KU News Release

Graduation stories: Brothers have connection when it comes to giving direction

Tyler and Trey Glapa

LAWRENCE — Tyler and Trey Glapa remember the exact moment they fell in love with film: It was the day in 1994 when their father bought them their first video camera.

Since that day, the fraternal twins, who will graduate from the University of Kansas on Sunday, May 20, with degrees in theatre and film, have been working toward their dream of becoming successful movie directors.

“We went crazy making all sorts of funny videos,” Trey said. “We were only 10 at the time, so I guess we got our start early.”

Tyler and Trey, the sons of Daniel and Karen Glapa of Olathe, wonder if somewhere in the closet of their boyhood home those tapes are still around.

The brothers have worked on countless projects together since that day 13 years ago. Although it’s nice to have a project partner in the same family, working so closely together has a few disadvantages.

“From a professional standpoint, I always have a critic within earshot,” Tyler said.

The twins hope to continue working together after graduation and have created their own production company, Glapa Brothers Productions.

“We would like to see that take off in the next few years, following in the footsteps of other brother-duo-filmmakers like the Coen or Farrelly brothers,” Trey said.

The Farrelly brothers are remembered for such films as “Dumb and Dumber,” and “There’s Something about Mary.”

For now, Tyler and Trey are searching for jobs in the Kansas City area with their eyes on larger markets such as Austin, Texas, which hosts the annual South by Southwest film festival.

“What I see as the most likely scenario is getting a job with a small-time company in the Kansas City area, in a production-assistant position, or another position of that sort,” Tyler said. “With that, I can gain the necessary experience that will allow me to get the attention of larger studios. At least that’s what I hope.”

The two understand that getting a job at the same production company will be difficult, despite their desire to work together.

“We are very different in our social lives, but when it comes to film, we have strikingly similar tastes and visions,” Trey said. “As strange as it may sound, one of us can be thinking about a particular shot, and without really explaining it much to the other, we can understand exactly what we want.”

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