Face Off Season 3 McKenzie Westmore Ve Neill Transcript

SYFY CONFERENCE CALL FACE OFFModerator: Brenda Lowny

08-15-12/3:39 pm CTConfirmation # 21602191

SYFY CONFERENCE CALL FACE OFF

Moderator: Brenda LownyAugust 15, 2012

3:39 pm CT

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to the NBC

Universal Syfy conference call Face Off.

During the presentation, all participants will be in a listen only mode.

Afterward, we will conduct a question and answer session. At that time, if you

have a questions, please press the 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone. If at

any time during the conference you need to reach an operator, please press

star 0.

As a reminder, this conference is being recorded Wednesday, August 15,

2012.

I’d now like to turn the conference over to Brenda Lowny, please go ahead

ma’am.

Brenda Lowny: Good after everyone, this is Brenda Lowny with Syfy PR. Thank you for

joining today’s Face Off call. The - Face Off returns for its third season next

Tuesday, August 21 at 9:00 Eastern/Pacific with 12 new contestants and an

array of incredible challenges.



With us today to talk about the new season is our host, McKenzie Westmore

and our series judge, Ve Neill. I’ll pass it over to our operator and we can ask

for first question. Thank you.

Operator: Thank you. And ladies and gentlemen, as a reminder, if you’d like to register

a question please press the 1 followed by the 4 on your telephone. You’ll hear

a three tone prompt to acknowledge your request. If you’d like to withdraw

your registration, please press the 1 followed by the 3. If using a

speakerphone, please lift your handset before entering your request.

One moment please for the first question.

Ve Neill: Now - do - hey, McKenzie, are you there?

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, ma’am.

Ve Neill: Do we have to press a button to answer a question or no?

McKenzie Westmore: No, I don’t think so. No.

Ve Neill: Okay.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, we just (unintelligible).

Operator: And our first question comes from the line of Kyle Nolan with NoReruns.net.

Please go ahead.

Kyle Nolan: Hi, McKenzie and Ve, thanks for taking time to talk to us today.



McKenzie Westmore: Hi...

Ve Neill: Hi.

McKenzie Westmore: ...thank you.

Kyle Nolan: So in the opening sequence of the season premiere it says that America will

have a say in the winner this season. Could you talk more about how that’ll

work and some of the other changes we can expect this season?

Ve Neill: Do you...

McKenzie Westmore: We...

Ve Neill: ...want to do that one McKenzie?

McKenzie Westmore: Sure. Yes, sure. We said at the finale we - the first time in Face Off history

America’s going to get to vote. We’re going to do a live show on Halloween

night and America will have a say on which contestant they feel came up with

the best make up.

Kyle Nolan: Great. And, once again, you have this amazing array of guest judges that you

get to work with for the foundation--or - is it the foundation challenge or the

quick challenge at the beginning?

McKenzie Westmore: The foundation, yes.

Kyle Nolan: Could you talk about some of the folks that you get to work with his season

and is it at the point where they ask you to be on the show or do you still seek

them out?



McKenzie Westmore: Do you want to take that one?

Ve Neill: Ooh, I don’t know that.

McKenzie Westmore: You know, I think it’s a little bit of both. You know, there are some people

that are dying to be on the show and they’re loving it and there’re are some

people that we, you know, always reach out to to see if they’re interested for -

especially if it’s a particular challenge and it fits them.

You know, we have an array of amazing guest judges this year. We start off

with Sean Astin as you were first mentioning with the very first foundation

challenge. We have other great guest judges that come in. We have Brian

Grazer, we have Laila Ali, we have Kevin Smith, who I actually was tweeting

back and forth with this morning regarding his appearance on the show. So

there are some really fun, amazing guest judges that come in to join our

already amazing panel of judges.

Kyle Nolan: Great. Thanks, I’ve seen the premiere and I can’t wait to see how the rest of

the season plays out.

McKenzie Westmore: Us too. I haven’t seen it. We’re dying to see it.

Ve Neill: Yes.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of Jamie Ruby with SciFi Vision.

Please go ahead.

Jamie Ruby: Hi, thanks so much for doing the call today. It’s good to talk to you both

again.



McKenzie Westmore: Hi.

Ve Neill: Thank you.

Jamie Ruby: Can you talk more about how the challenges are going to be different this

year. I mean, I know they’re going to be harder, but can you maybe give some

examples and talk about them a little bit?

Ve Neill: Oh, wow. How they’re going to be different. Geez, there’s so many different

ones. I mean, can we talk about...

McKenzie Westmore: Wouldn’t you say that we kind of went bigger and broader this year?

Ve Neill: We did go bigger and broader, I think. I think we have - and we’re seeing a lot

more full body and all kinds of great things from our artists. It’s pretty

amazing some of the things that - the opening show is going to be absolutely

spectacular. We have some of the best talent we have had on the show in a

long time. So, I’m pretty happy about that.

We have - one of our challenges was a Star Wars challenge, which was pretty

great and...

McKenzie Westmore: That was amazing.

