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 two-line cameo from Bezos’s teenage daughter – whom he adopted with ex-wife Mackenzie Scott.
But sources say the filming of the movie – details of which have been kept under tight wraps until now – was ‘chaotic’ and filled with drama.
Those close to Sanchez have since hit back claiming she is the victim of ‘sexism.’
Sanchez has been in a relationship with Bezos, the world’s richest man, since 2019. News of their romance broke following his split from ex-wife Mackenzie Scott – dubbed the ‘world’s biggest divorce.’
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
Sanchez was formerly a TV journalist before turning her attention to her aerial filming company Black Ops Aviation.
Little was known about her latest project – produced by her company Adventure & Fellowship – until rumors of feuds and chaos on set broke last night.
Within the first three weeks of filming last summer, the director of photographer and assistant director both left the project citing creative differences, Page Six reports.
Meanwhile director Kellie Madison reportedly exited after handing in her final cut in November.
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 labelled Sanchez ‘inexperienced’ – but sources known to the star have hit back at the criticism.
‘Lauren’s worked with Christopher Nolan and Catherine Hardwicke, she’s hardly inexperienced,’ one told Page Six.
She has previously made documentaries, including a short film about William Shatner’s trip to space on a Blue Origin rocket owned by Bezos.
‘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 last summer.
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
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 stars Chris Rock’s ex-girlfriend Megalyn Echikunwoke and Daniella Kertesz, famed for her role in World War Z.
Despite rumors of feuds on-set Echikunwoke and Sanchez were reportedly spotted chatting amicably at the Vanity Fair Oscars Party last week.
Instead on-set fighting seemed to occur between the off-screen crew.
A production insider told Page Six that the director of photographer was forced to leave in their first week of production because he ‘wasn’t feeling the creative vibe of the director.’
In week three the assistant director also left and both were replaced.
Meanwhile director Madison was said to have exited the project after handing in her final cut in November.
It left Sanchez to find a new director to finish and recut the film, Page Six reports.
Bezos’s teenage daughter was also said to be an intern on the film and was even given a small role.
Bezos, 59, shares three sons with his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott while they adopted their daughter from China.
They have managed to keep their lives mostly private, with the young girl’s name still unknown.
Jeff and MacKenzie announced their split after 25 years of marriage in April 2019. Some outlets dubbed it the ‘world’s biggest divorce’
Their divorce followed news of Bezos’ affair with Sanchez. Sanchez pictured center, her then-husband Patrick Whitesell left, and Bezos right in 2016
The Amazon CEO announced his split from Scott in April 2019 after 25 years of marriage, with many outlets dubbing it the ‘world’s biggest divorce.’
In the settlement, she was handed a four percent stake in Amazon worth $35.8 billion.
At the time Bezos shared a statement calling MacKenzie as an ‘extraordinary partner, ally, and mother.’
But soon afterwards he was rocked by allegations he had enjoyed an eight-month affair with Sanchez, who was then married to her talent manager Patrick Whitesell.
The National Enquirer magazine had spent eight months investigating the affair, with reporters trailing them ‘across five states and 40,000 miles as they enjoyed private jets, swanky limos, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, five-star hotel hideaways and intimate dinner dates.
It was alleged at the time Bezos only announced his divorce after he was informed about the publication of the Enquirer story.
Dailymail.com reached out to representatives for Sanchez, Bezos and Madison.