Face Off (TV series)

Face Off
Genre	Reality
Presented by	McKenzie Westmore
Judges	Ve Neill (2011–present) Glenn Hetrick (2011–present) Neville Page (2012–present) Patrick Tatopoulos (2011–12) Lois Burwell (2014)
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	117 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Michael Agbabian Dwight D. Smith[1] Derek Atherton[2]
Location(s)	Los Angeles, California
Production company(s)	Mission Control Media
Release
Original network	Syfy
Original release	January 26, 2011 (2011-01-26) – present
External links
Official website

Face Off is an American reality television game show on the Syfy cable network in which a group of prosthetic makeup artists compete against each other to create prostheses such as those found in science fiction and horror films. Actress McKenzie Westmore, known for her role as Sheridan Crane on the former NBC/DirecTV soap opera Passions, and a member of the Westmore family of makeup artists, serves as the show's host, with judges being Academy Award-winning makeup artist Ve Neill (Ed Wood, Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire), and television and film makeup artist Glenn Hetrick (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Babylon 5). Creature designer and director Patrick Tatopoulos (I Am Legend, Resident Evil: Extinction, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans) served as judge for the first two seasons, but he was replaced by creature designer and concept artist Neville Page (Watchmen, Cloverfield, Avatar) from Season 3.^[3] Industry figures and artists including Brian Grazer, Kevin Smith, Paul W. S. Anderson, Greg Nicotero, Rick Baker, and Gale Anne Hurd have served as guest judges.^[1]

Each week, the artists face a "Spotlight Challenge" that tests their artistry and techniques to create a full makeup character to match a theme over the course of 3 days. The first day allows for concept design and sculpting for five hours, a second day of 9½ to 10 hours for work in finishing the molding, and a final day of 4 hours in applying the makeup before a one-hour "Last Look" for touch ups. The judges then have the opportunity to look at the makeups from afar and up close, and decide a series of top and bottom looks for the week. One artist will be deemed the winner, sometimes receiving a special bonus prize such as immunity from elimination or a cash reward, and one artist will be eliminated from the running for the grand prize. Some episodes also feature a "Foundation Challenge", a smaller challenge that introduces a new technique on a smaller scale, and the winner is awarded an advantage for that week's Spotlight Challenge, ranging from immunity from elimination to receiving a first choice of theme.

The Face Off winner receives US$100,000 and a year's supply of makeup from Alcone (changed to US$25,000 of makeup in season 2),^[4] a "grand prize that will launch a career".^[5] The second season added the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid to its prize package. The Season 3 grand prize winner will receive the same US$25,000 of Alcone makeup and US$100,000 cash prize, in addition to the opportunity to become a guest lecturer at the "Make up for Ever Academy" in New York and Paris, and the Toyota Prius v. The prize package for season 4 remains the same with the exception of the 2013 Fiat 500 replacing the Prius V as the prize vehicle.

Face Off premiered January 26, 2011 on Syfy. Syfy announced March 16, 2011 that Face Off had been renewed for a second season. Casting was slated to begin later the same month.^[6] Season 2 began airing January 11, 2012.^[7] On February 7, 2012, Syfy announced that Face Off had been renewed for a third season.^[8] Season three of Face Off premiered on August 21, 2012. On October 8, 2012, Syfy announced that Face Off would return for a fourth season which premiered on January 15, 2013.^[9] In the fourth season, the show started an online show Face Off Redemption in which eliminated contestants from Season 4 would have a chance to gain a spot on the fifth season, which premiered in August 2013.^[10] The show was then renewed, again, on October 21, 2013, for its 6th season which began in January 2014 premiere.^[11] On April 22, 2014 it was confirmed that Face Off had been renewed for a 7th season starting in July 2014.