Ve Neill: Yes, that was pretty fun. And we did a Who challenge and Brian Grazer was

our guest judge and it was pretty fun to have him there seeing as he was, you

know, one of the producers on the film. So, it’s going to be pretty fun and

terrific and there’s a lot of really great wonderful makeup you’re going to see

this year.



Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. Thank. And when you’re judging, do you feel that it’s more

important for them to kind of follow the specifics of what you tell them or

more important that they go outside the box? Like, how do you, I guess, draw

that line of what you choose over one or the other?

Ve Neill: Well, it’s important for them to follow the specifics of the challenge because

sometimes, and it has come up, that we find two that are really, really

spectacular make up and we literally judge it just by did they follow the

challenge exactly.

So, you know, we can have a really spectacular make up but they’re missing

part of the challenge. And, you know, and so when that - and when it comes to

that, we have to really just say okay, well there both really great make up but

this one follows the challenge precisely. And a lot of - you know, several

times this has happened and we have had to choose the one that’s followed the

challenge precisely.

So, I mean, that doesn’t mean that they can’t think outside of the box but they

do have to incorporate...

McKenzie Westmore: Right.

Ve Neill: ...all the elements of the challenge.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. Thank you so much. Thank you.

((Crosstalk))

Ve Neill: (Unintelligible) outside of the box.



McKenzie Westmore: Sure.

Ve Neill: Yes, yes.

Operator: And the next question comes from the line of Kathy Huddleston with

Blaster.com. Please go ahead.

Kathy Huddleston: Hi, ladies.

McKenzie Westmore: Hi, how are you?

Ve Neill: Hello.

Kathy Huddleston: So what are some of the challenges that we have to look forward to this

season?

McKenzie Westmore: We have a lot of cool challenges this season. We start off with a bang of

Star Wars. We have super heroes, we have dancing Chinese New Year

dragons, we’ve teamed up with a charity, Kids Say Yes to the Arts, that was

one of my personal favorites where children brought in sketches of monsters -

7-year-olds brought in sketches of monsters and teamed up with the

contestants to bring their monsters to life. So there’s a good array this year.

Kathy Huddleston: Awesome. And...

Ve Neill: Yes, there’s a lot of different fun challenges this year and we’ve had some

pretty spectacular guest judges with us as well.



Kathy Huddleston: And just one other question then. Just - personally - for both of you ladies,

what personal challenges did you face on this season? What - you know, what

challenges did you face with doing the show?

Ve Neill: Oh, well, I don’t know that I have any challenges. I really enjoy working on

the show and I think it’s just fun to see, you know, all the creative work that’s

done here and it’s really amazing.

I love seeing what the artists come up with, you know, every week and it’s

truly a blessing to even be here. I mean, it’s just so much fun.

McKenzie Westmore: It really is. I mean, I know for myself there’s sometimes I feel like I get

my own challenges when I’m doing some of the working with the contestants

and explaining some of things. It really wasn’t anything I can think of with

Season 3, but I do know in Season 2 we had the challenge of dangerous

beauty and I have a horrible, horrible fear of bears. And they had that bear

right behind me as I was announcing the challenge and I really kind of

blacked out and don’t remember explaining most of the challenge to them

because of that. You didn’t know that Ve, did you/

Ve Neill: No, we’re not privy to a lot of the stuff that goes on..

McKenzie Westmore: I know, because I’m (unintelligible)....

((Crosstalk))

Ve Neill: I only get to stay the week.



McKenzie Westmore: I’m there every day, so that’s why there’s days where I feel like I’m

getting my own challenge. I’m like, okay, what and I - what fear and I going

to conquer today.

Ve Neill: I think you challenges are standing up on those dang high heels.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, that’s true. That’s another good challenge for me, you’re right.

Kathy Huddleston: Thank ladies. I want to speak in one more. Ve, do you guys always agree

or disagree, because you seem almost like you’re in agreement a lot of times...

Ve Neill: Well, you know...

Kathy Huddleston: ...in the judging.

Ve Neill: ...sometimes, you know, it’s been we’ve, you know, we’ve come against each

other but not - you know, usually, it’s pretty clear cut. Sometimes we think

well, I like this one more but, you know, I understand why - where you’re

coming from. And yes perhaps maybe that one is better because, you know,

they followed the challenge more of they used - you know, we - they were

supposed to do this and they did that and the other guy didn’t do it even

though it’s a really great makeup.

So, you know, we wind up agreeing most of the time after we’ve had a chance

to hash it out, you know. I don’t think we’ve ever really had any major

disagreements because, as I said, sometimes it’s just very clear cut who, you

know, the winner would be.

Kathy Huddleston: Thanks ladies.



Ve Neill: You’re welcome.

McKenzie Westmore: Thank you.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Hal Boedeker with Orlando

Sentinel. Please go ahead.

Hal Boedeker: Hi, thank you for doing the call. I have a very local question. Could I get your

impressions of the two Orlando contestants, Eric Garcia and Laura Tyler?

McKenzie Westmore: Both amazing. I mean...

Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: ...Ve can speak more on the true talent side but, as far as working with

them on my level of personalities, they both were wonderful great people.

Ve Neill: Yes, they both did - they did - they both did great work and it was really nice

to see all - you know, the difference nuances and, you know, it’s kind of fun

to see, you know, people’s strong points and, you know, and it was just great

watching them work.

There’s a lot of talent that comes out of Orlando. I’ve - we’ve actually some

other...

McKenzie Westmore: I noticed that too.

Ve Neill: ...Orland too.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes.



Ve Neill: Like, Nix was from Orlando, he was really fabulous. He’s an amazing body

painter. So we’ve had quite a few very talented people come out of the

Orlando area.

McKenzie Westmore: Sure.

Hal Boedeker: Ever figured out why?

Ve Neill: Sorry?

Hal Boedeker: Any thoughts about why so much talent comes out of here/

Ve Neill: I don’t know, that’s kind of an odd question.

Hal Boedeker: There training, I don’t...

Ve Neill: I don’t know how to answer that one.

Hal Boedeker: Okay. Thank you so much.

Ve Neill: Orlando’s just very talented.

McKenzie Westmore: Because it’s hot down there.

Ve Neill: Exactly, they have lots of inspiration. Lots of inspiration there.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Beth Beacham with Hollywood

Junket. Please go ahead.



Beth Beacham: Oh, hi, Ladies. Thank you so much for answering our questions.

McKenzie Westmore: Hi, thank you.


Beth Beacham: I am curious about the cyborgs challenges the Pirates of the Caribbean. Can

you talk about those?

Ve Neill: The cyborgs was very cool. That was the one we had - was that where we had

Gale Anne Hurd...


Ve Neill: ...she came in for cyborg and that...

McKenzie Westmore: That was great.

Ve Neill: ...was an amazing challenge. That was really fun. They did some really

interesting and different takes on cyborgs.

McKenzie Westmore: I’m picturing it right now. Oh my God, there were some amazing makeups

in that one that I remember.

Ve Neill: Yes, it was pretty fun.

McKenzie Westmore: And the Pirates one, I know you guys loved the pirate one. There were

some fun things that happened for you guy in the Pirates on, Ve.



Ve Neill: Yes, I mean, that’s always great to see pirate stuff. I, you know, I’m a big

pirate fan, obviously

McKenzie Westmore: Obviously.

Ve Neill: They were, you know, the challenges are always so unique and it’s also so fun

to see somebody else’s take on something you’ve done before. So, it was

really fun. I, you know, I enjoy the show so much, it’s really refreshing to see

somebody else’s, you know, work on something that you have, you know,

obviously done and it was pretty entertaining, I got to say.

Beth Beacham: And the cyborgs, are those the same type of cyborgs that we see on Star Trek

or are they different?

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, there were some similarities to some of - not necessarily - I mean, the

borg queen is an example that I do give them in their challenge as an

inspiration. So they definitely had that direction to go in but they really went

outside the box of what they would consider to be their own version of a

cyborg, not necessarily the borg queen of Star Trek. So there were some pretty

amazing make ups that they did present to the judges that really, you know,

encompassed what the challenge asked for.

Beth Beacham: Okay, thank you. I look forward to the new season.


Ve Neill: Thank you very much.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of Monique Jones with

TVEquals.com. Please go ahead.



Monique Jones: Hi, thanks for taking the call today. I only have one question. Is there a film or

show that has made you wonder how someone achieves a certain look?

Ve Neill: Wow. Gosh, that’s a pretty broad question. I’d have to really start thinking

about that. Seeing as I know how they do most of the stuff. I’ve never really

thought about how did they do that. Although, you know, with a lot of CGI

stuff these days, it does make you stop and wonder, you know, occasionally

about how did they integrate, you know, the CGI into the makeup. And that’s

really cool, I wonder, you know, who set it up and, you know, how they

figured it out. But, I’m not sure that I can think of anything right off the back

like how’d they do that. Can you McKenzie?

McKenzie Westmore: Not - no, I’m kind of blank on that one.

Ve Neill: We’re just too damn smart I guess. That’s what happens when they take all

the fantasy out of your work. When you already know how to - how they did

that. It kind of takes all the fun out of it, doesn’t it.

McKenzie Westmore: That’s funny.

Monique Jones: Thanks.



Operator: And we have a follow up question from the line of Kyle Nolan with

NoReruns.net. Please go ahead.



Kyle Nolan: Hi again. I was wondering, do the judges get to see any of the foundation

challenge work and does that factor into the decisions at all?

Ve Neill: You know, we don’t get to see anything except for what’s really brought to us

right on stage. You know, it usually doesn’t factor into it. The only time it

does factor into it is when we are told that somebody had immunity. They will

tell us what the challenge was and they’d say who won it or who is immune,

but other than that, we really have no knowledge of any of the pre - the

challenges that go on before that we don’t see. We just solely on what we see

right on the stage, which is what you guys see. We don’t even know what

goes on in the houses or anything and we don’t even know what the

challenges are until we actually get to work that day.

