Keep your eyes open for a new video tutorial!  I've received a few questions about wigs - where to get them, how much they cost, how to make them, etc.  Since my wigs are fully ventilated lace pieces (as in the stage show), they don't apply to the average costumer or Halloween goer.  Normally I suggest to people that they style their own hair, or make due with a cheap, costume-quality wig.  Ambitious costumers may alter those wigs with a more realistic hairline, but very, very few people have asked me about making a full lace wig like I have done.

But I remembered another option!

As soon as I get the supplies I'll be filming a do-it-yourself tutorial for making wigs using bald caps, liquid latex, and crepe and synthetic hair.  Bald cap construction, hand-laying techniques, and other information will be included in this tutorial.  This is the cheap, quick and dirty way to create a slicked-back hairstyle. 

This is inspired by Dick Smith's Do-It-Yourself Monster Makeup book, which is a must have if you're interested in low budget, yet remarkably effective Halloween makeup schemes.  In the book, Mr. Smith demonstrates this basic wig making technique while designing a Werewolf look which rivals that of the classic monster from old Hollywood. 

Phantom on a Budget's makeup tutorials will be featured in an upcoming magazine and book, just in time for the Halloween season!


Picture Yourself Crafting a Spooktacular Halloween, by Robin Catesby, will be available in September.  Look for the Lon Chaney tutorial (complete with photos!) in chapter eight.  The Phantom "Valentino" wig will also be featured.  This may just be one of the most complete do-it-yourself Halloween books out there, with information on crafts, food, makeup, costumes, party planning, and more.  "The accompanying DVD includes graphics templates, costumer and prop patterns, a haunted soundscape tutorial, and much more."


The Chaney tutorial is getting a lot of love, and will also be featured in the upcoming edition of the Home Haunt News and Reviews e-zine.  That's another great resource for those interested in doing their own Halloween effects relating to makeup, decorations, haunted house planning, and more.  Check it out!

The final pair of video tutorials have been uploaded and are now available on YouTube. 

There are almost too many new things to mention; where do I start?  I suppose I'll start off with the fact that there is now a complete Phantom Makeup Tutorial available on YouTube.  It's a six-part series, covering everything from supplies, application, various adaptations of the makeup, and the final look.  Be sure to check it out if you're interested in simple Halloween/Phantom makeup schemes!

Naturally, since I ended up in full makeup and costume upon completion of the filming, I had no idea what to do with myself.  That, believe me, is a very dangerous place for me to be while looking as I did.  To occupy myself, I filmed a couple little videos.  The first is a somewhat serious look on what it means to be Phantom on a Budget.  In this interview I answer the question of "Why??"



Finally, there's the Deep Thoughts and Halloween Advice From Phantom on a Budget video:


Do be sure to take a peek at the Blooper Reel as well.



Thanks to the interest of author Jennifer Linforth, Phantom on a Budget has been featured on her blog, Tip of the Quill.  Look for her upcoming novel, Madrigal, this fall.  It is an expansion of Gaston Leroux's legendary tale, and I am waiting eagerly for it to be released!  Long live Leroux!

Until next time,
Lindsey

Phantom on a Budget Goes To The Kennedy Center
That sounds like some sort of strange children's book.  Anyway, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts had a Halloween concert on Sunday, October 28th.  It was geared toward families, but being maybe just a little too bored I decided it'd be fun to go in costume with everyone else and have a nice afternoon out.  After all, they had a section in the afternoon's program dedicated to the Phantom of the Opera, so why on earth should the Phantom stay home?  What a blast it was.

The event itself was way too fun. I arrived (in full costume and makeup, of course) about an hour before the Halloween concert started, but immediately had a few admirers and was even introduced to the entire Hall of Nations by one of the staff. Hilarious. I proceeded to walk around and people watch, as nearly everyone I passed turned to their companion and whispered, "Look, it's the Phantom!" or something to that effect. Some hummed the Overture from Lloyd Webber's musical.  Others just pointed.  Many of the early show attendees had just seen a clip of the 1925 Chaney film, and pointed me out to their children as I passed by, telling them that the "real" Phantom had come, and to not touch the mask. Sound advice if I say so myself.

I had half a dozen people ask to pose with me for pictures, and I was certainly happy to oblige. One or two thought I was an actor or likewise employed individual of the Kennedy Center. I didn't dispel that unless asked. I couldn't walk 20 ft without someone pointing me out, coming up to me, etc. Loads of compliments made for a fantastic day out in costume.

