blossom on a film shoot. The camaraderie that develops among cast-and-crew is genuine and, in some instances, enduring.

Two of those six couples were married during production of the first film, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” one being assistant director K.C. Hodenfield and his wife Roxie (a hairstylist on the show), who met on another Mark Johnson project, “The Alamo,” and wedded in the quaint seaside village of Oamaru on New Zealandʼs South Island.

Same for another couple who met on that 2003 Texas-based production and exchanged wedding vows in Narnia (Fiji, actually) — production supervisor Rich Ê»Slabʼ Chapla and his lovely wife, Victoria Acosta, who worked in extras casting on Johnsonʼs epic telling of the battle for Texas independence. One wonders if Johnsonʼs Texas-based film was also a breeding ground for love!

Slab is back for the third movie, as is set costumer Samantha Morley, who also met her husband, Rob Gillies, on the first Narnia film where, she confesses, Rob fell head-over-heels for his future bride…literally, when he proposed to her while sky diving from 12,000 feet in the air (it was her idea, as Rob is afraid of heights…but love does strange things)!

There were others who also found love and romance in Narnia, some so discreet you sometimes never suspected it. And, who knows how many others, with no connection to the two movie productions, met under other circumstances having to do with either the book or the release of the two prior films.

Well, we know of one such couple who had their very first date at the cinema to see “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” His name is Paul Martin, her name is Courtney Addicott. While Paul did not work as part of the film crew on either project, he had a distinct connection to the movie franchise — he is the webmaster of www.narniafans.com, a Christian-laced fansite with over 5,000 members (and another 250,000 on the siteʼs Facebook page) that has reported on the previous film productions to its global audience.

As a bonafide press contact for the movie studios producing the Narnia films, Martin did not get a chance to visit the sets of the two prior productions, which courted internet writers to report on the filming to its web audiences (he did attend the New York City premiere of “Prince Caspian,” where he first met some of the cast).

For “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” Martin journeyed some 8,000 miles to visit this set and its mighty, majestic title character as it sat out on the cusp of the South Pacific on the peninsula at Cleveland Point about midway up Australiaʼs eastern shore.

But, Martin made the trip for more than business reasons (sure, you will read more about his visit on his website in the coming months). The world of Narnia is very special to the Michigan native, who started his website in 2003 once he heard a movie about the first book was being made. That book, and its subsequent six sequels, hold a special place in Martinʼs childhood.

In the early months of production on “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” Martin met Courtney at a youth services meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They first became friends before Martin asked her out on their very first date in late 2005 — a visit to their local theater to see the first “Narnia” movie.

Now four years into their courtship, friends and family began asking the obvious question — was marriage in their future.

And, thatʼs where the third filmʼs title character played another role — as a backdrop for Martinʼs proposal of marriage to Courtney. That special moment took place just after Noon on Monday, September 21, a day after the couple had flown on three separate flights from Grand Rapids to Brisbane, Australia. Arriving a little more than 24 hours before he popped the crucial question.

On the first day of spring, where more than flowers bloom.

Of course, they just didnʼt show up on spec 8,000 miles away from their homes. Paul, through his contacts in the “Narnia” world, first approached co-producer Doug Gresham about his idea to propose on the deck of the Dawn Treader. That notion was relayed to the studio, which also endorsed this sweet idea.

As the cast and crew disembarked from the lifesize set for their daily lunch break, Paul and Courtney (who had no idea what was about to happen) climbed the 25-foot staircase and boarded the deck of the Dawn Treader. They scaled up one more deck to the wheelhouse (Lord Drinian’s command post for the vessel), where Paul fell to one knee, pulled out a sparkling (and expensive!) diamond ring, and asked Courtney to marry him.

Such a long way to come to fulfill oneʼs idea of love. What if Courtney had said no?

She screamed out a deafening Ê»Yes!ʼ, the two kissed and were congratulated by the entire crew upon entering the lunch tent a few minutes later (and, while not the offical wedding photographer, the film’s stillman, Phil Bray, recorded the moment for posterity…and their forthcoming wedding album).

No date has been set for their nuptials, although Paul mentioned he hopes they can tie the knot sometime in 2010. How about the weekend of the filmʼs opening (December 10), one suggests?

One also wonders if, whenever they exchange their vows, they will book passage on a cruise to celebrate their honeymoon.

For Paul and Courtney, they will always remember the Dawn Treader as their own personal Love Boat.

And, as they set sail into their future together, the world of Narnia as that special place in which they fell in love.

Courtney Addicott and Paul Martin – At the Prince Caspian Premiere in 2008

Paul Martin and Courtney Addicott on the Dawn Treader shortly after the proposal.

Here’s one of me and Courtney with a Red Panda that we were feeding during our trip to Australia / New Zealand.

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58 Comments

  1. Congratulations Paul and Courtney for this great story!
    The MundoNarnia.com’s staff welcomes them. 🙂

  4. Congratulations Paul McCourtney! Badgerly greetings and all! It coudln’t have happened to two nicer people, and what a romantic way to express it!

  6. Wow! Paul, you’ve always done things in a big way… but this… It really puts you over-the-top! What a true romantic!! Congratulations to you both and thanks so much for sharing your beautiful love story with all of us!!! Hugs!

