The debut film project of Jeff Bezos‘s girlfriend Lauren Sanchez has been mired in chaos amid reports she enjoyed a ‘lavish’ trailer and asked to land her helicopter on set while several crew members quit.
Sanchez, 53, self-financed the $2million psychological thriller ‘The Golden Door’ which was shot last summer and will feature a cameo from Bezos’s teenage daughter – whom he shares with ex-wife Mackenzie Scott.
But sources say the film set was ‘chaotic’ and filled with drama – though those close to Sanchez have hit back claiming she is the victim of ‘sexism.’
The director of photography and the assistant director both left the project within the first three weeks, citing creative differences, Page Six reports.
Meanwhile director Kellie Madison reportedly exited after handing in her director’s cut in November.
Jeff Bezos’s girlfriend Lauren Sanchez has been accused of presiding over a ‘chaotic’ film set for her debut movie The Golden Door
Sanchez is a former journalist who now owns her own aerial filming company Black Ops Aviation
A source told Puck News that Sanchez and Bezos showed up on set frequently, adding she was an ‘unwelcome’ presence due to her diva-esque demands.
‘Suffice to say Sanchez didn’t make many friends by maintaining a relatively lavish trailer while others were sweltering,’ reads the Puck report.
‘And by asking if she could land her private helicopter on the set while the cast and crew were worried about basic safety protocols and the craft services was apparently inedible.’
The Puck reporter also said he interviewed Sanchez in 2017, calling her ‘a piece of work in the over-the-top Beverly Hills striver sense of the phrase.’
Other crew members called Sanchez – a former journalist who now owns her own aerial filming company Black Ops Aviation – ‘inexperienced.’
But last night sources known to the star hit back at the criticism.
One told Page Six: ‘Lauren’s worked with Christopher Nolan and Catherine Hardwicke, she’s hardly inexperienced.
Jeff Bezos has largely kept his children out of the public eye but sources say his teenage daughter interned on the set of Sanchez’s film and will make a small appearance on-screen. He is pictured with his children and ex-wife in 2016
Bezos was pictured walking with his daughter and son in 2019 shortly after announcing his divorce from their mother Mackenzie Scott
‘Of course, Lauren was going to ask to use her helicopter to film aerial shots. She was involved – she even brought her own jewelry for the actors to wear on film.
‘As for the lavish trailer, it was a 30 ft. Star Waggon, one-room trailer she shared with all producers.
‘It’s just sexist; Lauren has been producing for a long time, just not in feature films. She’s a Latin woman who funded a movie with all females, which is no mean feat.’
The source did however admit there were ‘issues’ on set, adding it was ‘a little chaotic.’
‘It’s a $2 million budget movie and there were a bunch of newbies on set, new producers and semi-new directors. There was definitely more drama on set than Lauren is used to,’ they said.
The film was shot in Topanga, California, over a 20-day shoot and was produced by Sanchez’s company Adventure & Fellowship.
It stars Chris Rock’s ex-girlfriend Megalyn Echikunwoke and Daniella Kertesz, who starred in World War Z.
Puck News claims Bezos’s teenage daughter was an intern on the film and was even given a small role.
Bezos – went public with his relationship with Sanchez in 2019 – has so far succeeded in keeping his daughter’s name a secret.
The Amazon CEO shares three sons and one daughter with his ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott though he has managed to keep their lives mostly private.
The presence of his daughter in the film is likely to be a big pull for audiences.
A production insider told Page Six that the director of photographer was forced to leave in their first week of production due to a disagreement with then-director Madison.
The insider said he ‘wasn’t feeling the creative vibe of the director.’
In week three the assistant director also left and both were replaced.
After Madison handed in her director’s cut in November but has since exited the project.
Director Kellie Madison reportedly left the project after she handed in her director’s cut in November
The film stars Megalyn Echikunwoke, left, and Daniella Kertesz, right. I was shot in Topanga, California, over a 20-day shoot and was produced by Sanchez’s company Adventure & Fellowship
Insiders said Sanchez asked to land her helicopter on set and enjoyed a ‘lavish trailer’
It means Sanchez has been left to find a new director to finish and recut the film, Page Six reports.
Dailymail.com reached out to representatives for Sanchez, Bezos and Madison.