Wednesday (Halloween night) the Kennedy Center featured organist Ray Brubacher as he accompanied the great 1925 Lon Chaney film.  This free event was held in the Concert Hall, and once again I thought it was a perfect time to show up as none other than Erik.  Things were somewhat quieter before the movie than on Sunday, but as soon as I walked in to take my seat I heard a few gasps, more "Look, it's the Phantom!,"  etc.  The people behind me got quite a kick out of it.  So did the people sitting in front of me, for that matter.  I like being the center of attention, isn't that obvious by now?  I even had an older fan come up and inquire about the mask.

If you ever are offered the opportunity to see that film with live accompaniment, do.  I knew the movie quite well, but seeing it with different music, improvised on the spot is really something, and gave me an enormous appreciation for the artistry that goes into that instrument.  I personally can't grasp the complexity of any organ, classical or theatre, so it's all incredibly impressive.  Mr. Brubacher did a lovely job, and I look forward to seeing him again next year.

Immediately after the house lights went up I got out of my seat and watched everyone leave.  There were lots of inquisitive stares.  That fan I had spoken to before had some more questions, and I even took off the mask to reveal the makeup, earning several "Ewwws" from the exiting patrons.  I congratulated Mr. Brubacher for a job well done, then donned the cape and fedora once more as I made my way out.  I knew the costume was a popular attraction for photo opportunities (the ushers loved it too), but I certainly wasn't prepared for what I stepped out into!  I was just making my way out of the Concert Hall when one nice lady asked if I'd pose with her daughter.  Absolutely.  Then another couple wanted a photo.  Sure.  Another lady, and then another couple of whole groups of people wanted photos.  My pleasure.  I literally had a line of people waiting for a photo with the Phantom!  Craziness.  Goodness, now I know how actors feel at the stage door!  I swear that cape just draws them out of the woodwork. 

So that was my Phantom Halloween at the Kennedy Center.  I am absolutely planning a return next year! 

It's finished!

After nearly three months of ventilating the hair three at a time (then one at a time for the front hairline!), I can now say that the Phantom's "Valentino" wig is now complete.  I am so happy to have completed it, for it is a huge achievement.  I also found the process rewarding, and am glad that I learned this interesting and rare craft.  I hope to do more in the future in order to develop my skills. 

Wig update:

Progress on the wig has been quite remarkable in the last couple of weeks.  Anticipated finishing date is around the first of October.

Well, I finally did it:  I ordered all new makeup supplies and stock for the year.  I bet that FX Supply and Mallatts are thanking me for my business right about now.  All this is quickly causing me to outgrow the "Phantom on a Budget" moniker.

I also constructed a new lace wig foundation since the first one didn't fit as well as it could.  The new one looks great, so hopefully I won't muck it up when I ventilate the hair on it.  With some luck, the wig will look great and be a perfect addition.  On a related, albeit sad note, I think I may require a larger fedora once I wrangle all my hair into a wig cap, do the bald cap, wig, etc.  Boo.

Last week I went out and bought a crapload of black beads and other materials to enhance my cape.  Which is funny, really, because I have no idea what to do with half of this stuff.  I suppose I'll have a grand old time figuring it out, though.

The National Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera is in town, and I've seen it thrice already, with two (possibly three,  we'll see about that) more shows left before it leaves in the middle of August.  This is a fantastic cast, and I've enjoyed every minute thus far!

~Lindsey

Hello!

I figured that a blog would be the easiest way to organize my thoughts and keep those who might be interested informed on the new projects I've taken up.  My Phantom costume's really come full circle in the last couple of years.  I've finally decided to invest in some new makeup supplies in order to take the makeup to the next level as well.  This summer I'm hoping to make a life cast in order to make molds for prosthetic appliances rather than just doing the old latex and cotton routine.  It's an exciting transition that I'm looking forward to.

I've also decided that I wanted a wig to top the whole ensemble off.  Seeing that I wasn't about to spend $2,000 on a replica Valentino-style (ultra slicked-back) wig from the musical, I have to make my own.  This is highly labor-intensive, but hopefully I'm up to the challenge.  I've already started the project, have the hair, and am just waiting on the specialized needles I need to ventilate the strands of hair into the wig foundation. 

The bulk human hair, dark brown:




The wig foundation is made of lace, as the "Valentino wig" will require a fully hand-ventilated foundation.  Instead of wig lace at well over $40/yd, I've used flesh colored tulle.  This is basically the same material, and is also very difficult to see against the skin.  The wig foundation was made out of several pieces of tulle pinned to the wigblock and sewn together, and now awaits the ventilation of the hair:



So there you have it!  I will also be looking into making the alopecia wig that stage Phantoms wear under the main one - I won't be using it for Halloween, though, so it'll be more of a "just because I can" experiment later on.  Lots of updates to come, including news about the new German replica mask that's on its way!

Best,
Lindsey