Bearded Brothers Reunite Through Film
WARSAW — Two Claypool brothers have reunited after several years thanks to a hobby that has quickly grown into much more.
As kids, Matt and Nick Trier found a common bond through 1970s-era action movies, which they often watched together. Among their favorites were Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, John Wayne and Kurt Russell. Inspired, the two would use a VHS camcorder to make home movies.
As Matt and Nick grew older, they also grew apart, each pursuing his own goals and interests. Eventually, they lost contact.
Not long ago, however, Matt and Nick reunited and began revisiting their favorite movies. This soon became a Saturday morning ritual. Then, one day, they began scheming to write and film their own movie. Before long, they had a finished script for a full-length, action-comedy film.
Nicknaming themselves, “The Beard Guys,” the two set their script aside for the time being and began making short films, posting them to YouTube. Already, they have gained a local following that continues to grow. Their Facebook page has gained more than 200 likes.
Inspiration for “The Beard Guys” came from the fact that Nick was clean-shaven at the time, while Matt was growing a long, thick beard. Their first short film featured Matt with super strength, supposedly endowed through his facial hair, rescuing Nick from a CGI bear.
“It was kind of a thing, how ridiculous the older action movies could be,” Matt said.
Their fifth and latest short film was shot on location at a Warsaw convenience store and features The Beard Guys foiling a robbery attempt and earning some free coffee in return. The store owner makes a cameo as the clerk. After filming, he gave Matt and Nick a copy of the store’s security footage, recorded while they were making their movie.
The Beard Guys describe their movies as clean humor with an occasional punch thrown in the spirit of 1970s action movies. The idea is to make the videos accessible for all ages. They also plug their favorite local organization, wearing MudLove bracelets.
The pair hopes to start filming their full-length movie this fall. They have set up a Go Fund Me page for fans to help with the cost of purchasing equipment they need, including a new camera.
Nick and Matt like to feature local faces in their films, so they are looking for people to audition for various roles and as extras. They want people from throughout Kosciusko County. To learn more about The Beard Guys, visit their YouTube channel, their GoFundMe page or “like” them on Facebook.