COMMAND PERFORMANCE (Dolph Lundgren, 2009)

[Moltisanti]

Great move putting that on the main page. Very cool.

Hope this clip gets more exposure on the web. I would think at least a site like Joblo would do a write-up for this teaser.

[manudenis2005]

Awesome teaser,but I really wanted to see the Direct Contact trailer.Any news about it?

[preacher]

Oh YES!!!

While watching I was laughing out loud out of pure happiness.
Lovely!

[The_Canadian]

DOLPH NEEDS MORE COWBELL! YEAH!

[Jox]

Awesome teaser,but I really wanted to see the Direct Contact trailer.Any news about it?

Nope. Nu Image had a promo to show at Cannes but I didn't see it. The movie's in the can but now all the focus is on CP. DC will just be the appetizer!

[Jox]

On set pics from Melissa Smith's Myspace
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.c ... Id=2058814

[Krom]

Great. Dolph's career is going higher than we expect, i can't remember a teaser trailer for him, van damme, seagal in the last decade.
Dolph's coming to big screen after CP or Unisol3

[Jox]

Seems to be a good interview (in BG again)
http://paper.standartnews.com/bg/articl ... cle=246013

Dolph Lundgren: I don’t want Hollywood to corrupt my children.
My wife Anette is beautiful and strange, he says.

The star from “Univesal Soldier” is shooting in the National Palace of Culture (NDK), then he’ll circle around Kremlin with “Harley Davidson”.

Dolph likes Bulgaria. That’s not a news or some pose but it’s a fact. The actor, the director, the karate champion of Europe is more down to earth person and communicative than many of the local stars, whose spirits and behavior is comic because of their regional level. Dolph starred in lots of action films without any deep intellectual claims, but he searches, explores and provokes his limits to know what he can do and to be a good teaches, parent and a human being. A party man and a philosopher, Dolph maybe motivated by this deadly combination, spends even more pleasure time in our country. Now he’s filming CP.

Dolph, is it going to be a good movie?
- I hope so. I’m giving all that I can and I think it works. In BG we will shoot all interior scenes. Then in Kremlin – the action takes place in Russia. There I’ll drive a mighty “Harley Davidson”.

What do you think about the BG team?
- Hristo Shopov is great. We’ve known each other for quite a long time. We were together in an Italian movie and I am aware of the great abilities that this actor has. When I was writing the script, I imagined him as the Russian president. The character is especially created for his measurements. I’m very happy with the whole crew at all. I enjoy working with Nu Image it’s not my first time. With them everything is OK. I could have chosen to shoot in Russia only so everything will be in one place. But here in BG it’s a lot more easier – your professionalists are great. A lot better then their colleges in other countries.

Why did you chose to live in Spain with you family?
- My wife decided it. I took her there for our honeymoon. Then we fell in love with that country. I liked it too and I was happy to go back there again.

As far as I know Anette is a jewel designer. Was it hard for you to choose a wedding ring for her?
- Ha, Ha She chose it herself. I didn’t dare. It was very strange and beautiful. A perfect match for her.

Do you watch European movies? What’s the difference between EU and Hollywood’s productions?
- In Us they do everything for the audience, and in EU the directors create the films mostly for themselves. Because they want to express what deeply excites them. Both US and Eu films have their good and bad sites. The one that I’m shooting now pretends to be funny and interesting. I do it for the audience.

Is there a lot of vanity in Hollywood?
- Oh yes. A lot of. And a lot of arrogance. It’s true that a person should be a little bit selfish and to think about himself but there it’s just above the normal level. I don’t live in that place. I don’t want my children to have such a surroundings every day. It’s enough for them that their father’s in the business. They don’t need that in school and among their to be sensed the bad side of Hollywood. It will be cruel for them. I want to protect them . That’s why we live in Spain.

Do you have friends that changed after their success in movie business?
- Yes, A lot of them. Even I go to certain metamorphosis. I fight with myself every day to stay on the ground and not to be like the others. I find strengths in the philosophy of martial arts and I choose my close friend very carefully.

What is one karate champion afraid of? What scares you?
- I’m afraid not to get ill or hurt. Like all other people. I’m afraid most for the ones I love.

What’s the message in your plots?
- I haven’t written so many yet. But the themes that I try to analyze are about how people react under great pressure. I’m impressed by the martial arts and wars. The take the idea of the ordinary man to something very powerfull. In our film it’s almost the same. The circumstances are unusual – a terrorist act. A person has to defend himself, to get more out of himself than he ever expected he possessed. He has to put some greater things about the self preserving instinct. My idea is to look for the philosophy – what’s the ordinary man capable of? I’m very curious how far I can push the limits to.

