Austin Horse 170 Mile Ghost Ride for Bill Meier Matt Sezer 2018-06-10 | On June 3rd 2018, Austin Horse led a three day ghost ride of late bike messenger Bill Meier's bike from Brooklyn to Albany. The purpose of the 170 mile ride was to advocate for the New York Health Act, a single payer healthcare bill being debated in the New York State Senate in Albany. Passing away at the age of 52 in 2015 from a preventable health condition, Bill Meier would have likely survived had the New York Health Act existed.
RIP, Omar Perez - Not All Heros Wear Capes Matt Sezer 2022-01-15 | Memories of Omar Perez from a 2019 shoot. It deeply saddens me how a man so positive and inspiring to those around him was personally going through such pain. He made people feel significant and that they mattered. If only he could have shared in the positivity that he spread. RIP, Omar.
Custom Bicycle Framebuilders Matt Sezer 2020-07-06 | This is a video that I produced for the Philadelphia Bike Expo about the the wide array of custom framebuilders in attendance.
MonsterTrack 21 (2020) XI NYC Alleycat Race Matt Sezer 2020-03-03 | On February 29th 2020, the 21st edition of the MonsterTrack Alleycat Race was held, starting in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's East Village. The race, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious alleycat race in the world, is specifically for brakeless track bikes.I finished in 15th place.
NYC Messenger Profile - Kurt Boone: Speed Walking NYC Matt Sezer 2020-01-27 | For the past 20 years, 59-year-old foot courier Kurt Boone has been documenting New York City bike messenger culture, all while walking 7+ miles every day. His passion and excitement for the culture brings positivity to the messenger community in the face of the bleak economic realities of courier work. Premiered at the 2019 Bicycle Film Festival in New York City.
MonsterTrack 20 (2019) XX NYC Alleycat Race Matt Sezer 2019-03-04 | On March 2, 2019, the 20th edition of the MonsterTrack Alleycat Race was held, starting in Tompkins Square Park in Manhattan's East Village. The race, which is considered by many to be the most prestigious alleycat race in the world, is specifically for brakeless track bikes.I started with the lead group, but after the 3rd checkpoint, got dropped and completed the rest of the race by myself.Music courtesy of Retnik Beats:http://www.retnikbeats.com
Matt Sezer Reel Matt Sezer 2019-01-19 | This is my 2019 reel consisting entirely of projects that I both directed and edited. The footage watermarked with "TeleTime Video" is from projects from productions of TeleTime Video Productions Inc. where I was employed as both the director and editor.
NYC Alleycat Race Down Broadway 2018 Matt Sezer 2018-07-10 | On July 4th 2018, 21 cyclists came out for the annual Bombing Down Broadway race. Starting in the Bronx, the race covered the entire 13.5 mile length of Broadway in Manhattan. I started strong, but suffered an asthma attack and had to take it easy for the second part of the race.
Red Hook Crit 2018 - 1st Time Racing! Matt Sezer 2018-05-01 | This is GoPro footage of my first attempt at organized racing in the Red Hook Cirt. Placing 35th out of around 60 riders in my 2nd chance qualifying heat and averaging close to 24 mph, I more than met my goals of lasting more than half of the race without being lapped and not being involved in one of the horrific crashes that Red Hook is notorious for. I can't wait until next year!
NYC Bike Messengers Unionize: The 1st Ever Rally Matt Sezer 2018-03-22 | On March 10, 2018, dozens of bike messengers, mechanics, and supporters gathered in NYC's Union Square for the first rally of a movement that seeks to create solidarity between all bike workers in the city.
NYC Alleycat Race: Monstertrack XIX (First time using a GoPro) Matt Sezer 2018-02-25 | Now in it's 19th year, Monstertrack is an NYC alleycat race, specifically for brakeless track bikes. I decided to use a GoPro for the first time during the race, which I absolutely bombed due to an equipment failure and a navigational error.
NYC Bike Messenger Union: It Begins Matt Sezer 2018-02-11 | On February 10th 2018, about a dozen NYC bike messengers came out for a an open-ended meeting about organizing for better working conditions. By the end of the meeting, they unanimously agreed to hold a rally on March 10th in Union Square.
Dreamer and Rape Survivor at NYC Womens March 2018 Matt Sezer 2018-01-21 | Tens of thousands marched in NYC for the one year anniversary of President Donald Trump's inauguration. I interviewed a number of the participants including a dreamer and a rape survivor.
Erica Garner Speaks out at Anniversary Protest of Eric Garners Killing Matt Sezer 2017-08-08 | Eric Garner's widow and daughter speak out against the lack of accountability for his killer, who still remains on the payroll of the NYPD.
Love vs. Hate: Womens March on Washington Matt Sezer 2017-01-30 | On January 21st 2017, over 500,000 people gathered in Washington D.C. for the Women's March on Washington.Being that large, it was impossible to capture the whole thing, so I decided to focus on five of the participants, delving into what motivated them to come out.
