Direct Contact (2009)

Director:

Danny Lerner

Writers:

Danny Lerner (story)
Les Weldon (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 August 2009 (United Arab Emirates)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

An American prisoner in a Russian jail is given a chance at freedom if he can rescue a kidnapped American woman.

Plot Keywords:

American | Explosion | Ex Marine | Heiress | Motorcycle

Cast

Dolph Lundgren	...	Mike Riggins
Gina May	...	Ana Gale
Michael Paré	...	Clive Connelly
Bashar Rahal	...	General Drago
James Chalke	...	Trent Robbins
Vladimir Vladimirov	...	Vlado
Raicho Vasilev	...	Boris
Nikolay Stanoev	...	Gun Dealer
Mike Straub	...	Lead Marine Guard
Les Weldon	...	Anchorman
Yoan Petrov	...	Vlado's Son
Uti Bachvarov	...	Zoran
Alexander Kadiev	...	Chopper Pilot
Teodor Tsolov	...	Janitor
Marianne Stanicheva	...	Screaming Woman
Gemma Garrett	...	Trent's Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lubo Ganev
Slavi Slavov
Lubomir Yonchev	...	Passenger

Directed by
Danny Lerner

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Danny Lerner		story
Les Weldon		screenplay

Produced by
Boaz Davidson	....	executive producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Ewerhard Engels	....	executive producer
Jack Gilardi Jr.	....	executive producer
Anton Hoeger	....	producer
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
Danny Lerner	....	producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
David Varod	....	executive producer in charge of production
Les Weldon	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Edwards

Cinematography by
Ross W. Clarkson

Film Editing by
Michele Gisser

Casting by
Marianne Stanicheva

Production Design by
Carlos Silva Da Silva

Art Direction by
Sonya Savova

Set Decoration by
Rosen Stefanov		(as Rossen Stefanov)

Costume Design by
Katya Ivanova

Makeup Department
Anna Andreeva	....	makeup artist
Anna Belishka	....	makeup artist
Svetla Krasteva	....	hair stylist
Tatyana 'Tita' Sleptsova	....	key makeup artist
Dimitrina Stoyanova	....	key hair stylist (as Diddy Stoyanova)

Production Management
George Gale	....	post-production supervisor
Veselin Karadjov	....	unit production manager (as Vesselin Karadjov)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Petya Evtimova	....	first assistant director: Bulgaria
Galina Kyuchukova	....	second assistant director (as Galya Kyuchyukova)
Mark Roper	....	first assistant director
Mark Roper	....	second unit director

Art Department
Petko Angelov	....	swing gang
Svetoslav Angelov	....	carpenter
Borislav Belberov	....	stand-by props (as Bobby Belberov)
Borislav Bogdanov	....	swing gang (as Borislav Bogdrnov)
Bilyana Buchmann	....	assistant property master (as Bilyana Buchman)
Dirk Buchmann	....	property master (as Dirk Buchman)
Lidiya Burukova	....	graphic designer (as Lidiya Borukova)
Stoyan Cakov	....	swing gang
Yavor Denev	....	painter
Victor Deyov	....	laborer
Dian Dimitrov	....	carpenter
Ivan Dimitrov	....	stand-by set dresser
Andrey Filchev	....	stand-by props
Valentin Hadzhiev	....	carpenter (as Valentin Hadjiev)
Lubomir Harizanov	....	swing gang
Veselin Ilov	....	laborer (as Vesselin Ilov)
Petko Ivanov	....	art department buyer
Georgi Kodzhabashiyski	....	lead sculptor (as Georgi Kodjabashiiski)
Rosen Marinkov	....	stand-by props
Kolio Nachev	....	painter (as Kolyo Nachev)
Svetlozar Petrov	....	swing gang
Vladimir Popov	....	head painter
Eleonora Slavkova	....	painter
Dobrinka Stamenkova	....	art department coordinator
Kalin Stefanov	....	swing gang
Svetoslav Stoilov	....	carpenter
Kristian Stoyanov	....	stand-by set dresser
Valeri Yankov	....	swing gang
Evgeni Yordanov	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Chris Gresham	....	adr editor
Matthew Thomas Hall	....	sound effects editor
Rob McIntyre	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Neal	....	first assistant adr editor
Steve Neal	....	mix stage recordist
Lawrence Reyes	....	sound effects editor
Aran Tanchum	....	adr mixer
Paulette Victor-Lifton	....	supervising sound editor
Jeniel Braun	....	additional foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ivo Jivkov	....	special effects supervisor
Stefan Razlojki	....	armourer
Marten Ruskov	....	special effects crew

Visual Effects by
Simeon Asenov	....	visual effects art director
Scott Coulter	....	visual effects producer
Konstantin Dimitrov	....	visual effects artist
Danail Hadzhiyski	....	visual effects supervisor
Milen Jiliazkov	....	visual effects lead artist
Maria Maltcheva	....	visual effects set supervisor
Nikolay Pachov	....	visual effect assistant editor
Milena Peneva	....	visual effects coordinator