  7. I’m gonna take some credit finding you accomodation in Australia while i was also on holiday in England of all places 🙂 Love ya Paul. Good work again 🙂

  8. Aw, how sweet! Congrats to you both (however belated it might be). That would be my dream proposal, haha.

  10. Congratulations! This is a great story. BTW, it should be Courtney and Me underneath the picture. If you can use it alone, i.e., a picture of Courtney OR a picture of me. Does “a picture of I” sound right? Take care to use correct grammar. I am an old lady and an grammar fanatic.

  11. Wow, Paul! That’s so sweet! I’m glad for you that you’re finally able to share with is. Congratulations, Paul McCourtney. 😛

  12. Janice, I agree with you. It’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. 🙂 Paul and Courtney, congratulations! Again! As usual, I just happened to stumble on this publication while looking for other information. Silly Paul. Always trying to surprise your mother! Love you both!

  13. Paul, this story will never get old! So glad you got to share it now with everyone! I’m so happy for you and Courtney, and I feel so privileged that I got to see you guys right after this! 🙂

    I hope we can see those pictures of you guys on the set soon!

    –Tim

  16. Congratulations! A tear is welling up in my eye and I’m supposed to be a manly man Cool, have a fun blessed life together!

    • “It takes a big man to cry, it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.”

      I kid, I kid. Thanks, dude! I appreciate it. Seriously, though, it’s okay for a man to cry.

  17. Congratulations Paul and Courtney! What an awesome way to propose. Great story for years to come. May God richly bless you and keep you.

  20. Congrats to all the couples! very sweet 🙂 I just hope when time comes(God willing of course) that I have to propose I hope it’s half as creative as those are 🙂 God bless all!

    Ian

  24. Such good news, Paul- Congratulations to both of you! You deserve every bit of it. What an awesome story! God’s blessings on both of you and your future together- and may it last “until the stars rain down from the heavens.”

  25. Congratulations! That is so awesome. And truly romantic, to do it aboard the Treader. May God’s blessings rain down upon both of you.

  26. OMG!! I’m in love with Narnia!! You do sucha a wonderful job =) Congratulationss!!!!!!!!! (Edmund is my favorite ;D ) hehe SOOOO excited for when it comes outtt!! December right? 🙂

  29. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! That is soooooo sweet. Such a GREAT way to propose. 😀 Even though I don’t know who exactly you are, congrats Paul and Courtney! Hope your wedding will be a real good one! 🙂

  33. Ahh, that is so sweet. Congratulations Paul and Courtney and I hope that you guys will have a long and happy life together!!

  34. Hey Paul, it’s me!!! Mom told me about this article! So glad your engagement is public and I finally get to know the story behind it! Congrats!

  35. And you were downplaying the importance of this little tidbit–haha!
    My most heartfelt congratulations. I hope all your interest in Narnia will not now dwindle to nothing 🙂

  38. Wow! congratulations! What a great story! so sweet, I’m shivering :)amazing!!! best of luck to both of you!

  39. A neat rememberance for Valentine’s Day too. Wish you both God’s blessings and the best future possible together. And Happy V. Day! 🙂

  40. What? I step away from the Net for a week or so, and some earthshatteringly good news comes up on NarniaFans? 😀 hehehe. My comment’s pretty late, but congratulations Paul and Courtney! I’ll be sending lots of prayers your way as you approach this new exciting part of your lives. 😀 – Remi

  41. Congratulations again to you both. It’s great to see pictures to go with the play-by-play. I don’t think anyone will top this in the family! I don’t get on the computer at home much so I’m a little behind.
    Love, Aunt Chris

  42. congrats to all the lovely couples….great movies …great love stories..what more should we expect from narnia…..

  45. Congrats! A magical proposal indeed on a magical ship. Too bad Caspian and Ramundu’s daughter don’t get married on the ship, but he takes her to Narnia to get married so just as interesting! Great idea to use the DT for your proposal Paul!

  46. Hurray!! Congratulations! And i hope you’ll have a very blessed and loving life together… and that you will live for a 100 years! :).

    How romantic…

  47. Congrats, Paul and Courney! I wish you the very best! I bet you had fun writing this article! 🙂 Personally, I think that the deck of the Dawn Treader is more romantic than falling through mid-air! 😉

  48. So does this mean I can finally talk about it? Kristi yelped at me for keeping so quiet, but I did keep it quiet. Thanks for confiding in me bro. Blessings to you and Courtney. You are a dear bro and sis and I’m glad the Lord brought you together. Keep me posted on the wedding plans and email, call, or text if there’s anything the Narnia crew can do to help yall out or make it more special. *Hugs to both*

    • Yep! It’s now public and free to be spoken of! 🙂 Thanks for keeping it quiet! It was really hard for us to do the same. I’m sure that Kristi freaked out as well. Thanks, though! We’re working on getting the date set at the moment, and hoping to have enough room for our entire families (my very large Catholic families and her families).

  49. CONGRATULATIONS!!! Out of the wedding proposals that I have heard or read about in my life, I believe that your extraordinary moment in time certainly ranks as one of the coolest and most original. No one else in the world can say that they got engaged on the “Dawn Treader.” Best wishes always to you and fiance now and in the future! God Bless!!!

  50. I recently read about your awesome proposal in the Grand Rapids Press.As a West Michigan native myself I wish the 2 of you a heartfelt congratulations.What an honor to board such a vessel & propose.God’s Richest Blessings to you both!

    • Thank you, David! We very much appreciate it, and we were so excited to finally share our story with the world after so long. It was something that we’ll never forget.

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