GO Rom Com Spotlight: @wildtrakone
The ever-compelling @wildtrakone has claimed The Proposal to adapt for Good Omens in the Good Omens Rom Com Event.
For reference, here’s some information about the source material!
Synopsis of The Proposal: Faced with deportation to her native Canada, high-powered book editor Margaret Tate (Sandra Bullock) says she's engaged to marry Andrew Paxton (Ryan Reynolds), her hapless assistant. Andrew agrees to the charade, but imposes a few conditions of his own, including flying to Alaska to meet his eccentric family. With a suspicious immigration official always lurking nearby, Margaret and Andrew must stick to their wedding plan despite numerous mishaps.
We spent some time chatting about how the adaptation is coming so far, as well as future plans for it! Now, get to know @wildtrakone (also wildtrak on Ao3) a little better!
goromcom: Normally I tease people here about what Tumblr says they post about, but it was very mysterious about you and didn't give me anything!
wildtrakone: Any mysteriousness is entirely accidental. Or is it? >:D
goromcom: That’s an excellent answer. :)
You chose to adapt The Proposal as your rom com. Has this movie been a favorite of yours, or is there some other reason you chose it?
wildtrakone: I have seen The Proposal what is probably an unhealthy number of times. I'm usually more of an action/thriller fan, but The Proposal is just one of those fun and happy films that you can keep coming back to enjoy. Also, the film is directed by the fabulously talented Anne Fletcher, who has two films being adapted in this Rom Com event.
For me personally, I love that the story depicts an older woman who is at the peak of her career and doesn't compromise her work for a relationship. Instead, she has a love interest who is proud of her and her accomplishments, and who wants to join her on that journey. It's a dynamic that I think will work well in translation to the Good Omens universe. Also, fake relationship FTW.
goromcom: What's your favorite moment of your chosen rom com, and are you looking forward to presenting it in your adaptation? Any loose plans for that scene that you can share?
wildtrakone: There is a lot of brilliant physical comedy in The Proposal which I think lends itself to my writing style, so I am hoping that I can do those scenes justice. Poor Crowley is going to cop the majority of the humiliation (sorry mate!), but to be fair he does tend to run afoul of his own carefully crafted schemes in all the good stories. In the original movie, the family had a small rescue dog that stole the show, so I am definitely including those scenes. In my case, it's a cute little hellhound who is an adorable fluffy cuddlebug for everyone—except Crowley. Crowley is his nemesis.
goromcom: Do you plan to stick very closely to the story beats of the original movie, or make bigger changes?
wildtrakone: I am going to be as faithful as is reasonably achievable. The story is not an AU, so there are several elements that need a bit of extra thought, particularly in terms of what is motivating Aziraphale and Crowley to embark on a fake engagement when it doesn't necessarily seem like the logical play. But there are a lot of elements I am keeping, including the setting at a book publisher. Also staying are the familial tensions that Aziraphale experiences when his duties to Heaven compete with his own desires to stay on Earth and to stay with Crowley (which is of course a running theme in Good Omens canon).
goromcom: What's an interesting decision you've made in your planning so far--a notable casting decision, a changing of venue, or some other plan you have to paint Good Omens all over your rom com?
wildtrakone: Good Omens presented me with an opportunity at the end of the existing canon, whereby there was a second book written by Agnes Nutter. I've taken that and run with it in a way that I hope people will find fresh and interesting. With a new book of true prophecy in the works, someone has to make sure the publishing process goes smoothly. That person is probably neither Aziraphale, nor Crowley, but they're who we've got. Also, Betty White is God. Enough said :D
goromcom: Well yes, of course Betty White is God, but what does that have to do with your rom co--oh! I get it! You mean in your rom com too. ;)
I am blatantly stealing this last question from The Good Place: The Podcast, but here goes: Tell me something "good". It can be something big or small. It can be a charity you think is doing good work, or you can talk about how great your pet is.
wildtrakone: I must admit it's been hard to see the good under all the smoke in my country at the moment, but every day I'm hearing amazing stories of people helping others that really restores my faith in humanity. The kindness of strangers even in the midst of a disaster is why I love my country, and despite all the uncertainty, I feel lucky to be an Australian. My wish for everyone is to be safe.
goromcom: Absolutely, that is a wonderful wish, and I hope it comes true soon.
And hey, we’ve got another canon GO rom com coming your way soon! Poor Agnes, I hope her second book actually makes it to the press...
