The 12 O’Clock Boys is intriguing, addicting and cultivating. The film is surrounded around young men growing up in Baltimore, living their lives through dirt bike riding. The act of dirt bike riding is illegal in Baltimore but is a continuous lifestyle for these young men. The need to be a part of the 12 o’Clock Boys (the crew that can lift their bikes straight up while riding), is had by many in Baltimore including Pug, the main character in the film.

The film follows Pug and his family from the summer of 2010 through 2012 and it shows him in multiple stages in his life as he’s trying to prove his way into the 12 O’Clock Boys.

12 O’Clock Boys will make you laugh, possibly cry and will definitely open up your mind to a unique world in Baltimore. It has received perfect reviews from many and even have supporters like A$AP Rocky and Raekwon, whom both attended the screening of the film in NYC.

Here is what Raekwon had to say about the film, “The film was crack city; it was mean. It was the imitation of life. It was art from the urban side. It was me all over again as a kid. When I seen Pug…Pug is a movie star to me and I really feel like that. He was comfortable. He described his life, his passion, what he was into and bike riding is serious to some kids and some adults. This is a way to escape the bullshit. Let’s ride. That’s where you get that slogan from. As far as the film, it gets fire stars in my book. My critic quote of the day, ‘The imitation of life and bike riding.’”

The Source sat down with Lotfy Nathan, the director of the film, ’12 O’Clock Boys.’ Check out what he had to say about the film out today! Check the trailer after the interview.

Q: How did the concept of the film come about?

Lotfy: I was going to school in Baltimore to study art. So when I saw these guys riding around the first couple times, I thought it was surreal, ya know? It’s kind of bizarre. Initially it started off a school project, from there the riders were really receptive to being filmed so it continued to get bigger and bigger and more people got involved and that was it.

Q: So did you live in that area as well? Where they were riding?

Lofty: Well, they really take through the whole city. So, I didn’t live where they start out from. It’s totally different communities, so that was part of the reason why I had no idea what they were about and none of the people around me knew either. Baltimore is really divided, it’s kind of a checkerboard. I didn’t know so I asked around.  So when I got on North Avenue everybody said Drew Hill Park, Sunday afternoon, that’s where you see them. So I showed up there with a camera and like I said before, they were really receptive to filming so we just kept going.

Q: How long did you film for, exactly?

Lotfy: I started shooting late 2007 and like I said it was a school project so it was here and there. It wasn’t full time all the time, but primary creative efforts a lot of the time. The most intensive times were summer of 2010 all the way to 2012.

Q: And that’s when you were filming with Pug?

Lotfy: Right, exactly. I met Pug, Coco and the family in April of 2010.

Q: How did you meet them?

Lotfy: I was kind of just fishing around for material. First, it was interest in documenting the group then I was getting this sort of sub-culture portrait and that was interesting enough to have a point of entry. When I met Pug, I was introduced to him and we would go anywhere that anybody was remotely related to the riders. This guy, Larry Jackson, introduced me to a guy named “Shank” then introduced me to Coco and the family. Immediately, it was something drew me to their world that made them so unique. Then it was just a matter to committing to filming.

Q: Cool, how was it filming with them for so long?

Lotfy: It was a lot of things. I got to know them and I have a close relationship with the family. It was funny sometimes and painful sometimes. It was all sorts of things.

Q: Besides, Pug who was the most interesting character to you?

Lotfy: Well, I think everybody is interesting. I think Steven is really important and makes a contribution to the film because he articulates a lot of issues. I wasn’t necessarily trying to make an issue film, but I did find a lot of things Steven said were heartfelt and spoke of the bigger picture which was extremely valuable.

Q: What does the film mean to you? Obviously you mentioned it started out a project, but now that it is all done what does it mean to you?

Lotfy: For me, it’s kind of sentimental. It’s my first film and there were a lot of friendships forged during that film. Relating to the subjects in the film are also people that I know now. I learned a lot even from Pug alone about how the world can be for other people. It means a lot to me.

Q: Nice, what was the most exciting part of filming this movie?

Lotfy: Probably documenting the action. Also, the effort into trying to show that was exciting. That was my initial interest from the beginning and that was something I really wanted to honor. I wanted to try anything we could to film the action. That was always a hell of a time.

Q: Were you ever around when there were any intense moments like accidents or anybody getting hurt while the times they were riding?

Lotfy: Yeah, we saw some pretty scary stuff. But that was what they signed up for. It’s not pretty but the whole reason it exist is because it is a dance with death and embracing danger. It’s a kind of symbol of a lot of these guys lives.

Q: Definitely can see that. Once the film was complete, how did you feel watching it for the first time?

Lotfy: Surreal, to say that it was done. When I watched it through it was a reflection on time but something new that led itself to be understood differently by different people and I think that was a good thing. It asked questions and polarized people. I was relieved as well.

Q: What was your favorite part of the film?

Lotfy: My favorite part was definitely Coco dancing in the bar. That was my favorite part because there was a lot of heart there and Coco was doing her thing. I like it because it actually has nothing to do with the dirt bike thing. It was kind of a moment for her and it’s about family and I really enjoyed it.

Q: What do you want everybody to get out of it once they go see it?

Lotfy: First of all, there is this really seductive quality to it. Some will be opposed but some get seduced by this crime and audiences should ask themselves “Why do I have such an appetite to watch these things?” If you think that it is sensational then you can ask yourself why? If you think it’s deplorable you can also ask yourself why? For a kid like Pug, it’s almost a wholesome activity like a better path. Not that I think that it’s complete. I think it’s problematic and obviously dangerous. Anything that can danger your life is apparently wrong in a certain way. But at the same time, he is reacting to his environment that he was born into and it’s a place not a lot of people can understand. So I hope people can identify with him.

Q: This is my last question. What are you working on next?

Lotfy: I have a documentary I’m developing about a hacker. And I’m also working on a science fiction feature.

Q: Nice! Congrats, that should be good. When does your hacker documentary come out?

Lotfy: I’m not sure yet, it’s still scratching the surface. If I learned from 12’ o clock was, it will take longer than expected.

Q: I’m sure it’s going to be great because this film was awesome. Congrats again and I know the film is going to do great tomorrow.

Lotfy: Thank you for your blessings.

 

 

 

-Jasmina Cuevas (@CueJT)