“Face/Off” is a Syfy show that +Margie Kleerup, +Kay Hill and I all love watching, kibbitzing on, pre-guessing what the judges will say, judging on the merits as well as the meta of how the episode has been edited, the whole nine yards.
(Quick summary: the contestants, who compete the whole season, one eliminated each ep, are aspiring make-up artists of various types. They have each episode 1-2 make-up challenges: ("Create a living tree that is evil, making use of one of these landscapes," "Select one of these Oz characters and create them as if they had fallen into Wonderland," "Design the sewer monster that left these signs behind.") The results are then judged by a panel of 3-4 professionals.
They've slowly refined the formula over the several seasons, but the fundamentals of the show have remains the same:
1. There's just enough drama to make it interesting, but it tends to be pretty low-key. The focus is on the craft, and the skills and creativity that go into it. It's definitely educational for the viewers.
2. People are not only professionals (or trying to be), most of them are colleagues on the show, lending a hand (or an opinion) to other competitors when needed.
3. Going big is rewarded (but you'd better show you had a chance to pull it off if you don't). Following the theme / mission / assignment is rewarded (that's what the job is all about, after all). Time Management is highly rewarded (rather, poor time management will get you in trouble both in results and in and of itself).
4. The judges are professional — bluntly critical where appropriate, but even in their critiques they are being helpful, and their parting comments to eliminated contestants each week are sincere, encouraging, and (esp. as the season wears on) pained in having to drop folk who have shown their talent in previous eps. The judges have been fairly consistent over the series, so with time you get to know their personalities, quirks, and critical eye.
We watch a few other reality competition shows, but this one is hands-down our favorite.
Originally shared by +Curt Thompson:
For my first Nerdy 9th post, I'd like to talk about a new passion of mine.
Face Off. I love this show. I mean, I love reality competition shows in general. While most reality TV leaves me cold, there is something about passionate people doing what they love in a competitive environment that really clicks for me.
From Project Runway to Top Chef and even Survivor (though that's a bit different), it's a genre I enjoy. But the new 'Best of Breed' for me is Face Off.
If you haven't seen this show on Syfi (which is the network that is slowly working its way back to being the Sci-Fi channel), it is Project Runway for special effects makeup. The average challenge might be something like 'Orcs in Space. You have two days. Go!'
The results range from 'Oh man, no' to 'No freakin' way!', usually in the same challenge. These are very skilled people doing highly creative work at speed. There are some misses but the overall effect is amazing. As is the professionalism, camaraderie and good will of the contestants and judges.
These people are bonded by a common love and it shows. The contestants help one another. They cheer for one another. There's little or no 'house drama'. It's all about the love.
And the judging panel is the same way. While they are occasionally snarky, these are people who want to be there and don't look at their less applauded fellow travelers in the industry as 'wannabes' but as students. They instruct while they critique and when somebody pulls off something amazing, they marvel at it, like the viewer does.
This is a fun, positive and often brilliant show that stands out in a crowded field. Well worth watching and even picking up the past seasons.
