If anyone is looking for some low budget ways to create Phantom or other spooky Halloween looks, I have a few tutorials you may want to check out. All of this information (supply lists, step-by-step instruction) is available on my website, Phantom on a Budget. Awhile ago I was asked to do some video tutorials as well, so here they are in all their YouTube glory:



Phantom of the Opera Stage Musical
Six-part series. If you're looking to create this iconic look, or need to create some basic three-dimensional deformities for a different Halloween makeup, learn to do so here with basic supplies and techniques. Liquid latex and cotton is used to create on the spot, homemade prosthetics which can be colored to your needs with a variety of makeups. Here's a photo of the final product:






Lon Chaney Phantom/Ghoul/Zombie
Chaney's look and portrayal in the 1925 silent film is classic in every way. In this two-part series I recreate that makeup using liquid latex/cotton prosthetics, modify the nose, and apply makeup to achieve that disfigured, nearly dead look. Also great for ghouls, stylized zombies, and other skull-like characters.





I only state this about 56 times during the course of these tutorials, but I'll reiterate it once more: these are low tech, low budget makeups. I'm not a professional makeup artist, and these are not meant necessarily for a perfectly realistic result. Most of the requests I receive are regarding doing Phantom makeups with little money to spare, so this is the system I've come up with. Not sophisticated, but they are useful. Hopefully it's helpful in some way!

(ETA: Wow, I thought I was being clever by embedding the first video in each series, but apparently this does it automatically. This forum has officially kicked my butt!)

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~Lindsey
"Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)

Very nice tutorials...congrats!

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Wait Master, it might be dangerous... you go first.

Such the professional, great work!

Thanks for the tutorial Lindsey

Oh, and Welcome! (I'm always late with the greetings - sorry)

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Proprietor of persnickety props for Halloween!
The Pirates of North Court - Halloween 2008
My Halloween Project & Props Website

I loved your videos. They made me misty for my college days when I worked with many of the same effects make-up items you are using (I remembered having a "dirt spot" left on my skin for several days after using medical adhesive....it is really tough to completely get off). I am very impressed with the work you did with the tight budget, it looks as good as the actual stage make-up. I don't know if I missed it, but do you use anything for making skin texture on the latex (ie pressed "orange peel" stamps or a texture sponge)?

Thank you all! I really appreciate the comments.

FrightKnight, none of the "prosthetics" created in the tutorial were stamped with any kind of texture, as I've found it seems to take on its own skin-like texture(thanks to the cotton) as it dries. The forehead prosthetic I actually pulled from a slip mold, and that was lightly done with terrycloth (I still can't believe I had no texture stamps or even oranges in the house...for shame! ). It's still quite smooth though on purpose, so I just stipple some various shades of thinned RMG to give it some dimension.

I'm thinking very seriously about taking Dick Smith's introductory course and finally getting set up with proper molds and making foam gelatin appliances. Liquid latex is fun on a budget, but I'm pretty eager to step up to something more sophisticated. I just need to learn how. This makeup stuff is just way too fun.

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~Lindsey
"Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)

I haven't taken the Dick Smith course, but I have seen some of the material and it is VERY in depth. From prosthetics to pnuematics, it has it all....(I know I used two "p" words, that was just what came to mind). I don't know if you have ever worked with foam latex (or even if the effects community is still using it since going to urethane foam), but what I have learned is that you never cook it in the same oven you cook food....the food will never taste the same and each time you start up the oven, you get an awful burning rubber smell....

I found out the hard way.

Ouch! Luckily that was one tip I stumbled upon fairly early. I remember distinctly, because it was one of those, "so much for that idea!" moments for me. I had wanted to start with foam latex, but knowing it required a dedicated oven (and gram scales, blah blah blah), I ended up scrapping that idea. Sculpting I can do, lifecasting I can do, but mold making honestly blows my mind a little bit. That's where the basic Smith course will come in particularly handy, I think. It'll give me some good instruction and a chance to do it myself, which is how I learn best when working with hands-on projects.

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~Lindsey
"Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)

Neato stuff. Credits made me laugh.

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ever tried or thought about the plat gel silicone?

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Wait Master, it might be dangerous... you go first.

Yep, Platsil's been on my mind for awhile. I'm not looking to use it now, but once I finally get set up for proper appliances I think it'll be a great choice.

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~Lindsey
"Nothing proves just how dumb we are collectively as a people than candy corn." (Lewis Black)