Kyle Nolan: So, McKenzie, do - are you aware - there’s often - when these artists get

paired up there’s often this - the clash of personalities. Are you aware of any

of that behind the scenes drama that’s going on?

McKenzie Westmore: I am, I’m privy to, you know, most everything that does on, just as being

the host and being kind of the conduit for everything and being so intertwined

with the contestants, as well as the judges. I am in the loop on all of the ins

and outs and, you know, what’s going on in the lab. I really don’t deal with

much of the house stuff because I’m not there.

You know, I might hear some of the things that are going on but I don’t take

part in any of the house drama, I guess you could say. But I always know

what; going on in the lab. Obviously, I’m there with the guest judge for the

foundation challenges, so I do see all the ins and outs and all the workings that

do happen on a daily basis.



Kyle Nolan: And do you guys - do either of you keep in touch or work with any of the past

contestants or winners/

McKenzie Westmore: Oh, yes.

Ve Neill: A lot of times the past contestants, you know, we will have a little bit of

contact. As in the first season, Conner - on the first season, Conner came and

did the Hunger Games with me, so I kept - and I’m still in contact with

Conner. We, you know, we email and occasionally speak.


Ve Neill: I was actually hoping that he’d go on the second Hunter Games with me but I

think I’m going to have to hire locally again, which is why he got hired the

first time, because he was local in North Carolina. So, that being said, I think

it’s just such a wonderful opportunity to any of these - with - for any of these

artists to be able to stay in touch with us because, you know, we would love to

be able to help them out eventually, you know.

McKenzie Westmore: Absolutely.

Ve Neill: And they don’t even have to be the winner. I mean, I still talk to...

McKenzie Westmore: No.

Ve Neill: ...a lot of the guys. They come and do things at tradeshows with me and do

demos and it’s really to see all the, you know, see their progression and how

they, you know, advanced over the, you know, the - since they’ve come off

the show. So, it’s really quite fun to stay in touch with everybody.



McKenzie Westmore: It really is. There are a couple that I’ve kept in touch with and my dad

actually hired Gage to do a Bollywood film this past year. And so...

Ve Neill: Oh, cool.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, I know. So you’re right, when you...

Ve Neill: I didn’t know that, that’s bitching.

McKenzie Westmore: I know, it’s that so cool. Yes, he sent him over to India and had him make

up the - who’s considered like the George Clooney of India.

Ve Neill: Wow.

McKenzie Westmore: And my dad is still very much involved in India, so it was really, you

know, it was kind of neat to see somebody like Gage, who like you just said

Ve, you know, isn’t - wasn’t the winner but, still an amazing talent.

Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: And a lot of people do continue to get great work after being seen on the

show and after they are able to showcase their talent.

Ve Neill: Yes, it really opens up a lot of doors for them. And, as you said, they don’t

even have to be the winners. I mean, I’ve occasionally - they’ve managed to

get a hold of my email or they contact me through Facebook, but it’s always

nice to hear, you know, gosh I’ve gotten so many, you know, it’s been such an

advantage being on the show. I get contacted all the time now to do local

things and, you know, blah, blah, blah. It’s really kind of fun. I’m so happy

for the contestants because it’s such a great opportunity for them to advance



their craft. So, I’m really happy that the show has been able to do that for so

many artists.

Kyle Nolan: That’s great to hear. Thanks again for your time.

McKenzie Westmore: You’re welcome.


Operator: And our next question comes from the line of Ryan Haidet with

Realitymagazinetv.com. Please go ahead.

Ryan Haidet: Hi guys, thanks for...


Ryan Haidet: ...chatting with us today. It’s a pleasure to actually be speaking with you guys.

I’m a huge fan of the show.

McKenzie Westmore: Oh, cool.

Ve Neill: Thank you so much.

Ryan Haidet: Just curious about the casting process, how involved is that because I’m sure

you guys don’t want to get somebody who claims they can do all sorts of

makeup affects and then they get there and suck. So, what is the process like

to get on this show?

Ve Neill: You know, I don’t really know because we’re not involved with the casting at

all but McKenzie, do you know. I mean, I know they do a lot of interviews at



all the different functions and try to find people. And I think eventually they

have to do, like, some sort of makeup test or something to get in.

McKenzie Westmore: Exactly, they had to do a makeup on themselves and they..

Ve Neill: Okay.

McKenzie Westmore: ...also have to do an interview. I’ve - there’re a lot of - I know I’ve seen a

lot of the videos even on YouTube from some...

Ve Neill: Yeah, I have too.

McKenzie Westmore: ...that are - yes, it’s kind of fun to watch some of them to see...

Ve Neill: And some of them are pretty inventive, as well.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, they are with what they come up with and what they use and what

they - you know, how they go about creating a makeup on themselves.

Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: But they, you know, they’ve have to showcase their personality and they

have to showcase their talent. It’s a full package.

Ryan Haidet: Okay. And give us a preview of the premiere episode. It’s a 90 minutes

premier, what all can fans expect from that big debut?

