Face Off

Face Off is a reality competition series set in the magical world of special effects and make-up artistry. The series introduces twelve of the brightest up-and-coming special-effects make-up artists, who meet in Los Angeles for their first elimination challenge. Their task is to imagine an entirely new species - an human/animal hybrid - based on one of three exotic animals that are brought into their workspace lab. Judging the series is multiple Academy-award winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director and creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. McKenzie Westmore hosts the series.

In the second episode of Face Off, the artists must apply original full body make-up to nude subjects in the vein of Demi Moore's "Birthday Suit" cover for Vanity Fair. World-renowned and revolutionary body painter Filippo Ioco serves as guest judge.

For the spotlight challenge, the artists visit the famous Star Trek television series filming location, Vasquez Rocks, in Southern California. While there, they are given details on their next challenge from legendary FX artist Michael Westmore, best known for his make-up work in various Star Trek productions. Their assignment is to imagine and create a creature that would inhabit a newly discovered planet. Details on the planet's features including environmental, geological and meteorological data are given to the contestants, who must work in teams of two to complete the challenge.

The artists pay a visit to the backlot of Universal Studios and the iconic Psycho House, where they meet Sean Cunningham, director and producer of the original Friday the 13th. For the spotlight challenge, the contestants must first create an original horror villain, and then collaborate with a production designer to create a movie poster with an original title and tagline. Sean Cunningham joins the judges to critique the results.

The contestants are divided into teams of two and challenged to transform a "bride" into a "groom" and a "groom" into a "bride".

For this week's spotlight challenge, the contestants must craft an original zombie. Their design must not only be creative, it must be functional and able to withstand the rigors of performing a choreographed dance routine. The final results are revealed in an eerie cemetery scene as the zombies perform a dance in front of the judges. Guest judging is Greg Nicotero, Academy Award winning artist on The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The families of the five remaining competitors are stationed in a local Los Angeles wig shop in order to play a part in this week's spotlight challenge. The contestants will have to disguise themselves and interact with their family members without being discovered.

In the final spotlight challenge, the remaining three contestants are assigned a classic fairy tale such as Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. They must create two characters inspired by one of the tales, and place them in a fully art directed scene. For the final judging, the fairy tale tableaus are put on display in a cocktail party setting, and the winner of Face Off is revealed.