Plot Synopsis

Aspiring special-effects makeup artists compete in elimination challenges for their shot at stardom by showing unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. The winners of Seasons 3 & 4 earned $100,000 in seed money to help encourage their special effects career and the coveted exposure to help launch a career. Plus, the winning artists were given the opportunity to become a guest lecturer at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academies in New York and Paris. The contestants are tasked with elaborate feature challenges that require a wide range of skills -- effects makeup, prosthetics, 3-D design, sculpting, eye enhancers, casting and molding. At the end of each episode, one contestant is sent home by the panel of expert and celebrity judges. Judging the series are: multiple Academy Award winner Ve Neill; famed special makeup effects artist Glenn Hetrick; and blockbuster creature designer Neville Page. In Season 1, the winner was Conor McCullagh, and guest judges includes: Sean Cunningham; revolutionary body painter Filippo Ioco; Greg Nicotero; and Michael Westmore. Rayce Bird won Season 2, which featured the following guest judges: actor LeVar Burton; renowned makeup artist Greg Cannom; actress Vivica Fox; actress Catherine O'Hara; musical artist Asher Roth; and noted horror makeup artist Tom Savini. During Season 3, which was won by Nicole Chilelli, the guest judges included: Brian Grazer, Kevin Smith, Gale Anne Hurd, Sean Astin, LucasFilm collaborator and actor Matthew Wood, Paul WS Anderson, boxer Laila Ali and Oscar-nominated makeup artist Barney Burman. Season 4, which premiered with a 90-minute episode on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 9pm, featured an official contest mentor, Michael Westmore, who is a world-renowned Hollywood makeup artist and the father of the FACE OFF host, and guest judges, including Bryan Singer, Gale Anne Hurd, John Landau, Michael Nankin and John Rhys-Davies.