McKenzie Westmore: We’ve got a - it opens up with a great foundation challenge to showcase

the contestants’ talent and to show us a little bit about who they are. Sean

Astin joins me as a gust judge with that one. Then we move into our big



opening with Star Wars. So, I will let Ve take it from there as to what we saw

on stage, because that was pretty amazing.

Ve Neill: Sorry, I almost dropped the phone. The Star Wars challenge was pretty

fantastic. I mean, there was a lot of really great makeups and there was also a

couple of surprises because some of our contestants are quite young and I was

really surprised to find out that one of our young lady contestants had never

even seen Star Wars.

McKenzie Westmore: We had a couple of them.

Ve Neill: Yet, he came up with a really fantastic, you know, kind of makeup. So, it -you

know, a lot of times they can’t really explain why but they just, you know,

some people just have the innate talent and it just happens without them even

trying. So, it’s really kind of fun to see, you, people’s imaginations. I mean, to

actually create, you know, an alien in the whimsical kind of fashion that when

you’ve never seen the movie. I just--you know, we were all kind of

dumbfounded. It was kind of actually a really fun moment. But, they - some

of the makeups were just so much fun. I -- you know, they were just amazing

and I was excited to see them. It was just really, really a fun challenge.

Ryan Haidet: No, at the reveal stage, I’m assuming it’s a very lengthy process. Other reality

shows like Survivor, they’re tribal councils typically last two to three hours.

what is that process like for you guys? How long does that take to do an

elimination and all that stuff.

McKenzie Westmore: It takes a while. It takes more than two to three hours.

Ve Neill: Yes, we’re here several hours as well. And, you know, it happens over the

course of the evening because - a question that we were asked earlier was, you



know, what it, you know, the process and what do - do we know anything that

goes on. And as I explained earlier to one of our other - one of the other

interviewers is, we don’t actually ever really know what goes on except for

what we actually see right on stage, which is, you know, really kind of great

because we’re completely, you know, we don’t get tainted by anything that

has gone on previously.

Like, we don’t know what goes on in the lab, except if we’re there doing a

walkthrough we’ll see a little bit of stuff but not most - not very much. We

don’t have any idea what goes on at the house or anything, so we actually can

only do our judging by what we see in front of us. And, you know, we do have

to question - you know, we’ll - we see a little bit of the makeups ahead of time

while their doing their run-throughs.

And then we’ll go out on stage and then we see them in person and then we go

up and we do a close up of it. And then, of course, we ask the artist, you

know, in depth questions as to who was responsible for all the different, you

know, for the different parts of the makeup. You know, who designed, you

know, who created this, this did that, who made - you know, who make the

wings, you know, whatever the character has on them. So, you know, we do

try to, you know, get as much information from the contestants as possible so

that we know who is responsible for which area.

And, you know, it’s very important when they’re doing challenges where

they’re teamed up with each because you - that determines who is the winner

of that team or the loser, as it may be. So, we do have quite an in-depth

question and answer period with them. You know, you probably don’t get to

see it all on air because it would talk too long. But, we’re pretty thorough with

our, you know, with our questions to the contestants.



McKenzie Westmore: That is a lengthy process, for sure.

Ryan Haidet: Okay, and the last question. How has the dynamic changed on the judging

panel with the addition of the new judge, with Patrick only there for a brief

time?

Ve Neill: I don’t know that the dynamics itself has changed because Neville is also in

the same field as Patrick, so we have that same creative juice flowing there. I

mean, we have a, you know, designer, you know, creature designer production

type designing person.

So, we still have that same - he still has that same, you know, -- the same

questions, let’s say, that Patrick would have. So, we still have that dynamic

there with, you know, Glenn, who is the, you know, fabricator and myself,

who’s the makeup artist and then the designer.

So we still have all that going and it’s working very smoothing, really well.

You know, not that we don’t miss Patrick, because we do. But Neville has

been an amazing addition to our panel and we’re very happy to have him

because he is also, you know, quite a spectacular character himself and it’s

really great to have him with us.

Operator: And our next question comes from the line of Joseph Nesro with The Make

Up Artist Magazine. Please go ahead.

Ve Neill: Cool.

Joseph Nesro: Good afternoon ladies...




Joseph Nesro: ...it’s nice to talk to both of you at the same time.

Ve Neill: Hi, good to speak to you as well.

Joseph Nesro: I was just picturing in my head the first I met McKenzie, 20 odd years ago.

Boy did she look different then.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, big difference. I (unintelligible) a great photo of my dad and I from

about 20 years ago - 20 - 25 years ago.

Ve Neill: Unfortunate, if you would’ve met me 20 years ago, it wouldn’t have been that

different.

Joseph Nesro: What I wanted to follow up on was something that you had mentioned in

passing Ve about the number of young contestants that are coming up on the

show. One of the things that we get a lot of because of the readership of our

magazine is a lot of people that are either starting out in the business as

makeup artists or people that are seriously thinking about making a career in

the business.

