In conversation with Jeff Tocci – Beardo the movie

At Beardrevered we love nothing better than kicking back and watching a movie. So when a film about beards comes along we get pretty excited. Particularly when its Director is also bearded.
This documentary about the World Beard & Moustache Championships and the rivalry for the “Best Facial Hair in the World” has been several years in the making but has never quite made it off the ground.

Thanks to a heroic Kickstarter initiative, Beardo the Movie is finally to hit our screens. Director, Jeff Tocci, was generous enough to take some time out to talk about the film and the Kickstarter project with Beardrevered.

Who and where is Jeff Tocci?

I am a Screenwriter/Director currently living on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts, where I am the Executive Director of Nantucket Community Television. When I made Beardo, I was living in Harrisonburg, Virginia where I collaborated with the production company, DIGICO, to make Beardo The Movie.

How did you first get into filmmaking?

I first got into filmmaking in high school. There was often very little to do in my hometown, so my friends and I used to make movies with an old VHS camcorder. We started by do in-camera edits, then learned how to properly edit at our public access TV station. During a shoot one day, I said, “Hey, I could do this for the rest of my life.” So I went to school for Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Directing/Producing Digital Video at James Madison University, and made it my career.

Where did your fascination for beards come from?

Ever since I was like 15 years old, I’ve pretty much always had some variation of a beard.  Started with a goatee, moved on to the chin-strap (which was really cool in high school) then graduated to the full natural in my college years. My grandfather has always grown a beard in the winter, as well, so I’m sure there are some latent influences there… As far as competitive beards are concerned, though, a college friend of mine introduced me to the World Beard and Moustache Championships and I was enamored with what I saw.  This was beard as art. My curiosity was piqued, and I immediately wanted to know more about this bearded subculture.

How did the film project, Beardo the Movie, originally come about?

I was about to graduate from college, and had no idea what my next step in life was going to be. Then one day, while perusing the World Beard and Moustache Championships’ website, I noted that the next competition was being held in Anchorage, Alaska. This was rare, since most competitions were held in Europe, so I checked the date, and it was happening the week after my graduation. The timing seemed too auspicious to ignore, so I set my sights on making a documentary (because what else was I going to do after I graduated?) and began putting plan in action.

How competitive were the contestants?

That was one of my questions going in, too. It’s hard to say. In the days leading up to the competition, it really was like one big bearded family. Everyone was really friendly with one another, and the atmosphere was quite jovial.
As far as what people were like on competition day, that I can’t speak to as much. There was certainly a tension in the air, but our crew was busy filming all day, so we weren’t backstage. Jack Passion actually describes the atmosphere in Beardo The Movie pretty well, so you’ll have to hear his perspective in the movie.

Tell us about your Kickstarter project.

We’re using Kickstarter as a way to release the movie. Basically, if you donate to the Kickstarter, you can get the first available copies of the movie. If you donate a little more, you get some really cool custom rewards like a Beardo The Movie T-shirt and a special edition DVD with a ton of extras.

Actually, that’s probably the coolest part about using Kickstarter- the rewards are awesome. We’re not trying to rip anyone off either. You can buy a digital download of the movie for $7, or you can get the special edition DVD for $20. The reason it’s more expensive for the DVD is because you get so much more content. Some of the special features include: our entire interview with the Australian rock band, “The Beards,” you get extended concert footage from their live show, a yodeling compilation from some of the German and Swiss competitors, a montage of the winners from all 18 categories, exclusive photos, commentary with me and some of my crew, and a bunch of footage that never made the final cut. Basically, you get almost an entire extra movie when you get the DVD.

The Kickstarter campaign ends on April 30th, so if you want these rewards, time is definitely limited. And I should mention that we are already funded.

Do you still have a beard yourself?

I do. In fact, if you watch the Kickstarter video, you can see it.

What was the best grooming tip you learnt from Beardo?

Jack Passion probably taught me the most about beard grooming. He’s extremely healthy, and stresses that a good diet and healthy lifestyle directly translates to your beard. You’d think that a good beard has a lot to do with trimming split ends, combing/brushing it regularly, and conditioning it a lot, but what Jack taught me is that your beard is more of a reflection of how you treat your body.
So, I guess the best grooming tip I learned was that grooming won’t help your beard very much if you lead an unhealthy lifestyle.

Would you consider entering your beard into competitions?

I considered entering a smaller competition that was held in Anchorage when I was up there, but decided against it. Firstly because the categories for the winners were really basic: “Blackest Beard”, “Reddest Beard,” etc. My beard has rust coloration, which I love, but it wasn’t going to bring home any trophies. Secondly, I just don’t think I’m one for pageantry. I try to live a subtle lifestyle, and it’s just not in my character to strut on stage.  I’ll leave that to the professionals.

Who is your bearded hero and why?

I have to go with Ernest Hemingway (in his later years). I know he had a moustache for a lot of his life, but when he began to sport the full beard, it really was a hell of a beard. His moustache flowed seamlessly into the beard, and he was able to maintain a distinguished look while having it. I think that is an essential characteristic of a good beard. When influential people wear a good beard, it only helps the culture as a whole.

The Kickstarter is now fully funded, but contributing a donation will get you a copy of the DVD. You can donate at: Beardo the Movie

Images from Beardo the Movie