Production and development

Syfy began the development of Face Off in March 2010 in association with production company Mission Control Media.^[12] Syfy confirmed that it had ordered the series in May,^[5] and announced the host and judges in November.^[3] Producers held open casting calls in Los Angeles and Orlando, Florida and accepted audition videos through September 15.^[13]

Seasons

Season 1 (2011)

The first season of Face Off was won by Conor McCullagh of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Face Off Season 1 drew an average audience of 1.4 million viewers per episode during season 1.^[6]

Season 2 (2012)

The second season of Face Off was won by Rayce Bird of Shelley, Idaho. Season 2 premiere episode posted the best ratings performance for any Syfy original series since November ‘09,^[15] even increasing from those ratings in subsequent episodes.^[16] The finale drew over 2.4 million viewers,^[17] and was SyFy's most watched unscripted telecast ever.^[18]

Season 3 (2012)

Syfy held open call auditions for the third season on November 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California and Orlando, Florida. Filming began during the spring of 2012 to be ready for a summer release. The third season of Face Off premiered on August 21, 2012. The selected contestants were revealed to the public on June 29, 2012. This is the first season of the show where two relatives have been selected as contestants: fraternal twin brothers Eric and Derek Garcia were among those chosen to participate. While Neill and Hetrick remain as judges, concept designer Neville Page became a replacement judge with Tatopoulos appearing in the season premiere, a subsequent episode, and the finale.^[19] The season finale was broadcast live on Halloween, October 31, 2012 and viewers voted for the winner. Halfway through the season the first five eliminated contestants (excluding Joe Castro who was the first contestant ever disqualified from the competition in the season premiere) were allowed to compete in a foundation challenge, with the victor returning to the show. This challenge was won by Nicole Chilelli of Sacramento, California, who went on to become this season's champion.^[20]

Season 4 (2013)

Syfy picked up Face Off for a fourth season on October 9, 2012 which premiered January 15, 2013.^[21] A sneak peek of the upcoming season premiered during the live season 3 finale. Season 4 was won by Anthony Kosar.

Season 5 (2013)

Syfy picked up Face Off for a fifth season.^[10] During season 4's Face-Off redemption, Eric Zapata won a place as one of the eight returning contestants who are to compete against eight new contestants. This was the second season that a contestant voluntarily left the competition, when Laney Parkhurst departed in episode 11. The season was won by Laura Tyler, who was a finalist on season 3.

Season 6 (2014)

Season 6 started January 14, 2014. This season was won by Rashaad Santiago. This season had a theme of "extremes". During this season the judges had the power to save one contestant who would have normally been eliminated. This season also featured a trip to Tokyo, Japan, where the artists competed in an Oni foundation challenge and found inspiration for an Anime spotlight challenge.

Season 7 (2014)

Season 7 was announced on April 18, 2014.^[22] It premiered on July 22, 2014. This season features a fourth judge, Lois Burwell. Season 7 was won by Dina Cimarusti. This season also focused on the theme of "life and death" and used this theme for many of the challenges. This season employed the one-time save of an eliminated contestant that was introduced in season 6.

Season 8 (2015)

Season 8 was announced on October 22, 2014. It was premiered on January 13, 2015. During this season the 15 new artists are placed into three teams of five, each coached by a previous winner of Face Off. The coaches were Rayce Bird (Season 2), Anthony Kosar (Season 4), and Laura Tyler (Season 3 Runner Up, Season 5 Winner). If every member of a coaches team is eliminated, that coach leaves the competition as well. This season was won by Darla Edin. She was part of Team Laura, making Laura the first person to win Face Off twice.

Season 9 (2015)

Season 9 was announced on April 8, 2015. It premiered on July 28, 2015. This season had a theme of "surprises" and featured two new challenge formats: focus challenges and The Gauntlet. In a focus challenge, the artists are given two days (as opposed to the usual three allotted for a spotlight challenge) to create a makeup that focuses on the face and strong application is emphasized. The Gauntlet is a series of three foundation challenges, with the artists being ranked from best to worst at each stage. Each stage has its own winner, and an overall winner is determined via an aggregate score of all three rounds, with each stage being weighted more heavily than the last in the final score. The artist with the lowest overall score is eliminated. The season finale took place on October 27, 2015. The winner of season 9 was Nora Hewitt.

Season 10 (2016)

Season 10 was announced on October 27, 2015. It premiered on January 13, 2016. In this season the judges were allowed to save one contestant who would normally be eliminated, a device previously used in seasons 6 and 7.

References

External links

• Official website
• Face Off at the Internet Movie Database