Ida, your eldest daughter wants to be an actress as well? Does this makes you happy?
- I’ve never had such plans for her. My assistant, he a Bulgarian suggested that Ida should play in the film. Honestly I was reserved towards that idea, but my wife agreed. Ida was very happy when I offered that to her. Now I see that she’d very enthusiastic. It makes me happy but she has to go to school to educate herself.

In the movie you play a drummer. Yesterday on the rehearsals I saw that you were doing quite good. Where do you know to drum so well?
- I played when I was a child. But I also played for the film. By the way Iashu, D2’s drummer thought me very well. He’s my professor.

You studied for a chemist. You even have the “Fullbraight” award that’s given for the brightest minds. Right after that you gave up a carrier as a scientist. Why?
- I felt it wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to spend all my life dealing with chemistry. If I Had continues I would have given up my real dreams. I like to paint, to play drums, my father was an engineer and I thought in the beginning that I wanted to be like him. But after that I started to dream about travels. But I didn’t have enough money. I had to study like mad to earn a scholarship.

Do you have a self-confidence of a real creator?
- Yes for a certain extent. That’s how I feed myself. I entertain people.

What’s more attractive than being an actor?
- Being a director. Being an actor is good. But the direction stimulates the whole process. That’s why I like it so much.

[Jox]

http://paper.standartnews.com/bg/art...article=245734

Female fans collapse in front of the naked Dolph.
“Nu Image” gave a chance to the tall actor to be a director in second film.
The action actor and D2 made an improvised concert in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture (NDK)

Yesterday movie passions blew NDK. Hundreds of fans occupied Hall 1 because of Dolph and D2. The action star and D2 did some wild improvisations in front of 500 euphoric statists. They applaused then till their hands started to hurt, and screamed till they had no voice left. That’s how Maggi Halvadjian ( a BG producer) gave start to the shooting of 2 clips that will be a key moment in CP, which Dolph shoots and directs in BG for Nu Image. This is the second film after “the Mechanik”, also shot in BG that Dolph is also a director. In the time left Dolph lets himself being told what to do by the professional US colleges, that are working in the “Nu Buyana” cinema centre with David Varod and his team. They are even joking that Dolph is half-Bulgarian now.
The story is about a drummer of a rock band, who play to warm up the audience before a famous US group during their tour. One of the concert is especially for the president of Russia. Naturally, somewhere around the middle of the concert, terrorists appear in order to fulfill their demonic plans. And naturally the drummer (Dolph) turns out to be an ex-marine.. or as he himself explains “Like watching Die Hard on rock concert!” There is no tough job for the Sweden born macho. Before becoming an actor he was military man in the special forces and karate champion. He has a University education – chemist, and winner of “Fullbraight” award. The idea came up to him 2 years ago when he was watching a Madonna concert for Putin.
Yesterday the real action hasn’t begun yet. The scenes were where there are still no terrorsirs. Dolph appeared on the stage topless and while he was drumming the female fans in the audience started to collapse. There were some famous BG faces in that audience like Monika from BG ‘Eurovision”.
These scenes were directed from the first balcony by James Chok, the assistant-director and friend of Dolph. The nice looking man, from Indian origin, also plays the role of Vladimir and he’s from the bad guys. He has already completed some of his action responsibilities and is a director now. Next to him were Hristo Shopov in the role of the Russian president, Ida, the 12-year daughter of Dolph, who plays the daughter of the Russian leader, baron Clement von Frankenstain , who plays the American embassador and the two bodyguards of the President – Zahari Baharov and Ivaylo Geraskov. The last two were so much into their roles that they were looking bad into anyone who tries to get close to the president during the brakes. In that time there was a big queue for water because of the hot weather now in BG.

Thanks to Slavkov for the translation!

[Nathan]

Great stuff!! Cheers guys, I'm glad they are trying to make it as realistic at the concert scenes, as possible.

[Jox]

Joblo news
http://joblo.com/arrow/index.php?id=13583

[Krom]

cool!

[dolphage]

Cool as hell!

[Jox]

Interview / pics on the set

http://zar.bg/view_article.php?article_id=1756

Dolph Lundgren: You can fake everything in movies.

Apart of that he’s actor and director the Hollywood star Dolph Lundgren is also enginner in chemistry, speaks 5 languages, plays drums, he’s a passionate rock fan and likes chalga music (the most popular style of music in BG now). In front of the reporter Konstantin Vulkov, Dolph revealed why and what he’s filming in Bulgaria, he told him details about his work with “Mastilo”(literally translated “Inc”) rock band and more

Q: Hi! What are you filming in Bulgaria now?
A: Yes, we’re shooting a movie titles Command Performance. Today we filmed the scene where hostages are taken during a rock concert in Moscow and they’re just going to kill one of them. Today I’m just directing, I don’t have any acting responcibilities.

Q: That means that there’s going to be a “kill” here right in front of us on this set.
A: Yes, it will happen after 15 minutes.

