Syfy Channel's Face Off Analysis

Let me start by saying that I do not watch reality TV. So this is a hard topic for me to write about, however, I do watch Face Off on SyFy. So that is the best I can do. SyFy channel’s Face Off is a reality television program where a group of makeup and prosthetic artists compete against each other to create a new one of a kind prosthesis that can be used in horror and science fiction movies. Each episode is a different concept and design challenge where the contestants are unaware of and have to create a full costume in a set time parameter. With the conclusion of each show one member is eliminated from the challenge until the final episode where the 3 remaining competitors compete in a Final Face Off for the glory of being the winner with …show more content…
I personally have done costume and makeup design and time is so needed, and I mean days in some cases, weeks verses hours contrary to what the series depicts. Heck to make costume prosthetics, you need to create the mold, then you need to set the mold in the reverse and then you need to clay out craft your sculpture and then produce the latex, foam or whatever medium you choose to use. This is just for the mask, not even thinking about the time it is to style wigs or the costumes themselves. The biggest thing for me is the true time it takes to do makeup on the final mask. Not like you can just airbrush like crazy and hope it works out. It takes many applications to get the final product. Not to mention we have to take into account the model that you are using and the resizing and manipulation that goes into place to make sure the mask and costume fits correctly, and don’t forget those pesky edges that you must blend to the model, edges are important. Edges on prosthetic and the final costume are what makes it real looking and ready to walk out on the set and perform/shoot your scenes for a real movie without falling apart and standing up to the conditions of the scene. For example, if you are making a mask and it needs to get wet you better make sure that your paint is a waterproof paint, or a glow in the dark scene where you need only the subtle details of the mask to show vs the full effect of the horror mask. Kind of like if you see a black cat at night it’s the eyes and the minor changes in the facial features that draw you to the conclusion it’s a cat and not a monster. Furthermore, the time concept in the production game I believe they have to send some of the pieces out to help speed up the time for the final product. Bottom line it takes time to create a one of