Wicked weekend is seemingly still not over for most of the world. The successful box office adaptation of the beloved musical is taking the Internet by storm and we might just need Madame Morrible's help with it at this point. Among the many things the people love about it is the stellar performances provided by the cast headed by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Galinda (Glinda). It also seems as if everyone is onboard the Jonathan Bailey train (and by the looks of it they're not disembarking anytime soon) after his portrayal of Fiyero.
Among those who helped make the film a hit is London-based Filipino hat maker Harvy Santos who served as the senior milliner in Wicked. Of course, in true Filipino pride, we're "holding space" for that, as current Internet speak goes.
Harvy Santos, The Filipino Senior Milliner of Wicked
In an Instagram Reel posted by Make It Universal, Harvy detailed his experience contributing to the legendary film. "I'm originally from the Philippines, [and] my fascination for costumes started when I was six," he began. He also recalled his background in ballet and how dancing helped fund his research and studies on garment construction and costume design. "Millinery is like sculpture, you start playing with materials. You start playing with cardboards to experiment with shapes." he shared.
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Harvy studied millinery at Kensington and Chelsea College. Apart from working as the Senior Milliner of Wicked, he has also previously worked for The Royal Opera House and has been worn by stars like Lady Gaga, among others. In 2013, Harvy was named the HAT Magazine's Designer of the Year. More recently, he also crafted a purse worn by Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan) on Bridgerton Season 2.
"Every day, I'm proud of what I have accomplished, and knowing the fact that you are contributing on an epic film, that's very exhilarating." Harvy said. And truly, the contribution of each creative who has worked and collborated on this epic film helped make it the splendor that it is now!
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Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, premiered in Philippine cinemas on November 20. Joining Cynthia and Ariana in the cast are Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldlbum, Ethan Slater, and Marissa Bode. It is a two-part film, with the next part set to take the big screen in 2025!
