Updated: Feb. 19, 2015 10:40 p.m. EST
Sometimes, it's all too easy to judge people based on their appearances.
Tyler Bridges knows this, and he used it as a springboard for "What's The Difference," a video he helped publish last month with the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles.
Assisted by hairstylist Tim Doma, Bridges and a crew of filmmakers offered haircuts to men who could use a little trim -- and proved there isn't much that separates the homeless from everyone else.
"There are over 600,000 people experiencing homelessness in the United States," a text overlay at the beginning of the video reads. "What's the difference between you and them?"
One of the men who received a haircut.
"The underlying message [of the video] is that we make judgments about people really quickly and often let the differences we see define the way we interact with people," Bridges explained to The Huffington Post in an email. "We wanted to show people that they really aren't all that different - that they're just like you and me."
He said he hoped the video would help spark conversation about homelessness and inspire people to figure out "how to help in the best way possible," which may require more work than just "more donations."
"The guys in this video have been through some rough stuff and made some poor choices," he added, "but the day we did haircuts was about inviting them in for some basic care to show them that we aren't worried about the bad choices they have made or how they look. It was about breaking down some barriers and showing them some love."
The video ends by encouraging viewers to "get involved with your local shelter or mission," then points to a directory for rescue missions across the country.
This story has been updated with comments from Tyler Bridges.
