The film industry today has seen many advancements in special effects and in video and sound quality, but makeup design and costuming has also become a more prevalent part of movie and TV show creations. Maybe that’s what television producers were considering when they created a televised competition to honor and support the design and costuming industry.
Actress McKenzie Westmore, of the Westmore family of makeup artists, hosts the Syfy series, “Face Off,” which features a group of prosthetic makeup artists competing to win the approval of three judges, all prominent figures in the industry. Academy Award-winning makeup artist Ve Neill, who worked on “Beetlejuice” and “The Hunger Games,” takes the first judge’s seat. Next to him is Glenn Hetrick, who was responsible for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Babylon 5.” Last, but certainly not least, Patrick Tatopoulos, the mastermind behind the creatures in “I am Legend,” “Resident Evil: Extinction,” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.”
Each week the competing artists are put through Spotlight Challenges in which they are tasked with designing, in three days, a prosthetic makeup creation that fits the required traits or genre. The first day gives them five hours for concept ideas and sculpting for the prosthetics. On day two they are given ten more hours to finish the molding. Finally, on day three, they get four hours to apply the make up before heading to “Final Looks” where they have one last hour to make the final touches before their creations are scrutinized by the judges.
Each week, one design is deemed the best and its creator sometimes receives an advantage in the next week’s competition or a prize. The designer of the worst creation is immediately eliminated from the running for the grand prize of one hundred thousand dollars, ten thousand dollars-worth of prosthetic supplies, and a new car.
“Face Off’s” first season debuted on January 26, 2011. Shortly after the first season it was renewed for another. Connor McCullagh of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, won the first season which drew an average of 1.4 million viewers per episode.
Season two was a record breaker, bringing in 2.4 million viewers and claiming the title of most-watched unscripted telecast on Syfy ever. The season two title was given to Rayce Bird of Shelley, Idaho.
In season three Syfy held open-call auditions in Los Angeles, California, and Orlando, Florida. This was also the first season in which two relatives, fraternal twins, Derek and Eric Garcia, both competed. Nicole Chilelli of Sacramento, California, prevailed and snatched up the desired title of the season three winner.
Season four debuted on January 7 of this year with all new contestants, some of whom have experience in the field and others who are just starting their careers. The veteran judges were taken aback by the level of talent shown in the work of the first week. The contestants paired up and created a goblin around a certain element that they chose. Some cracked under the pressure, though, making the judges’ job easier. They were immediately sent. The running, however, is still close and an underdog may still rise up, unexpectedly, to take the cake. It’s early in the season and no one knows who will win. The only way to find out is to watch the series on Syfy, Tuesdays at 9/8 Central.