And some people have said that maybe they don’t necessarily get a 100%

accurate view of the industry by watching Face Off because of course there

are the reality show elements of it. and, you know, maybe you can’t do this

process this quickly because we’re cutting it for television and so forth, what I

wanted to do was maybe turn this around and ask both of you, as a person

who’s been in the business for a while and McKenzie is somebody who’s

been involved in the family business, so to speak.



What aspect are there of Face Off that a young makeup artist or somebody

who wants to get into makeup as a career can actually take from watching the

series that might be either inspirational or, I guess, aspirational in terms of

watching this show might, you know, turn them on to this is definitely

something I want to do for a career?

Ve Neill: Well, I’ll let you answer McKenzie and then I’ll answer.

McKenzie Westmore: Okay. Well, I mean, yes, certainly we do get a lot of fan letters that have a

lot of either parents coming up to me and saying, you know, I’m so grateful

for this show because, you know, my child - my 10-year-old, my teenager,

whatever it is, now knows what they want to do. They want to go into the

world of makeup. Or even kids coming up saying that they love the who, that

this is what they want to do. They found their calling.

It really is amazing for us to see it on our end of, you know, all the workings

of the show and what it brings out in the contestants. From my point of view

and what I deal with as opposed to what, like, Ve deals with on the judging

side and truly looking at the artistry and the creativity of it. for me, I look at

the personality and see how they’re working together as teams, as individuals,

you know, because that is such a huge part of this industry is can you work in

a lab, can you work on a set, can you - you have a, you know, a good enough

personality to be able to either work individually or help, you know...

Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: ...contribute to other people’s - someone else’s makeup. So, and then

obviously, there is the artistry, which Ve I’ll let you go in on that.



Ve Neill: Well, I was going to start by talking about that as well. I mean, it’s really

important that they know that it’s just not painting a face.


Ve Neill: You have to be able to, you know, run your - run a group of people to, you

know, to actually get the makeup done. You know, you have to know how to

speak in a group of people. You know, you have to know how to talk to them,

not down to them, but to them. You know, everybody - it’s something that I

don’t think a lot of people that have not been on the show, you know,

especially because they’re working individually. They’re just little people that

have been working on, you know, like in their garage or whatever and they’ve

never actually had to work, like, on a team. And I think that that’s something

that’s really important that happens lot on this show. You really see where

people are going to have a weakness working on a team or working with a

partner.

A lot of people don’t know how to delegate and a lot of people don’t know

how to follow. They, you know, they want to kind of take over and not, you

know - it’s just - it’s so important - I think that’s one of the most important

things that I would think that somebody might learn from this show is how to

work with somebody else and how to work with people, because it’s not a one

man job. You know, this is - it’s teamwork and you have all know how to

work tighter and get along together and know who’s -you know, it’s really

good to be able to put a team together with people, you know, your short

comings. You know, who’s good at making molds, I know we’re going to

have to do big molds on this one.

We should have this person on our team. Who’s really a (unintelligible)

sculpture, we should have this person. You know, they have to know how to



delegate and how to hire. So, it’s kind of - -it kind of gives them a little bit of

a glimpse of how to actually run, you know, a team of people to get the job

done. And I think that’s probably one of the most important that. And

obviously, how to get along, you know, just in general with other people, you

know.

Joseph Nesro: Just to follow that up. Ve, I’m glad that you actually brought that up because I

think those interpersonal dynamics often get ignored as far as what you should

have as an artist. But, in terms of the suit of skillsets that you see young artists

coming onto the show particularly, you probably see, you know, certain gaps

of people’s skillsets and so forth. I’m just curious and McKenzie, feel free to

chip in on this as well. If you’re a young would be makeup artist that’s sort of

wanting to get into the business and maybe hoping to get onto show like Face

Off at some point, what sort of advice would you give them in terms of the

skills that they should be developing as an artist?

Ve Neill: Well, I think they sort of have to start developing everything because, as you

can see on the show, you pretty much have to know how to do it all.

I’ve always said, oh my God if you put me on this show I’d probably flunk

out the first week, because...

McKenzie Westmore: Oh, come on.

Ve Neill: ...I mean, I’ve never had to do every single one of those jobs. I’ve don’t them

individually but I’ve never done them all at once. And it’s very difficult, I

mean, you have to really be able to know how to, you know, roll with the

punches, as it were, and you really have to know a little bit of everything now.



It’s like I always say, I don’t want to work in a lab but I know everything

there is to know pretty much about working in a lab and all the different

products, because you have to in order to be able to do your job properly. So I

think, you know, knowledge in general and just, you know, having a little bit

across the board is really helpful, especially on this show. You know, it’s

probably - a lot of people just have - just know enough to get themselves into

trouble, as it were, but it’s definitely on this show because, you know, I think

a lot of times the kids, when they’re in the lab, they kind of probably help

each other, or say oh, don’t do that you should try that or...

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, they do.