Stunts
Boyan Anev	....	stunts
Dejan Angelov	....	stunts (as Dian Angelov)
Asen Asenov	....	stunts
Teodora Dimitrova	....	stunts
Georgi Dimitrov	....	stunts
Ivailo Dimitrov	....	stunts (as Ivaylo Dimitrov)
Dimiter Doichinov	....	stunts (as Dimitar Doychinov)
Barry Evans	....	fight coordinator
Evgeni Ganchev	....	stunts
Dian Hristov	....	stunt double: Mr. Lundgren (as Deyan Hristov)
Dian Hristov	....	stunts
Radoslav Ignatov	....	stunts
Borislav Iliev	....	stunts
Danko Jordanov	....	stunts (as Danko Yordanov)
George Karlukovski	....	stunts (as Georgi Karlukovski)
Ivo Kehayov	....	stunts
Kalin Kerin	....	stunts
Oleg Krastanov	....	stunts
Todor Lazarov	....	stunts
Georgi Manchev	....	stunts
Asen Marinov	....	stunts
Stilyan Mavrov	....	stunts (as Stilian Mavrov)
Trayan Milenov-Troy	....	stunts (as Trajan Milenov)
Krasimir Mitov	....	stunts
Radoslav Parvanov	....	stunts
Marina Pavlova	....	stunts (as Mariyana Pavlova)
Velizar Peev	....	stunts
Rumen Petrov	....	stunts
Elitsa Rajeva	....	stunts
Pavel Shalamanov	....	stunts
Krasimir Simeonov	....	stunts
Vasil Simeonov	....	stunts
Svilen Skerlev	....	stunts
Stanimir Stamatov	....	stunts
Georgi Stanislavov	....	stunts
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunts (as Ventsislav Stoyanov)
Emil Tsolov	....	stunts
Teodor Tsolov	....	stunts (as Todor Tsolov)
Georgi Vanchev	....	stunts
Kaloian Vodenicharov	....	stunt coordinator (as Kaloyan 'Kala' Vodenicharov)
Kaloian Vodenicharov	....	stunts (as Kaloyan Vodenicharov)
Yordan Zahariev	....	stunts (as Jordan Zahariev)
Danko Jordanov	....	stunt double: Michael Paré (uncredited)
Vencislav Stojanov	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hristo Aleksandrov	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Hristo Alexandrov)
Ivan Aleksandrov	....	rigging grip (as Ivan Alexandrov)
Mihail Apostolov	....	key grip
Martin Balkanski	....	second assistant camera
Dimitar Bonev	....	first assistant camera: "c" camera
Miroslav Borisov	....	grip
Ross W. Clarkson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Spiro Dichev	....	grip
Nikolai Dulev	....	generator operator (as Nikolay Dulev)
Hristo Elandjiev	....	electrician
Filip Filipov	....	key grip: second unit
Stoyan Georgiev	....	rigging grip
Alexandar Goncharov	....	camera production assistant (as Alexander Goncharov)
Lyubomir Hristoskov	....	best boy grip
Rumen Idakiev	....	electrician
Ivailo Ivanov	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Ivaylo Ivanov)
Ivelin Ivanov	....	generator operator: base camp
Ivailo Kostov	....	electrician
Tsvetan Kostov	....	grip
Borislav Krastanov	....	rigging electric
Alexander Krumov	....	camera operator: "c" camera
Tzveti Lazarova	....	epk
George Mihailov	....	best boy electric (as Georgi Mihailov)
Nikolai Mihailov	....	electrician (as Nikolay Mihailov)
Anton Nakov	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Vihar Nikolov	....	rigging grip (as Vihar Nikov)
Emil Petkov	....	grip
Georgi Petkov	....	rigging grip
Radoslav Petkov	....	video assistant
Philip Philipov	....	grip
Plamen Soklev	....	electrician
Plamen Somov	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Miroslav Spasov	....	rigging grip
Venelin Stepanov	....	rigging grip
Fyodor Tzanovski	....	rigging electric (as Feodor Tzanovski)
Ivan Vatzov	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mihail Velichkov	....	electrician
Simon Versano	....	still photographer
Mihail Yanakiev	....	second assistant camera: "c" camera (as Michail Yanakiev)
Iliya Yonev	....	rigging grip
Yavor Zahariev	....	gaffer
Borislav Zlatinov	....	loader (as Borislav Zlatanov)

Casting Department
Katerina Goranova	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ivona Grozdanova	....	laundry
Atanas Ivanov	....	on-set costumer
Georgy Petrikov	....	costume supervisor (as George Patrikov)
Jasmina Vasileva-Stoichkova	....	costumer: Mr. Lundgren (as Jasmina Vasileva)

