After the success of xlr8, the next project was to launch Lemon Ruski, an RTD made from Stolichnya. The one word brief was ‘genuine’. Concept: a Russian party on board a genuine Russian 1950’s submarine. Awesome. Tickets booked. Moscow here we come. However, a genuine 1950’s Russian submarine just so happened to come into Sydney for the National Maritime Museum for whatever reason. Repairs en route to LA if I remember. I could see it from my office window. ‘But think of the money we’ll save to put back into production!’ Great. We cancelled Russia, ended up shooting in Darling Harbour, with the talented Director Bruce Hunt, and it turned out to be a beautiful piece. Ice sculptured bars. Female jet pilots clad in black latex suits. Trapeze girls offering Ruskis from the air. Russian guards. What’s not to like? The only gripe I had was not being able to use the genuine soundtrack – Jesus Jones, Right here, right now.