FACE OFF

Face Off is an original series from Syfy, a talent competition for make-up artists and creature designers to compose special effects transformations for movies.

Watching the show and being completely engrossed by the work produced, I wanted to take a step back from the American, fast-paced competitive nature and take a moment to really appreciate the products of these creatives.

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The judges often use the word 'silhouette' when talking about the shape of the costume and make-up. When cast in shadow, the make-up and costume can help to create a very strong outline.

The competitors are challenged to consider and alter human anatomy. Working with a human model, the contestants attempt to add, disguise or accentuate features in order to change the personality and movement of the model.

I find the most successful make-ups to be the ones that allow the actor to still emote but that change the nature of the human underneath. Several attempts end up interfering with the actor's face, making a static expression that cannot change with the model's. 

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I find it especially exciting when the contestants do something completely unique with the make-up, creating a hybrid or cosmic creature that is unlike anything else.

I'd love to work on this kind of scale. The prosthetics applied to the face are sculpted first using clay before being molded and cast. 

The hair is 'laid' onto the face and body, creating realistic fur.

I'm not particularly enamored by the body painters or bloody, gory special effects - just down to personal taste! I'm most attracted to the fantasy creations and theatrical transformations. I enjoy the beautiful, the weird and the inventive.