Hey Cute Little White Girl (Short Film) Matt Sezer 2016-11-16 | Trouble appears imminent when a "thuggish looking" black man follows a naive ditsy white woman, gratuitously displaying her wealth.Writer & Director:Renée PindusCo-Director, DP & Editor:Matt SezerStarring:Isabella CurtiDoug Robbs
NYC Rejects Trump (11-12-16) Matt Sezer 2016-11-14 | Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of NYC to protest the election of Donald Trump on the weekend following his election. This is what I captured on Saturday November 12th.How did this guy get elected, again?
The Fall: A Play About Understanding Loss on 9/11 Matt Sezer 2016-07-16 | This is a short Kickstarter video I created for Lilia Rubin's The Fall: a play about six young women who lose their fathers on 9/11. The work will have its premiere at the Fringe NYC festival.
Gazan Refugee Condemns Ethnic Cleansing by Israel at 68th Nakba Protest in NYC Matt Sezer 2016-06-19 | A Gazan refugee, who lost over 30 family members during the 2014 war, was one of dozens that came out for a New York city protest on the 68th anniversary of the 1948 Palestinian exodus, which is known as the Nakba. The protesters demanded that Israel allow Palestinian refugees return to their homes, which some argue would bring about the end of Israel being a primarily Jewish state.Several counter-protesters also attended the event, claiming that the protesters were antisemitic and supported violence against Israeli civilians.Needless to say, claims made by both sides were contentious. In attempts to provide some clarity, here are citations for the quantifiable claims made in the video.UN Resolution 194: http://www.unrwa.org/content/resolution-194Palestinian Opinion Poll: http://www.pcpsr.org/en/node/252
Justice4Akai: Bodies on the Line for Killer Cops No Prison Time Matt Sezer 2016-06-05 | On May 28th 2016, dozens joined Akai Gurley's family to protest the killer cop Peter Liang's sentence, which includes no prison time.The Gurley family was joined by Nicholas Heyward, Sr., the father of Nicholas, Jr., a 13 year old honor student who 22 years ago was killed in a similar manner to Gurley. Like Gurley, Heyward's killer received no prison time.After an ongoing struggle to contain an unpermitted march with mesh nets, the NYPD arrested a woman near the nets as well as another protester ostensibly for interfering with the first arrest.
Aggressive Arrest at Akai Gurley Protest 5-28-16 in Brooklyn Matt Sezer 2016-05-29 | After an ongoing struggle to contain an unpermitted march with mesh nets, the NYPD arrested a woman near the nets as well as another protester ostensibly for interfering with the first arrest.Subscribe to the channel to see a more in-depth video about the protest, featuring interviews with Akai Gurley's aunt as well as Nicholas Heyward, Sr., a father who lost his son in a similar manner to Akai Gurley 22 years ago.This video is copyrighted. Sharing of the link is allowed and encouraged. However, if you want to use the footage out of the context of this video, please contact me.
Break Free Albany 2016 Protest Against Bomb Trains Matt Sezer 2016-05-21 | Thousands of people gathered in Albany to protest against bomb trains transporting dangerous fracked oil through New York communities, many of which are low-income.Holding a rally on the tracks, the protesters prevented the trains from carrying the highly flammable crude oil for an entire day. While dozens were willing to risk arrest, the Albany police didn't interrupt the protest, despite the fact that for much of it the protesters lacked a permit.
Protest for Communist Revolution on May Day 2016 in Brooklyn Matt Sezer 2016-05-01 | Dozens of protesters marched through Brooklyn on May Day calling for a communist revolution. Organized by the Progressive Labor Party, the protesters rejected the policies of socialist presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as not going far enough to stop the evils of capitalism.
NYC Rise Up October Protest Against Police Terror Matt Sezer 2016-01-25 | On October 24th 2015, hundreds of people from around the country gathered in New York City to protest against police killings. Many of the protesters were family members who lost love ones at the hands of the police.This video features interviews with several of the family members as well as some of the other participants in the march.
Arrest at 10/24/15 NYC Rise Up October Protest Against Police Terror Matt Sezer 2015-10-25 | Around 3pm at the NYC Rise Up October Protest Against Police Terror, the NYPD arrested a man named Alex Dorman, ostensibly for refusing to clear the street. This video is an unedited clip of the arrest.© 2015 Matt Sezer
NYC Topless Free the Nipple Rally Matt Sezer 2015-09-18 | On August 23rd 2015, dozens of women and men participated in a rally in support of equal topless rights for women. As permitted by NYC law, many of the participants of both sexes marched through the streets topless. This is my take on that day.
