Profile: Motology's Adam Riemann

We check in with Motology Films’ Adam Riemann to talk about Motonomad II’s success and his latest cinematic adventure in Morocco with KTM.

After a decade-long career in dirt bike media, Adam Riemann has carved out a career in filmmaking, focused largely around off-road motorcycles. Shortly after he returned from the Moroccan badlands, where he was involved in a big-budget shoot for KTM’s 2017 adventure models, we caught up with the WA native and creative genius behind Motology Films, and talked about what he’s been up to…

TM: It’s now been a few months since Motonomad II premiered. How was your second feature-length epic received?
AR: Pretty good, I think. I kinda put the whole project to bed after the cinema launch in Sydney and have been flat-out with smaller productions since, but the general feedback I’m getting is positive. I think momentum of Motonomad is still in its infancy though. It seems a lot of people are only discovering the first Motonomad because of the promotion of Motonomad II. It’s a slow-burner because the masses are yet to discover any of my films, but from what I can tell, most people who saw the first were amped to see MNII and in turn have become dedicated followers of my ongoing motorcycling adventures.

Having tipped so much heart and soul and coin into these major projects – plus the fact you’re a one-man rider cum production crew – are you finally starting to see a decent financial payoff?
It depends how you measure ‘decent’. My full feature films, combined with smaller contract work, revenue from YouTube productions and brand sponsorship, are collectively allowing me to live between masterminding each major film. But my film budgets are still very low – hence being an all-in-one rider/production crew. I’m perfecting my craft each time though, and that’s what I’m all about. How much money I do or don’t make is the last thing on my mind; how much better I can create the next film is my only concern.

Word has it that MNII has been picked up by a renowned film festival in New York. Tell us about that.
Yeah, it made the final selection for the Motorcycle Film Festival in New York. Pretty cool. My partner, Amena, entered it online and basically drove the whole submission process. It screened recently, so it’ll be interesting to see what may come from it.

You’ve not yet revealed details for Motonomad III. Can you divulge anything about the where, when and how of that adventure?
I’m aiming to start the production around October, 2017. I won’t say where or how yet, but what I will tell you is that my good friend Mark Portbury is back for this one. Mark and I came out of the first Motonomad (Austria to Egypt) as better friends than what we went in, so I’m really excited to have him back on board. As for the third rider, let’s just say he’s a current professional Australian rider and I’ll let you know who that is once the 2016 race season is over.

What other major projects have you been up to in the meantime? We hear you’ve been on some covert KTM operation into the depths of Morocco. True?

Yeah, it’s true. I was enlisted by KTM to be a ‘stunt rider’ for the filming of their new 2017 Adventure R models. Let me just say the bikes are awesome, and the locations we filmed in were quite mind-blowing. It was a very special opportunity for me because I didn’t have to touch a camera – aside from documenting some of the trip on a GoPro, that is. I was there purely as a rider with access to full camera crew, and worked with a director and producer. I can’t wait to see the edit. I think it’s due to be released in October – it’ll be huge. I rode alongside extreme enduro legend, Paul Bolton, and let’s just say we gave those prototypes a proper hiding for the camera.

THE MOROCCAN SHOOT…

Check out Riemann’s fascinating insight into KTM’s big-budget shoot for their 2017 adventure bikes in Morocco, and the three-minuute final edit from KTM, which was released late last week at the INTERMOT show in Cologne, Germany.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MOTOLOGY FILMS…