Editorial Department
Damyan Damyanov	....	assistant editor
Nimrod Zalmanowitz	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Eric Jasper	....	scoring assistant
Roman Kovalik	....	scoring assistant
Scott Marcussen	....	composer: additional music
Ashley Miller	....	music supervisor
Michael Pelavin	....	composer: additional music

Transportation Department
Asparuh Avramov	....	driver: Mr. Lundgren
Ivaylo Avramov	....	driver: Mr. Weldon
Hristo Bonev	....	driver: costume truck
Boris Borisov	....	motorhome operator
Svetlin Chervenkov	....	driver: crew
Ivo Dimitrov	....	driver: set dressing truck
Stefan Dinev	....	driver: grips truck
Stefan Dundakov	....	driver: costumes minivan
Elka Gecheva	....	trailer janitorial
Ventzislav Ignatov	....	driver: electric truck
Martin Kolev	....	driver: art department/construction
Nedko Mavrikov	....	driver: art department/construction
Boris Nikolov	....	motorhome operator
George Nikolov	....	driver: craft (as Georgi Nikolov)
Kalin Nikolov	....	transportation captain
Lyudomil Nikolov	....	driver: camera truck (as Ludmil Nikolov)
Stoyan Nikolov	....	motorhome operator
Cvetomil Peshov	....	driver: props minivan (as Tzvetomil Peshov)
Plamen Petrov	....	driver: sfx truck
Svetlyo Petrov	....	driver: Mr. Pare
Svetlin Popov	....	driver: props truck
Emil Serkedjiev	....	driver: honeywagon
Alexander Skerlev	....	trailer mechanic
Vladimir Vasilev	....	driver: actors' van (as Vladimir St. Vasilev)
Angel Vladimirov	....	driver: make-up minivan
Nikolai Dulev	....	generator driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Emil Asenov	....	set production assistant
Vladislav Asenov	....	set production assistant
Emanuil Deyanov	....	set production assistant (as Emanuil Deanov)
Milan Deyanov	....	set production assistant (as Milan Deanov)
Mario Dimitrov	....	set production assistant
Valentin Dimitrov	....	location manager
Vladimir Dimitrov	....	production office runner
Georgi Kovachev	....	set production assistant
Krastyo Krastev	....	set production assistant
Joan Mao	....	production coordinator
Christian Mercuri	....	sales and distribution head
Sarah Ogletree	....	e.p.k. editor
Petia Petrova	....	assistant production coordinator
Violeta Piperevska	....	production coordinator
Rumyana Popova	....	assistant: Mr. Lundgren
Lonnie Ramati	....	senior vice president of business and legal affairs: Millennium Films
Hristo Shterev	....	set production assistant
Shelly Stoyanova	....	script supervisor
Vladimir Vladimirov	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Höger Human Service Medien & Personal GmbH
• Millennium Films
• Nu Image Films
• Second Choice Production Services International
• Tosca Pictures

Distributors

• 01 Distribuzione (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• CP Digital (2009) (Russia) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2009) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Filmax Home Video (2009) (Spain) (DVD)
• First Look International (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Thailand) (all media)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2009) (France) (DVD)
• Millennium Films (2008) (non-USA) (all media)
• Nu Image Films (2008) (non-USA) (all media)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2009) (Romania) (all media)
• SBP (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (DVD)
• United Home Entertainment (2009)) (Thailand) (DVD)
• VVS Films (2009) (Canada) (all media)

Special Effects

• Worldwide FX

Other Companies

• HD Digital Creative  digital intermediate
• MS-Pro/MusicSupervisor.com  post-production (music services)
• Oracle Post  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | Bulgarian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Höger Human Service Medien & Personal GmbH

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When our hero steals the motorbike in the city center the fairing quite clearly has the word 'Ninja' on it, which is a model produced by Kawasaki, but during the chase a close up on the crankcase clearly shows the manufacturer's name 'Yamaha'.

Movie Connections:

Edited from U.S. Seals (1999)

Soundtrack:

Ring Of Lords

Stupid, really stupid fun!

DIRECT CONTACT surely is a bad movie: the plot is generic, the direction is laughable, the editing sloppy, the acting aside from Lundgren terrible. Furthermore some scenes are taken from earlier Nu Image-movies like U.S.SEALS 1&3, OUT FOR A KILL or DERAILED. Despite these facts DIRECT CONTACT is a highly entertaining piece of B-movie as it manages to keep the pace high and fills 80 minutes with as much senseless action as any sucker for this kind of movie could hope for. Lundgren kicks ass, and anyone who was disappointed with the lack of solid action in MISSIONARY MAN can rejoice. Although the violence often looks ridiculous (blood spurting from hats, etc.)it's fun watching Dolph doing what he's best in, and despite his age he really delivers. Danny Lerner on the other hand should finally finish his attempts to be a director, in more competent hands this movie could have been a b-action-gem since the budget is moderate, the visuals nice, the score okay, unfortunately the many flaws make this movie just another case of trashy but at least amusing guilty pleasure.