‘The sky’s the limit’
Create your own creature with Kentville’s Phantom Effects
Starting this January, Phantom Effects in Kentville will walk workshop participants through a stepby-step process to create their very own character through sculpting, casting, and applying prosthetics.
“This new workshop has been something we have talked about for the past two years, but never really put the time behind it to drive it forward — until now,” says Jaimie Corbin, co-owner of Phantom Effects.
After consistent requests for apprenticeships, and the demand for such a service, Phantom Effects will start a series of character-development workshops. An eightweek session will take participants from start to finish in character development. Each student can create an original character or develop a character inspired by current film and television effects.
The course takes students through all the phases of character conceptualization and prosthetic application, including design, sculpture, formulation of foam latex and gelatin, as well as applying prosthetic pieces, blending and colouring techniques. At the end of the course, students will be required to design and create a fully-developed prosthetic character, and costume for a professional headshot photoshoot, says Corbin.
“As the popularity grows for events such as Hal-Con, we saw this as an opportunity to assist the very serious cosplay enthusiasts.”
The workshops start January 2019 and run all year. There are several sessions planned throughout the following 12 months and each session costs $200. Each person can pick and choose a session of interest, or they can follow the entire process through the year at their own pace. There is no age limit for these workshops, but that being said, all workshops will be held from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Corbin says this workshop is also useful for anyone looking to add to existing makeup skills taught by standard cosmetology programs. The skills taught in these workshops are transferable to many areas, so the purpose and use could be straight forward or project specific.
“Having the workshop set up the way we do allows us, and those interested, flexibility and customization. So, the sky’s the limit,” she says.
Phantom Effects has been around since 1997, mainly located in their Kentville home. In February of this year, however, they moved into their studio space in back of Main Street Station in Kentville, also allowing space for workshops.
Corbin says as they live and work in Kentville, they are truly 100 per cent local.
“We have spent years being involved in the community and giving back with our unique set of gifts,” she says. “This has helped us build a great reputation, which makes people recognize us and want to be involved.”
In the past, Phantom Effects has done several smaller makeup workshops to assist local theatre and Valley Ghost Walks. They have been involved with numerous local high school productions, including their favourite, NKEC’s Beauty and the Beast in 2016.
“We had a huge part to play in not only the character development but the costumes, set design and props, which made each of these characters shine in a very special way,” she says.
Phantom Effects has no intention of moving elsewhere.
“We have been blessed to be surrounded by the right people and the right opportunities always manage to find us, so we will stay in our home that we love,” says Corbin.
When asked what Phantom Effects would love to create next, Corbin says they are already doing it.
“That is to be known for cultivating creativity, bringing people together and being a driving force in creature FX growth in Nova Scotia.”
With these upcoming workshops, Corbin says they are most looking forward to new possibilities and working with others to make fantasy a reality.