Face Off is back tonight, and it hits the ground running. Last season’s Pros vs Rookies was a great theme and hard to beat, but we are promised that Season 6 will be a “season of extremes,” and I can’t wait. Tonight gets us off to a great start; wait until you see the wigs on the Foundation Challenge.
Though you’ll see the fabulous house in which they’re staying during the competition, all you’ll be hearing about is how great the house is. No strategizing, no trash talk. It’s a terrific, informative, inspiring competition show, and as I often say, the only one I follow.
Get a taste of all the tension and talent and the near-complete lack of whining and back-biting in the trailer and clip below:
Trailer: Face Off – Season 6
Clip: Face Off – Season 6: Episode 1
Syfy’s smash hit and acclaimed unscripted series, “Face Off,” is back for a bold and extreme sixth season. Fifteen up-and-coming special effects make-up artists are introduced, all eager for the opportunity to achieve success in the competitive special effects makeup field. And in a Face Off first, the contestants travel to the other side of the globe for a special episode shot in Tokyo, Japan, where they are tasked with creating a stylized anime character based on their own alter ego.
Returning to the lab for the new season is actress and host McKenzie Westmore, along with judges Ve Neill (“The Hunger Games,” “The Amazing Spider-Man,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”), Glenn Hetrick (“CSI: New York,” “The Hunger Games,” “Heroes”) and Neville Page (“Avatar,” “Prometheus”). World-renowned makeup artist — and McKenzie’s dad – Michael Westmore resumes his role as the official contestant mentor.
The guest judges on tap for season six include Tami Lane (“Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” “The Hobbit,” “Lord of the Rings”), Stephen Sommers (“The Mummy,” “The Mummy Returns”), Scott Stewart (“Sin City,” “Legion”), Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”), Howard Berger (“Inglorious Bastards,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”), actor Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), former “Face Off” series judge Patrick Tatopolous (“Total Recall,” “300: Rise of an Empire”), author Roald Dahl’s daughter Lucy Dahl, Oscar winning makeup artist Valli O’Reilly (“Alice in Wonderland”), Len Wiseman (“Underworld”), Oscar winning makeup artist Kazuhiro Tsuji (“Planet of the Apes,” “The Ring”), anime artist and sci-fi illustrator Hidetaka Tenjin and the world famous DJ Rusko.
Season six presents the most extreme challenge creative for the series yet, compelling the contestants to push the possibilities in nearly every aspect of their makeups to inspire the most magnificent characters and creatures in “Face Off” history. The season’s first Spotlight challenge is a “Beauty & the Beast” makeup in which the contestants must create an original Beast who would live in a chosen castle with its Belle. Additional challenges include the creation of an intricate Medieval dragon warrior that breathes not only fire, but also elements like ice and poison; an outlandish rock ‘n roll guitarist character; an original wizard inspired by an array of unique wands on display; a whimsical creation inspired by Roald Dahl characters that have been written about, but never-before-seen on screen; and a futuristic robot that has replaced humans in the workforce, complete with functional advantages in a particular field. Continuing the “Face Off” tradition, the season culminates with another visually spectacular and elaborate finale event – an amazing electronic, nightclub-inspired light show featuring the world famous DJ Rusko.
The “Face Off” contestants will be whittled down week by week, until only three remain for a finale showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2014 Fiat and a VIP trip from Kryolan Professional Make-Up to one of their 85 international locations. Kryolan Professional Make-Up continues as the official make-up sponsor of “Face Off.”
“Face Off” is an authentic depiction of the high creative standards necessary for a special effects make-up artist to succeed in their craft. The series debuted in January 2011 as a new reality competition program to critical and ratings success. Season five of “Face Off” averaged 2.29 million total viewers.
“Face Off” is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.
Face Off, hosted by McKenzie Westmore, airs Season 6 beginning tonight, January 14 at 9/8c on Syfy.