Make it Anywhere Matt Sezer 2015-05-16 | Logline: After a failed photography career in New York City, a midwestern high school art teacher’s love-hate relationship with the city resurfaces during a trip back with her fiance.Writer, Director, Editor, and CinematographerMatt SezerStarringLilia RubinMaurice BoadiAmelia Dudley© 2015 Matt Sezer
Chicago Fast Food Workers Strike 5-15-14 Matt Sezer 2014-05-17 | On May 15th 2014, Chicago fast food workers rallied as a part of a nationwide strike that called for higher wages. The rally was held at the Rock 'N Roll McDonald's in the River North neighborhood.
Hello Dolly Music Video Matt Sezer 2014-05-13 | Music video with Anthony Abbatacola that I DP'd, Steadicam OP'd and edited. Richard Reiter directed the video.
Stedicam Merlin 1st Day Footage Matt Sezer 2014-04-08 | This is just some test footage from my 1st day with the Steadicam Merlin 2. It was my first time using it so it isn't perfect.
The Vagrant and the Filmmaker Matt Sezer 2013-08-08 | Short film about wealthy film students making movies about hobos. Inspired by Luis Buñuel's 1933 "documentary" Land Without Bred (Las Hurdes: Tierra Sin Pan)
Fully Automatic Nikon Matt Sezer 2013-06-01 | Tired of men harassing her on the streets, a feminist art student decides to get revenge on her harassers by taking their photographs.Produced for intermediate narrative workshop at NYU, the film was Inspired by the 1973 photo series Fully Automated Nikon by Laurie Anderson.Writer, Director and EditorMatt SezerCastPatrick CraginBaltsar BeckeldAngeliqueCinematographer and ColoristMatt HeymannGafferAlexa Wolf1st Assistant CameraSam Cutler-Kreutz2nd Assistant CameraTae Young KimSound MixerKenneth RamirezBoom OperatorAnthony Pedroza1st Assistant DirectorDevon LeaverGripDavid MichaelsOriginal ArtworkJoshua DepewArt DirectorRenee PindusProducerRebeca Duran
Professional Agitators Matt Sezer 2013-05-31 | Professional Agitators tells the story of Matt Swaye and Christina Gonzalez, a New York couple that has bonded over their shared fight against the NYPD's racial profiling policy of stop and frisk.After meeting each other at Occupy Wall Street, Matt and Christina were branded as "Professional Agitators" by the NYPD's 30th precinct for taking video of police officers performing stop and frisks. However, the couple has remained unfettered by the police intimidation, being arrested dozens of times and refusing to accept plea bargains.
Cuba Skateboard Documentary Matt Sezer 2013-05-28 | Ostensibly a film about skateboarding in Cuba, Viva Patinar uses the Cuban skate scene as a vehicle to examine the attitudes and feelings that Cuban youth have towards their country.The 12-minute film profiles two Cuban skaters with a wide variety of views. Miguel is an 18-year-old who recently dropped out of high school to skate full time. He feels that there is no future for youth in Cuba and wants to go to school in the United States. Roberto, on the other hand, has made a future for himself in Cuba. After filming skate videos of his friends on a second hand camera, the 20-year-old managed to get a job as an editor for a Cuban TV station.Guiding us through these two adolescents' stories is Cuban skateboarding pioneer Che Pando. The 39-year-old runs a black market tattoo parlor in Havana and acts as a mentor to younger skaters. For him, skateboarding has made life bearable during Cuba's rough times, stating, "Skateboarding is freedom. It's the freedom to do what the fuck you want, when you want it, in a country where no one can do that."
4/10 Rally for Immigration Reform in Washington DC Matt Sezer 2013-04-12 | On April 10th 2013, thousands gathered on the lawn of the US capital in Washington DC to demand immigration reform from congress. These are some short interviews with some of the people who attended the rally. This was also my first time shooting on a 5D, so it was a bit of a test to see if I could use a DSLR in an environment like this.
Occupy Wall Street One Year Anniversary Matt Sezer 2012-09-26 | On September 17th 2012, hundreds gathered to celebrate the one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street. Although the movement has shrunk since its inception, many argue that it has been successful at bringing light to the growing inequality in America.
Police Arrest Peaceful OWS Protesters on Sidewalks (9-15-12) Matt Sezer 2012-09-16 | On the weekend of the anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, a few hundred protesters marched from Washington Square Park to Liberty Plaza, the birthplace of the movement. For seemingly no reason, about 20 people were arrested on the sidewalks during the peaceful legal march.