Ve Neill: You know, I’m sure it’s not like a, you know, one off thing where everybody

goes, I’m not going to tell anybody anything because I want to win, you

know. I think there is a little bit of camaraderie that goes on there and I think

they are supportive of each other because, you know, it’s like anything. You

can tell somebody how to do something but, if they can’t do it, it doesn’t

matter, you know. So it never hurts to get somebody a little advice, I always

so.

Joseph Nesro: McKenzie, do you want to add to that at all?

McKenzie Westmore: You know, I always feel like some of the one that we see with a real

strong sense of talent and a strong sense of person , really having a sense of

who they are and what is their signature to what they do, are the ones that

really have a good background in schooling. You know, coming from some of

the makeup schools.

So I think it’s always a plus, as with any field. I mean, even I would say this

when people come to me and they say, you know, how do I be an actor. And I



would say, well study. You need to study and I think it’s very important that

these people do take the time to do some of the training and just study and to

learn the craft because it is, it’s business, it’s a craft. So, to take that time to

learn at any age, it doesn’t matter when, it’s a talent that, you know, it’s innate

and it’s also learned and it’s within everybody, I feel.

Ve Neill: Yes, I really think that school is really important now. There’s, you know,

makeup has advanced so much that it’s really important to have schooling.

There is just way too much to learn by yourself or even my asking questions.

McKenzie Westmore: Oh, yes.

Joseph Nesro: I mean, it’s so involved now. There’s really no way that people can do this

without some sort of school, I don’t think anymore.


Joseph Nesro: All right, lades. Well, thank you so much and...


Joseph Nesro: ...thanks for putting up with my longwinded questions. It’s a pleasure to speak

to both of you.

McKenzie Westmore: No problem.

Operator: And as a reminder, to register for a question, please press the 1 followed by

the 4 on your telephone. And we have a follow up question from the line of

Jamie Ruby with SciFi Vision. Please go ahead.



Jamie Ruby: Hi, again. So, you talk about that they, you know, really need to go to school

and everything for it and also I know that you did mention that they need to

learn to work together. But is there kind of something else you can think of

overall that as a whole some of the contestants that come in maybe, like,

something that they’re not familiar with or that they need to, you know, learn

when they come on the show and a lot of them don’t?

McKenzie Westmore: Ve, wouldn’t you say, like, airbrushing has been a one...

Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: ...just because of the paint skills.

Ve Neill: I don’t think a lot of the kids know how to airbrush and they attempt it and it

comes off just being kind of messy.


Ve Neill: But that’s schooling as well. That’s - there’s...

McKenzie Westmore: That’s schooling, exactly.

Ve Neill: Yes, it’s schooling, it’s, you know, it’s practicing. I mean, it’s like anything. If

you don’t practice, you’re not going to get any better and a lot of people even

if they go to school don’t get any better because they don’t practice, they stop

when they get out of school.

It’s like, I - you know, it’s like I always tell everybody, it doesn’t matter if

they’re not going to pay you for the job, go do it anyway because you need the

experience.




Ve Neill: And I think experience is what wins this show, pretty much.

Jamie Ruby: Now Ve, I wanted to ask you do you like when, you know, you create the

makeups and then they kind of add to it with CGI or would you rather just,

you know, it be straight makeup? What do you like?

Ve Neill: Well, it would depend on the makeup and it - you know, a lot of times, I think

CGI is a great enhancement to makeup. It depends on how it’s used. Like I

just - you know Spiderman just came out and they used, you know,

enhancement with CGI on that and, you know, I - they told me they were

never going to see him change into the lizard so we - you know, I created

these makeups and still enhanced it with like CGIs. So I was kind of oh, all

right. Well, that’s cool. You know, I know they were going to have to see him

turn into the lizard after all, you know, it wasn’t just going to happen on its

own. So, it doesn’t really bother me.

I think CGI has its place and it can really be use, you know, as a great

enhancement to makeup and I am not opposed to it at all.

Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. And lastly, can you talk just a bit about working on Hunger

Games/

Ve Neill: Which one, the first one or the one I’m about to do?

Jamie Ruby: Well, if you can talk about the new, preferably the new one. But...



Ve Neill: Well, you know what, I don’t -- I just actually had my first creative meeting

with Francis Lawrence and he’s lovely. I did the film Constantine with him

and he’s really a really terrific visionary so I think the next one’s probably

going to be even more spectacular than the first one.

The first one was so much fun to work on and the kids were great. You know,

everybody had a, you know, a really good time. It was a really positive

atmosphere to be in and it was really fun to do the film and I was so happy

that it was so successful because it does have such a great fan base and it

would be really a bummer to not, you know, make the fans happy. And that

was something that we were really concerned about.

We wanted to try to stay as close to the book as we could, you know, and still

make it, you know, a good movie and, you know, something that was actually

plausible within, you know, the realities of makeup and whatever. Because,

you know, in the book it was so much crazier than we actually did it.

But I did some tests on things and it just didn’t look right. I mean, it’s one

thing to imagine it on a page, but to actually put it into a 3-D visual, it just -

some things just don’t work right. They look silly or too makeupy or, you

know, something like that.

