Syfy has signed Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick and Patrick Tatopoulos as judges and McKenzie Westmore as host on Face Off, a new reality-competition series set in the magical world of world-class special effects and make-up artistry. The series will feature twelve aspiring special effects make-up artists competing for their shot at make-up-effects stardom and the chance to breakout in the competitive field. Scheduled to premiere in January 2011 on Syfy, principal photography for the eight-episode, one-hour series commenced October 20 in Los Angeles. The announcement was made today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions.
"Syfy provides a definitive forum to showcase the imagination and artistry of this incredible field," said Stern. "The series will introduce twelve dynamic personalities who will display their creativity and talent through a series of weekly challenges. Given her auspicious background, McKenzie Westmore is the perfect host, and we're honored to have such renowned figures as Glenn Hetrick,
Ve Neill and Patrick Tatopoulos as our judges. Their high-standards for special effects artistry will push our contestants to the top of their game."
Multiple Academy-award winner
Ve Neill serves as a judge to the competing artists. One of the most renowned make-up artists in the motion picture business today, Neill has set many standards of excellence in the make-up field, earning three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards and four Saturn Awards, among other accolades. Neill recently added Pirates of the Caribbean to her list of creations for which she was awarded the BAFTA (British Academy Award) and another Oscar nomination. Neill is also noted for transforming
Johnny Depp into a scissors wielding anti-hero for
Edward Scissorhands,
Robin Williams into a Scottish nanny for Mrs. Doubtfire,
Martin Landau into horror legend
Bela Lugosi for Ed Wood and for bringing to life an onslaught of villains, beauties and superheroes in the Batman film series.
Famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick also serves as judge on the series. Hetrick is the owner of Optic Nerve Studios, Inc., where he has worked as a designer, fabricator, sculptor and painter on numerous film and television projects including Heroes, CSI: NY, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, X-Files, Babylon 5, Roswell, Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick, among others.
Director and creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos joins the series as a judge, bringing his distinguished and signature style to the competition. Tatopoulos has served as a production designer and creator of creature effects on such films as I Am Legend, Live Free or Die Hard, Underworld, Resident Evil: Extinction, Independence Day, Dark City, Stargate and Godzilla, for which he won a Saturn award for Best Special Effects. Tatopoulos also designed the werewolves for director Michael Doughterty's Trick R Treat and special make-up effects for
Joel Schumacher's upcoming horror film, Creek. Tatopoulos also directed Underworld: Rise of the Lycans.
Host McKenzie Westmore brings a rich history and passion for the art of special effects make-up to her role. Beginning with her great-grandfather George, the Westmore family set the bar for film and television make-up; essentially pioneering the field. Her father,
Michael Westmore, is the legendary make-up artist behind the TV series Star Trek. Ms. Westmore started acting at the age of three when she was cast in Raging Bull as
Robert De Niro's daughter. She later went on to guest star in Weird Science, Star Trek Voyager as well as the feature film Star Trek: Insurrection. Ms. Westmore also starred on the NBC soap opera Passions.
Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. The contestants are tasked with elaborate feature challenges including executing full body paint make up on models and creating their own horror villain. Not only will the show incorporate effects make-up, it will include a wide range of skill sets including prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. Each episode involves incredible reveals of the competitors' finished work, and the drama of one contestant being sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges. It all culminates in one winner and one grand prize that will launch a career.
Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Michael Agbabian and
Dwight Smith serving as executive producers. Face Off is set to debut in first quarter 2011 on Syfy.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com <outbind://238/www.Syfy.com> ), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
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