Week of September 19th, 2012
By Jason Nagy
This week on “Faceoff”…
The title for this past week’s SyFy original “Faceoff” was “Alice in Zombieland,” and what wouldn’t be better for our makeup artists to create than zombie versions of our favorite childrens’ book characters.
The episode was guest judged by Paul W.S. Anderson (writer, producer, and director of the Resident Evil films) and the goal for our contestants was to make “Alice in Wonderland” characters look like they were infected with the T-virus. Some of the artists nailed the concept, such as Nicole’s work which was a zombie Alice with the “Drink Me” bottle exploding out of her chest. In Nicole’s concept, the bottle was the cause of the zombie outbreak.
Jason, who pulled immunity for his win on the “Trauma Foundation” challenge didn’t slack off just because he couldn’t be eliminated. He used his immunity to try some techniques he wasn’t comfortable with and created a really creepy Mad Hatter. The judges only complaint was that the mouth couldn’t open and close, which limited the actor’s range of abilities. Poor Sarah was at the greatest disadvantage in this challenge. Growing up in a Mennonite community, she wasn’t familiar with “Alice” and never created zombie make-up. She also chose the Cheshire Cat, which may have been one of the hardest characters to make in the time given. It turned out looking like Cheshire got into a fight at a maple syrup festival. When elimination came, the judges raved about Laura’s Mad Hatter; Roy’s queen with it’s fleshy crown and Derek’s version of Cheshire, with half it’s body eaten away by the T-virus. In the bottom was Nicole, Rod and Tommy. Rod’s creation of The Queen of Hearts was neither zombie or really Alice. It looked more like an old fat lady that drinks a lot of blood. Sorry Rod, that’s called a vampire, not zombie. Nicole’s Alice was painted too dark to really see anything, and the painted on moving brain was clever but looked like something from a Halloween shop. Tommy had issues all around with his costume of The White Rabbit. The arms fell apart during the making, but fixed it with good old duct tape. The real problem was his wardrobe chose and machete. Tommy somehow made a zombie version of The White Rabbit look more like Jason Voorheese than either a rabbit or zombie. It just didn’t work.
But it was Nicole that got sent home for her flat painting job and tearing edge.
Next week’s episode will have writer director Kevin Smith as the guest judge. It’s titled “Supermobile” and has to do with a mash up between comic books and car accidents. I’m assuming.
After months of waiting, an actor has been cast as Norman Bates in A&E’s “Batest Motel”
TV Guide is reporting that the part of Bates has gone to 20 year old Freddie Highmore, who first gained notoriety in 2004′s “Finding Neverland,” staring opposite Johnny Depp. You’ve also seen him as Golden Ticket winner Charlie Bucket, in 2005′s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” again working opposite of Depp.
Earlier this year, executive Producer Carlton Cruse, you know, from “LOST,” told TV guide that his Norman Bates may not be what fans expect. He didn’t want someone to imitate Anthony Perkins in this re-imagining. He wanted something fresh, as the new “Bates Motel” will offer an original, multi-layered take on Hitchcock’s classic.
“Bates motel” will give viewers an intimate understanding of Norman’s psyche as he develops from childhood through teen years and how his mother’s (cough) love damaged a young Norman and turn him into the most iconic serial killer in film history.
Creative Arts Primetime Emmy awards
“American Horror Story” and “The Walking Dead” win two awards at Saturday night’s Creative Arts Primetime Emmys.
The overall winner was HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” walking away with 6 statues, but Greg Nicotero and team won for outstanding prosthetic makeup for a series, miniseries, movie, or special with the season two episode “What Lies Ahead.”
On the opposite end of the make-up spectrum, FX’s “American Horror Story” won for outstanding hairstyling for a miniseries or movie.
…and that’s your horror television news this week.
Jason