Q: You’re here with your daughters?
A: Yes, but with one of them only, the older one. The other girl is her friend, from school.

Q: How many times have you been in Bulgaria, because there are mentioned from 3 to 9 times.
A: I’ve filmed 4 films here so far, this is the 5th. But it’s true that I’ve been 9-10 times in your country.

Q: Is there anything that impressed you here except the usual things that impress foreigners – like the sea, the food, the girls? Is there anything special?
A: The thing I like about Eastern Europe is that it’s the old Europe here. The people are not so much under stress as they are in Western Europe. I live in Spain and there as well a lot more time is spend for family and friends and I like that.

Q: You’ve filmed many things here. Obviously you are familiar with the economic development of Bulgaria. Do have some explanation why the latest big investments are in the media sector?
A: The medias play an important role in people’s live these days, as the television, films, radios and I think that Bulgaria like Russia is trying to make a big step forward too fast. That’s why the investments are so big.

Q: Do you watch the Olympic games?
A: Not really, I don’t have enough time , but the only thing I know is that Michael Phelps is winning a lot of medals.

Q: You were a part of the Olympic movement once- you were leader of the penthatlon team of the United States in 1996, right?
A: Right. Penthatlon is one of the original Olympic sports since 1986 and it was created by baron Kuberten. It was a military sport at the beginning. Since Napoleon when a message should have been delivered, you first ride a horse, but someone kills it so you continue by foor, you run , you have to fight with your enemies, you have to swim and so on.

Q: On the set behind us there’s a little fight and after a while they’ll shoot the killing scene with real action. It’s interesting how the action stand to that much pressure. Do they take doping as in the Olympics?
A: I don’t think that’s necessary in sport because you can do everything in the movies to fake everything so to say. If it’s written in the script that you win so you win. And it doesn’t matter if you’re big or small.

Q: So you don’t do doping tests on the set?
A: No , no one is taking steroids so we’re ok.

Q:You’re filming with Bulgarians again, aren’t you?
A; Yes, there are a lot of Bulgarians. For example Hristo Shopov he’s a very goos actor.

Q:I understood that you’re going to include a BG band in the film and you’re even going to film a concert together.
A; Yes, that’s D2. In a matter of fact that’s my band. I rehearse with them. We’re going to have concerts in the National Palace of Culture (NDK) on 26th and 27th, which we’ll use for the films.

Q: And you’re the drummer?
A:Yes.

Q: What happened with “Mastilo” rock band?
A: Yes, I’ve played with them, they are very good and I hope to work with them again.

Q: I see that here in “Nu Boyana” cinemacentre is Melissa from The Pussycat Dolls?
A: Yes, she’s here. Actually Melissa is the new member of The Pussycat Dolls.

Q: Many beautiful girls: Viki from “Mastilo”, Melissa, Diliana Popova as well… there are rumors that you’ve liked Diliana a lot.
A: I’ve heard these rumors, but I don’t even know Diliana. Maybe I should meet her after all these rumors.

Q: Yes, you 2 should meet each other because she’s somehow related to D2.
A: O , is she going out with some guy from the bad?

Q: She dates their ex-front. You said that you’re only directing today, You’ve worked with many great directors such as John Woo, Stallone, Emerich. Who inspired you most?

A:The one that inspires me most I haven’t worked with. It’s Clint Eastwood. He has a great career, was s great actor at the beginning, and then no one could have guessed that he’ll be a great director as well. I like most of his films. Of course I’ve learned a lot from Woo and Stallone.
Q: Some of the fans that watch your action films don’t event know that you’re engineer in chemistry and that you’ve won the “Fullbraight” award. After the good career as and actor and now director, isn’t this education lost?

A: Good Question. That’s what my parents say. I don’t this that education is lost. You can use it in your life, and when you have children to help them. I can even read a contract which is usefull.
Q:You speak 3 languages and when we add Japanese and Spanish they become 5. Do you use them in the films.

A: I’ve use a little bit of Japanese and Russian. I still haven’t spoken Swedish and Spanish in my films, so I have something to work on.
Q: You’re going to use your Russian more often – you recently opened a night club in Moscow, something like a local branch of Havana Room. Do you have any plans for Sofia?

A: I’m mostly a honorary member of that club. Not the owner.
Q: But the owners may need such an advisor that knows the night life in Sofia.

A; Unfortunately, I don’t go to many discos right now because we’re filming, but after it’s done, I’ll have some fun again.
Q: I know that you’re a rock fan- you like that music, you go to such places but even though we’ve seen you quite often in chalga-clubs. How do you mix rock and chalga?

A; Yes, I like chalga. I like the drums, the percussions, the feeling that the beat instrument give to that music.

[Nathan]

Another great interview. Seems like Command Performance will be very interesting. I get the feeling Dolph may quit acting at some stage and just direct. Not in the near future I hope.