Hill was born and raised in Australia. He began skateboarding, as a young teenager, with his older brothers, Peter and Stephen Hill who founded Hardcore Enterprises, which grew into the skateboard and surfwear company, Globe International.[4] Matt assisted his brothers with their early business ventures, including the distribution of skateboard hardware and clothing and the promotion of skateboard tours and events in Australia.[5] Through the 1980s the brothers continued to build the skateboard, footwear and clothing distribution business.[6][7]
After high school, Matt Hill studied economics and psychology, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne. He then moved to the US in 1995, attending the University of Southern California, graduating with a master's degree in Film Production[8] and producing an Academy Award-winning student film.[9] He subsequently produced and directed numerous documentaries and feature films mostly under the film production company he founded, again with his brothers, in 1998, Whyte House Entertainment. Whyte House Entertainment produced a variety of film, television and online productions working with noted talent such as Eric Bana, Ice-T, and Lemmy Kilmister.[10][11]
During the same period in the 1990s, the skateboard business expanded into a broader youth culture company and international proprietary brands were created such as Globe, Gallaz and Mooks, producing clothing and footwear. This led to international expansion with operations established in the EU and the USA. Matt Hill helped co-found the North American operation of Globe International, overseeing the development of new product lines and brands for the company.[7][12]
The three brothers successfully oversaw a public listing of the Globe International Company in 2001 on the Australian Stock Exchange[13][14] leading to listings on the BRW Rich 200 list.[15] In 2004, Matt Hill was appointed the worldwide CEO of Globe International Limited[7][16][17][18] continuing in through that role to the current day,[19][20] Hill remains active in the film industry and is based in the Los Angeles Globe office.[21] Hill executive produced the award-winning surf films Electric Blue Heaven (2012)[22] and Strange Rumblings in Shangri-LA (2014)[23] and with his brothers, featured in the book, Unemployable: 30 Years of Hardcore, Skate and Street[24] released for the 30th anniversary of the Globe and Hardcore companies in 2015.[25]
Filmography
1998 The Paperboy (short film) Director
1998 Canvas: The 'Skateboarding documentary (television documentary) Director