First of all. Tell us a little about yourself…
The name is Matt Wozney. Woz is what everyone calls me. I’m 22 years old from North Haledon, NJ for about 2 more weeks. I’ll be moving to Clayton, Delaware right after Loretta’s for good. I’m a videographer, photographer, web developer/designer, writer, and extremely part-time announcer!
You originally were a racer. What got you started on the media side?
I started racing in 1999 on a 1997 Honda CR80 and was a mid-pack type of rider. But I did win some C class races and a 250 B class at Blue Diamond one time. It all started on the media side in April 2003 when I had a concussion at a Loretta Lynn area qualifier at Doublin Gap. I was going to be out for 2 1/2 months and I knew I needed to do something during that time to keep me busy at the track. I always wanted to get into the media world and do something different. In the Northeast at the time, it was pretty dead media-wise and I wanted to make a change and get top riders like Justin Barcia, Phil Nicoletti, Gregg Duffy, Jay Weller, and others who were flying at the local tracks to get their name out there more. I didn’t think the Northeast deserved much recognition since the Southeast and West regions were overshadowing everyone at the time. And there were tons of fast racers out there in the Northeast that no one knew about. My first race I covered was a local race at Atco in April 2003. And then the ball rolled from there…
Do you still get to ride?
Yeap, I still swing my leg over a bike once and awhile. I have been riding my brother Tyler’s RM250 at Blue Diamond a little bit lately. Ever since my major head injury in September 2004, I have been taking it really easy and not racing like I used to. I’m just having fun now and throwing some mean one footers is all that makes me happy now!
You were one of the first guys to move from still photography to video. How did that come about?
The photography deal was great when I started. It started with writing articles for Cycle News and shooting with my mother’s Canon point and shoot camera. I stepped up slightly to an Olympus point and shoot and then a Canon Rebel. It was fun to do for a while and my work got my foot in the door with many publications and news websites. Video is something I have always wanted to do before I even got involved with the media deal. I just never knew how to do it. So with some help from fellow videographer Robo Robb Swiatek and some things I learned on my own, I was able to put some short videos together for Holeshot Graphics’ website at the start. I just think photos are too easy so I wanted to challenge myself with video.
What do you enjoy more? Still or Video?
I feel like with photos, you’re limited to what you can do. With video, there is so much you can do with what you got. There are so many more angles you can get with video than with photos. I just never could figure out a better way to get my photos out there so the video was an avenue to something better that I wanted to accomplish. But don’t get me wrong, I love to shoot photos from time to time but the video is where my specialty is at!
Do you still shoot photos?
Not lately. The last time I shot photos was during my Promo Week at Blue Diamond in April and that was with Mark Garvey’s camera. My camera is broken and done and I haven’t had the money or time to get a new one. I think the last race I shot was the first New England Regional Championship in Winchester, NH back in 2006.
What got you thinking about producing your own DVD?
When I started in April 2005 with video, I kind of thought about it but by the end of the year, I had all this awesome footage and wanted to put it to good use. There were like 1 or 2 videos of Northeast motocross racing out there but they felt like they were from centuries ago! So, I decided to put Moto Xposure together in November 2005. I wanted to show off what the Northeast had in motocross racing, particularly the amateur scene. It did well for my first DVD since I barely had a year of filming under my belt.
After success with Moto Xposure 1 was it easier or more difficult for #2?
I’d say it was more difficult just because of the amount of footage I had over the year and I wanted to make the first DVD look like some 5-year old did it! It turned out way better with Impact Video stepping up and help to distribute Moto Xposure 2, which has sold over 1,300 copies as of now, more than any Moto Xposure DVD. Some things were easier since my editing skills got better and things worked out well with #2.
How about the Xtremey Award-Winning Moto Xposure 3?
The Xtremey’s will be a night I will never forget. I had a good feeling coming in that I would walk away with the Xtremey that night. It was a first-class awards show, no doubt about that! From the red carpet going into the theater to the free exotic food to the whole night, in general, it was just amazing. Impact Video put together a great show! I always have my award on my desk to motivate me and always do better!
How cool was it going onstage and accepting your award in front of your peers?
