Original Michael Crawford Phantom of the Opera mask - FINALLY!

Okay, gang -

Not everyone here is a Phantom head but we're certainly mask people. This here is a Michael Crawford Phantom of the Opera mask. More pictures later in better light but the story is that I was contacted by someone with a stage used Crawford mask. It is a rather fragile thing, susceptible to heat, and in this case, cracked (minor). She asked if I could duplicate it for her since - well, as a backup. But this was molded from the front since we did not want to remove the original leather from the stage used piece. Not a problem - it was cast in silicone and I made an uber thin fiberglass pull, the one that you see here. It is certainly thin enough to have the wire and leather put in as well and that is what she would like.

Again, better photos later with color and all that but I painted it like the one she has. However, there is some sloppier paint on her original piece. I was more careful but the colors are the same.

Each one is a tiny bit different of course but this is pretty dang close.

Alright, the pics.

Oh wow, that is a beautiful object!

NICE! best phantom mask in my opinion. and im a Universal nut (sorry master chaney... haha!)

I agree. It is a cool one for sure. The Chaney one I like because of how creepy it is. This one has more of its own attitude whether you're wearing it or not I think.

Nice job Jones!

I, for one, would love to have one of those masks. I think you
really "Nailed it"

Ah, there are very few members of the "nailed it" club. Which one are you? Can you answer the following question - who starred in King of the Wicker People?

Thats a real beauty! I know a bunch of people willing to spend money on one of those. Good work!

Thanks! Here's another shot if I can manage it. No computer whiz here:

Beautiful, so do you know whose face that was cast from? Or is it an actual sculpture?

A beautiful piece, probably top on my to-do list since I'm a huge Phan... I just need to cast my own face so I can sculpt the mask!

SithLord said:

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Beautiful, so do you know whose face that was cast from? Or is it an actual sculpture?

The Phantom stage mask is an original sculpture, likely crafted by FX artist Christopher Tucker. First, a life cast was taken of Mr. Crawford. Then, the Phantom facial prosthetics were sculpted over his life cast and molded. From that mold, a new positive was cast and the half mask you see above was sculpted over top of the prosthetics design in order to effectively mask those features while simultaneously fitting very tight to the actor's real face so that you really have no earthly idea what lies beneath the thing.

It looks absolutely perfect, darthjones. Nothing will EVER top that piece!!

Cheers,

Ryan

Wow. Thanks for the kind words, Curse! And yes, your rundown is perfect. This is the one that was sculpted over Crawford's face and makeup. Again, it is molded from the outside (no choice, really) but the upside of that is that little surface imperfections and such were nicely retained. There are minor little "tells" here and there but I don't expect any thread on this thing to get that deep.

Now, having seen this, I hope to make/ sculpt a version for myself that echoes this one a bit more than my last "trooping" version did.

heyitsdan said:

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A beautiful piece, probably top on my to-do list since I'm a huge Phan... I just need to cast my own face so I can sculpt the mask!

Thanks!

Beautiful work on a very cool project.
WELL DONE!!!!
It still has "that" vibe of the original.

Was the intire backside covered in thin leather?

All the best,
Chuck...

darthjones said:

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Ah, there are very few members of the "nailed it" club. Which one are you? Can you answer the following question - who starred in King of the Wicker People?

Michael Keaton?

Awesome!

Another big Phan here!

Wow....I love it. I made one when I was in school some 14 years ago when I first saw it with clay....good to see a fellow phantom lover...

Thanks, All! Yes, the real one had leather lining the interior. I just put leather in this one too and wired it like the stage piece. It now hangs quite nicely and I've got to get some better shots for sure.

Hard to capture the coloring - need some studio lights or something next time around.

Now all you have to do is to make a run of these and post it in the junkyard...

What colour is the leather used? I saw the stage show in London back in January, but even sitting in the front row couldn't see too much of the inside of the mask (during 'Stranger than you dreamt it')

It's beautiful !

Leather interior is white. I was told that the production uses some kind of kid leather from some kind of uber expensive space goat from Saturn or wherever. While that may be, it also doesn't make too much sense on how it seems to conform so well to the mask interior. It is form fit, not in pieces.

So...

To my knowledge, there are hides that conform better with heat and moisture than others. Cow is great at a certain stage (before it is entirely tanned and treated) but that is too thick anyway. What works - and seems to be what is used to the eye and touch at least - is a white colored sheep skin. Placed over a positive form and then literally painted and prodded with seriously hot water and a bristle brush, it conforms extremely well to the contours of this shape.

Wow! I only wish I could see one of the original props, they must be quite beautiful in person. I'm hoping to make one of my own, so forgive me if I sound stupid - I'm new to prop-making - but did you use fibreglass resin to create the mask?

darthjones, I have a question as you've seen the original in person.

Was the original mask clear plastic painted on the inside? I am asking because I remember Chris Tucker demonstrating the makeup in a documentary and he had a clear mask which he placed on the bust. Of course that could have been for demonstration only but was just wondering, as painting on the inside of a clear mask would give a nice appearance of a clear coat. And no particular reason, I am just curious.

heyitsdan said:

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Wow! I only wish I could see one of the original props, they must be quite beautiful in person. I'm hoping to make one of my own, so forgive me if I sound stupid - I'm new to prop-making - but did you use fibreglass resin to create the mask?

Hello! Sorry, but I have not been out here in too long. This one is fiberglass because the owner did not want to strip the leather (with makeup stains!) out of the original. So it was molded from the outside and layed up in THIN fiberglass - very sturdy but still slightly flexible. The originals were not fiberglass - kind of overkill unless there is something we don't know.