"Face Off" - the New SYFY Show About Special FX Makeup
Thursday, January 27, 2011 at 10:14AM 
SYFY's new show, Face Off, premiered last night and was a lot of fun to watch. If you're an artist or sci-fi lover, or just love movie monsters, you'll be wowed by the creatures the contestants create on this reality show. Yes, it's a reality show. The special fx make-up artists are elimated every week until one is chosen by a big studio. The viewers won't much care about the competition so much as watching the cool creatures that come out of the competition.
It's definitely a fun show. If it was on any station but SYFY, it might night last. A few years ago, there was a filmmaker reality show called On the Lot on Fox, which I enjoyed, but failed miserably in ratings. But I think this new show about movie fx magic has a better shot, not just beacuse it's on Syfy, but it's much more instant gratification being that you can see the creatures form and take shape much faster than you can see a short film being made.
But this is a fun show, I think it can be enjoyed by all. If you don't like monsters or special fx, you're lame. Check your listings for SYFY and tune in next Wednesday to check it out.
Reader Comments (2)
I saw the pilot episode. Very good show. I thought the right team won. I'll keep watching. In regards to being lame if I don't like monsters or special fx, well that can be debated. Most monster movies suck donkey ass. And most special fx rely on CGI and unless you've got a ton of $$$, most CGI... you guessed it... sucks donkey ass. The last time I wanted to watch a good monster movie, I went all the way back to "The Thing". Creative CGI just doesn't measure up to artists building the creature in a shop and bringing it to a set. And yes, I prefer puppet Yoda to CGI Yoda. Screw the dumb flips he did in a fight. Yoda ran like a coward during that fight anyway. Seriously, monster movies these days just don't hold up to the test of time. Thoughts?
-Darius
Well, I'm not anti-cgi, but it has to be done right. By 'right' I mean it can't 'seem' like cgi. The problem with much cgi is that it seems fake or 'not right' and it takes you out of the movie. I loved the movie "Expendables" but much of the blood splats are cgi and you can tell, and it took me out of the movie and reminded me that it's a movie. That's the problem with much cgi and how it's done.
I believe there is a correct way to use cgi, but it's as an enhancement to real physical fx or as a mix with real physical fx. Jurassic Park used both. They had a giant real physical T-Rex head that they used for close-ups. And far away shot were computer graphics. And it was so well done, you can't tell the difference between the two. Avatar is also another way cgi is well fused with reality.
So I'm not anti-cgi like some people are still anti-computer "I'll never touch a computer as long as I live." Cgi has it's place. But to rely on it as the bulk of your fx, is unwise and it just becomes a crutch. I liked the puppet Yoda better, I think everyone does. It's real, it's right there. There's no debating if it's fake, cuz there's no green screen, no graphics.
I think if something can be done in reality believably, it should be. And I stand by my statement that is someone doesn't like fx, they're lame.:) That's not cgi fx I'm referring to, but makeup fx...'The Thing' utilized fx. If someone doesn't think those monsters are cool, they're lamos, period. No debate. Though they are remaking 'The Thing', so you might not want to see it, cuz I'm sure they have gci in the mix:)