Matthis Chiroux: Forced to Resist Matt Sezer 2012-07-18 | On May 15, 2008, Matthis Chiroux, a military photojournalist, refused orders to deploy to Iraq, arguing that it was his constitutional duty to resist illegal wars. While Chiroux believes that his refusal to deploy was a courageous act of resistance, others argue that the honorable discharge that Chiroux received is a travesty for the thousands of soldiers who followed orders and risked their lives in war. Furthermore, they claim that Chiroux is lying about his military record, saying that he was never in Afghanistan, where he says he witnessed genocide.Forced to Resist seeks to tell a more complete story of this controversial figure. From a rough childhood in Alabama, where he claims he was abused by his father, to joining the army to avoid going to jail, Chiroux's life is filed with plenty of rough situations. Is this trauma from the past causing him to speak out against the military or is he really speaking out against genocide or is it a bit of both? Can a filmmaker even answer these questions? Ultimately, Forced to Resist examines the nature of truth in situations like this where the personal becomes political.
Occupy Wall Street Day One 9/17/11 Matt Sezer 2012-06-19 | Video of a few scenes from the first day of Occupy Wall Street that I shot. For me, it's weird how people now refer to OWS as this complex highly-organized movement, when it started as a few hundred people out in a park one day. The decision to occupy Zuccotti Park was made in the spur of the moment, as the original plan was to actually camp out on Wall Street.
Violent Clashes at NATO Protests in Chicago Matt Sezer 2012-05-24 | On Sunday May 20th, police and anti-NATO protesters clashed just blocks away from the site of the NATO summit. Prior to that point, the protests had been peaceful. However, when a group of Black Bloc Anarchists attempted to break through a police barricade and started throwing projectiles at cops, the police came in with batons, forcefully clearing the intersection where the protesters were assembled. This video is my take on that day.
Old Havana by Day and by Night Matt Sezer 2012-04-27 | Short portrait of Old Havana or La Habana Vieja. This was shot during my first week on a three month trip to Cuba, so now I feel that many of the images in this film come from a tourist prospective.
Pope Benedict XVI in Cuba Matt Sezer 2012-04-27 | Just a bit of footage that I shot of Pope Benedict XVI speaking at Plaza de la Revolución in Havana on March 28, 2012.
Occupy Wall Street Mass Arrests on 11-17-11 Matt Sezer 2011-11-30 | On the 2 month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, thousands of protesters attempted to shut down Wall Street. At the vary least, the protesters succeeded in disrupting people's morning commute as well as provoking an aggressive police response, which resulted in over 100 arrests.
Times Square Mass Arrests at Occupy Wall Street Protests on 10-15-11 Matt Sezer 2011-10-21 | On 46th street near Times Square, 42 Occupy Wall Street protesters were arrested on October 15, 2011. The police claimed that the protesters were refusing to move along the sidewalk and were interfering with pedestrian traffic. After warning the protesters multiple times to move along, the police enclosed the protesters and arrested nearly everyone there. This is my account of what happened there.
Mass Arrests at Occupy Wall Street Protest on 9-24-11 Matt Sezer 2011-09-26 | On September 24th 2011, hundreds of protesters marched from Zuccotti Park, where some had been living for a week as part of the occupy Wall Street protest. Lacking a permit, the protesters suffered numerous confrontations with the police, who ended up arresting over 80 protesters. This video is my account of that day. If you want to use any of the footage, you can, but please contact me first.
9/11 Rally Against Islamophobia and War Matt Sezer 2011-09-15 | On the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, hundreds gathered near ground zero to rally against war, racism, and Islamophobia in post 9/11 America. A few blocks away, others gathered to protest against the proposed Islamic community center near ground zero. This film is my attempt to make sense of it all.
Park National Bank: Too Good to Fail? Trailer Matt Sezer 2010-02-27 | Too Good to Fail? is a documentary film about the FDIC's seizure of Park National Bank, a philanthropic community bank in the Chicago area. The film follows a group of activists that travel from the west side of Chicago to attend a congressional hearing on the take over in Washington DC. Individuals and organizations helped by Park National's charitable efforts tell the story of the resistance to, what they consider, an unjust take over, calling it "the largest bank robbery in the history of the United States." The film will be released in March of 2010.
Protest At West Point Matt Sezer 2009-12-07 | While Obama delivered a speech at West Point demanding that an additional 30,000 troops be deployed to Afghanistan, 300 activists protested outside the gates. Among the protesters were military mothers, veterans, and religious leaders. 6 protesters who sat down and refused to get up from the main road into West Point were arrested for disorderly conduct. All of the protester were released from the police station an hour later.
Felony Franks Opening Matt Sezer 2009-07-17 | On July 13, 2009 Felony Franks Home of the Misdemeanor Wiener had its grand opening. Congressman Danny Davis was there to cut the police line and ordered the first hot dog ever served at the restaurant. Felony Franks is a hot dog stand, which employs ex-felons in hopes of bettering their lives. However, the local alderman Bob Fioretti opposes the name, which he says is exploitative and glorifies crime.
Matt Sezer: Giving Voice to the Voiceless Matt Sezer 2009-05-28 | The following is a short documentary film that a Colombia College film student named Deborah Austin made about me.
