in 2008, lundgren starred opposite michael paré in the direct to video action flick "direct contact". he plays the role of mike riggins, an imprisoned ex-us special forces operative in eastern europe, who is offered his freedom and money to rescue an american woman, ana gale, who has been kidnapped by a ruthless warlord. this was followed by another direct to video film "command performance" (2009), a hostage action drama in which lundgren, a proficient musician in real life, plays a rock drummer forced to face terrorists at a concert in moscow. the film co-starred canadian pop singer melissa smith, playing a world-famous pop singer in the film and his own daughter ida on her screen debut, who played one of the daughters of the russian president. the story was inspired by a concert madonna put on for russian president vladimir putin, although dolph has also likened the pop singer to britney spears. filming took place over 5 weeks between august and september 2008 in sofia, bulgaria and moscow, russia. the film premiered at the ischia global film & music festival on 18 july 2009.