Well, I never knew the spotlight was that bright! I could only see like the first 2 rows and the rest was pure white light. I probably looked all droopy up there but I was in the spotlight for the first time in my life. Everyone in the crowd was applauding. Even people I didn’t even know were congratulating me. It was an honor for sure. When they said “And the winner is…Moto Xposure 3”, I had the biggest smile on my face and I tried not to trip walking down to the stage! It was unreal and to be recognized for my work is definitely a huge plus in my book. Hopefully, it will happen again soon!
You recently did some video shoots with riders and posted them online. Do you see that as a new way of producing resumes for riders?
I see that as being the new wave of getting that elusive sponsorship for the riders in the near future. When I film and produce these promo videos for the riders, I always look at it from the company’s point of view. What do they want to see out of a rider they are willing to sponsor? Do they wear their gear correctly? Do they have an upbeat personality? How do they look on and off the track? These are some things you can’t get out of a normal resume on paper. I believe it is the best way for riders to draw potential sponsors and get the support they always need.
What is the goal behind the new website MXPTV?
MXPTV (Moto Xposure TV) is the new video website that I have going now. It is a new home for my video work but I am expanding it with not just race highlight videos. I am putting together actual shows from the local races and also producing track profiles, rider interviews, product tests and demos, and much more content along the way. I want the site to be very informative and entertaining at the same time. I have started some small tests on getting a live feed going and possibly do a live show from some of the bigger local races in the future. My main goal is to make MXPTV the place to get your moto fix when you are at home watching race highlights from the weekend before or scoping out a race track before you haul or checking out some awesome products or just laughing away during funny interviews and some hilarious outtakes. My personal goal is to make MXPTV my lifelong dream come true at doing videos and making a living out of it. My ultimate goal is getting on TV as a small show but that is a long way away. But you never know! I could get a call tomorrow!
In addition to your videography, you still do a little bit of writing including a monthly column for AmateurMX. How did that opportunity come about?
Amateur MX has been behind me for lots of years. I have covered a few races for them and did some interviews from the beginning. Then, when I got into video, they were still behind me and plugged me along the way. They know I have a special talent for what I do and that I can get the work done when needed. The Hultner’s have been very supportive from day 1 and they know that I’m capable of doing some amazing work down the road. They contacted me about putting together my own column for their magazine and I was happy about the opportunity. It eventually turned into an internet column and I plan on writing new material every 1-2 weeks. There is always a lot going on in my life and I don’t think a monthly magazine will cover that. So, the internet is the spot for it and they love the whole concept. I think it will turn out great for me and Amateur MX and I’ll be able to get some writing adrenaline out of me!
What are the future plans for Matt Wozney and HG Films?
My future. Well…..I remember when I started in 2005, my dream was to release a DVD. OK…..did that. In 2006, it was doing work for Racer X. Done that. 2007 was about getting my footage on TV. I did that with the Racer X Motocross Show as Speed has shown footage I filmed that has appeared on their shows. Now, I’m starting to work with Fox now and kicking off my new MXPTV site. I always try to better myself each time. I just plan on doing better and better each year and see where it brings me to. I’d like to do what I do now for the rest of my life but you never know when an amazing opportunity (that is actually worth doing) comes around the corner. I’ve always thought my ultimate dream in filming motocross was getting a call from Fox and produce Terrafirma 9. Hey, it could happen! But I always try to do bigger and better things to get these opportunities and so far, I have been getting a lot. So, we’ll see but the future is looking really bright now.
Where can people see your work and how can we order your videos?
All of my recent work can be seen at MXPTV, which is www.mxptv.com. I will be putting up new videos each week and plan to do more than 2 or so a week down the road after I move down to Delaware and do MXPTV full time. The best way to order any DVD from the Moto Xposure series is to go to www.mxptv.com and click on “Moto Xposure DVDs” on top. You will be brought to my “Vendor’s Row” page that has Moto Xposure 1, 2, and the award-winning 3rd DVD on sale. You can view the trailers for each DVD and order right online! Help me pay my way to the races and get a Moto Xposure DVD today!
When can we expect to see MotoXposure 4?
I never really set plans on doing a 4th DVD yet. Sales of Moto Xposure 3 were not up there like I planned, probably due to the economy the way it is now and maybe the changing wave of the internet generation. But for now, MXPTV is my main focus now. It may be a few more years with MXP4 but we’ll see how things go down the road.