So Franc - I was very happy with the way the film came out and I think the

next one’s going to be even more fun. There’s just so much more makeup

effects in it. So much action. The script is absolutely fantastic and Francis

yesterday said to me - I just flew to Atlanta yesterday to go talk to him and he

said that - he said the scripts even going to get even better. So, I can’t hardly

wait. I’m really looking forward to doing the next film as well and I think it’s

going to be pretty - visually, I think it’s going to be really spectacular.



Jamie Ruby: Okay, great. Well thank you so much.



Operator: And we have another follow up question from the line of Kyle Nolan with

NoReruns.net. Please go ahead.

Kyle Nolan: Hello. So, McKenzie, have you ever worked with your father or been

interested in getting involved in the family business?

McKenzie Westmore: Oh, absolutely. There was a time when I was a teenager and I actually was

taking my makeup classes and, you know, I around the same time had read an

article where they were calling my dad the last of the living dinosaurs where

they really ran every department. You know, everything from sketching to

working in the lab to applying it on stage and on set. And it broke my heart

when I read that article and so I started to take classes and I started to study

and really I would help him out in the lab.

And after a while I just - I pulled my dad aside and I said, you know, I love

what our family is about, I love what we do, I admire you and your work so

much but I want to be an actress. I want to sing opera. I want to do, you know,

a different - go in a different direction and he said are you kidding me, follow

your dreams. That’s what I did, I followed what I wanted to - my dreams and I

support you in whatever you want to do.

So yes, there was a time when I came very close into going into that direction,

so I feel so lucky and blessed to be a part of Face Off because it’s like the best

of all worlds for me. You know, I get to still do - I wouldn’t call it acting.



Obviously, hosting but it’s still in a vain that I love and it’s in a world that I

absolutely have so much admiration for. From what, you know, what my dad

does and our judges, with Ve, with Glenn, with, you know, Patrick and

Neville. You know, what they all do is just - every day is so impressive to me.

Kyle Nolan: And Ve, you had said that you would flunk out if they ever put you on the

show. Has there ever been any talk about having the judges do a challenge

against each other.

Ve Neill: Not yet. Oh, against each other. I don’t know if they could because I don’t

know that we’re all - I don’t think we can all do all that stuff. So, I mean...

Kyle Nolan: Or pick teams and then...

Ve Neill: I mean, Glenn could do it all because he, you know, runs a lab and stuff. But,

you know, it’s been so many years since I’ve been in the lab and I don’t

think...

McKenzie Westmore: I think you’d kick his butt, Ve. Come on.

Ve Neill: Huh? I could if I had to.

McKenzie Westmore: I think you’re underestimating yourself.

((Crosstalk))

McKenzie Westmore: You’re totally underestimating yourself. You would kick you know what

Ve Neill: I just prefer not to. The whole idea is really, truly frightening to me.



McKenzie Westmore: It is though, right.

Ve Neill: It’s really hard to have all that criticism going flinging around, you know,

especially when you’re like over 40. You know, you don’t want to hear that

stuff anymore.

McKenzie Westmore: You’re funny.

Kyle Nolan: Great. Thanks again for your time.



Operator: Another follow up question from the line of Ryan Haidet with

Realitymagazinetv.com. Please go ahead.

Ryan Haidet: Hi guys, assuming there is going to be a fourth season, can you guys say if

production has actually started on that yet?

McKenzie Westmore: We are not at liberty to say anything. I know Syfy - I don’t even know

how to really answer this except that Syfy will let everybody know as to what

- which direction things are going in as soon as they can.

Ryan Haidet: Okay. Now last season we saw RJ, he just looked like the biggest fan of

everybody that came, on this season is there one particular contestant who you

would say is the biggest fan of Face Off?

McKenzie Westmore: That’s a tough one.



Ve Neill: Yes.

McKenzie Westmore: Maybe Alana, do you think.

Ve Neill: God, you know, I don’t know. I’m trying to think of somebody that’s like

really. I think everybody this season is kind of like - they’re all very dreamy

like.

McKenzie Westmore: Yes, they are. They’re a very happy group.

Ve Neill: They’re a happy group. They’re all very respectful of us. They, I mean, they -

yes, maybe Alana. She seems to be really, I don’t know. It’s almost like

they’re being very respectful this year because they don’t - they’re afraid -

now they’ve seen two seasons and they go, oh my God, I don’t want to say

that. I don’t want to do that.

Operator: And there are no further questions at this time.

Brenda Lowny: Thanks everyone for joining the call and thank you to McKenzie and Ve for

their time today. And as a reminder, Face Off premiers Tuesday, August 21 at

9:00 pm.

If anybody needs help with screeners or artwork or further information, please

do get in touch with me directly. Me email is [email protected].

Thank you everyone.


Ve Neill: Thank you. Thanks Brenda.



Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, that does conclude the conference call for today. We

thank you for your participation and ask that you please disconnect your line.

END

Face Off Season 3 McKenzie Westmore Ve Neill Transcript

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Transcript of Face Off Season 3 McKenzie Westmore Ve Neill Transcript