"Ted, a red filter will give you a portrait of a ghost instead of a living human. With an orange filter, maybe a zombie. :-) White lips aren't attractive."(posted 8339 days ago)Patrick: Have you ever actually *used* a red or orange filter for portraiture, or are you going by what you've heard or think it should look like? The fact is, those filters do yield a somewhat unusual tonal palate, but the effect is far from ghastly. It's actually very appealing. Have you ever seen a portrait done with TechPan film? It has enhanced red sensitivity--orthochromatic--and therefore produces a tonality much like that of panochromatic films exposed through a red or orange filter. You only need to search to posts here to discover how lovely portraits done on TP can be. If you want fine grain, you can't get any finer than TP and you'll be shocked at how beautiful portraits can look with it. Try it in Photographer's Formulary TD-3 developer.
Incidentally, I recommended 400 speed films to the original poster because he is not experienced. Those films will forgive small mistakes and thereby encourage continued exploration. Make a mistake in exposure or processing with APX25 (or TP, for that matter) and it will look awful.