Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sanchez’s debut film project has been mired in chaos after it was reported she enjoyed a “generous” trailer and asked to land her helicopter on set, while several crew members quit.
Sanchez, 53, self-financed the $2 million psychological thriller The Golden Door, which filmed last summer and will feature a two-line cameo by Bezos’ teenage daughter – whom he adopted with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott.
But sources say filming of the film – details of which have been kept top secret – was “messy” and filled with drama.
Those close to Sanchez have since hit back, claiming she was the victim of “sexism.”
Sanchez has been in a relationship with Bezos, the richest man in the world, since 2019. News of their romance broke following his split from then-wife MacKenzie Scott – which has been described as the “biggest divorce in the world”.
Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sanchez has been accused of presiding over a “chaotic” film set for her debut film, The Golden Door
Sanchez is a former journalist who now owns her own aerial photography company, Black Ops Aviation
Sanchez used to be a television journalist before turning to her aerial photography company, Black Ops Aviation.
Little was known about her latest project – produced by her company Adventure & Fellowship – until rumors of feuds and on-set mayhem surfaced last night.
Within the first three weeks of filming last summer, both the photographer’s director and assistant director left the project, citing creative differences, Page Six reports.
Meanwhile, director Kellie Madison reportedly dropped out after submitting her final cut in November.
A source told Puck News that Sanchez and Bezos made frequent appearances on set, adding that her diva-esque demands made her an “undesirable” presence.
“Suffice it to say, Sanchez hasn’t made many friends by maintaining a relatively lavish trailer while others were sultry,” reads the Puck report.
“And by asking if she could land her private helicopter on set while the cast and crew were concerned about basic safety protocols and the craft services were seemingly inedible.”
The Puck reporter also said he interviewed Sanchez in 2017 and called her “a piece of work in the Beverly Hills over-the-top nerd spirit.”
Bezos’ daughter will have a two-line guest appearance in Sanchez’s film. Little is known about the Bezos children as the billionaire has largely kept their identities a secret
Bezos adopted his daughter from China with ex-wife MacKenzie Scott. They are pictured in 2019, shortly after news of Bezos and Scott’s divorce broke
Other crew members called Sanchez “inexperienced” – but sources known to the star have hit back at the criticism.
They noted their experience with documentaries, including a short film about William Shatner’s journey into space on a Bezos Blue Origin rocket.
“Lauren has worked with Christopher Nolan and Catherine Hardwicke, she’s hardly inexperienced,” one told Page Six.
“Of course, Lauren wanted to ask to do some aerial photography with her helicopter. She was involved – she even brought her own jewelry for the actors to wear to the film.
“As for the lavish trailer, it was a 30-foot Star Wagon trailer with a space that she shared with all the producers.
“It’s just sexist; Lauren has been producing for a long time, just not in feature films. She’s a Latino woman who funded an all-female film, which is no easy feat.”
However, the source admitted there were “issues” on the set, adding it was “a little messy”.
“It’s a $2 million budget film and there were a lot of newcomers on the 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 in 20 days last summer.
Director Kellie Madison reportedly left the project after submitting her director’s cut in November
Movie stars Megalyn Echikunwoke, left, and Daniella Kertesz, right. I was shot in Topanga, California over a 20-day shoot and produced by Sanchez’s Adventure & Fellowship company
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, famous for her role in World War Z.
Despite rumors of on-set feuds, Echikunwoke and Sanchez were reportedly spotted having a friendly chat at last week’s Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Instead, on-set fights appeared to erupt between the off-screen crew.
A production insider told Page Six that the photographer’s director was forced to leave during the first week of production because he “didn’t feel the director’s creative vibe.”
In the third week, the Deputy Director also left and both were replaced.
Meanwhile, director Madison reportedly left the project after submitting her final cut in November.
It left Sanchez to find a new director to finish and reedit the film, reports Page Six.
Bezos’ teenage daughter is also said to have been an intern in the film and even landed a small role.
Bezos, 59, shares three sons with 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 in April 2019 after 25 years of marriage. Some outlets called it the “biggest divorce in the world.”
Their divorce followed news of Bezos’ affair with Sanchez. Sanchez pictured center, her then-husband Patrick Whitesell on the left and Bezos on the right in 2016
The Amazon CEO announced his split from Scott in April 2019 after 25 years of marriage.
In the settlement, she was handed a 4 percent stake in Amazon valued at $35.8 billion.
At the time, Bezos shared a statement calling MacKenzie an “extraordinary partner, ally and mother.”
But soon after, he was rocked by allegations that he had an eight-month fling 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 following them “across five states and 40,000 miles while traveling on private jets, fancy limousines, helicopter rides, romantic hikes, hideaways in five-star hotels, and intimate dinner- enjoyed dating.
It was claimed at the time Bezos only announced his divorce after being notified of the publication of the Enquirer story.
has reached out to representatives from Sanchez, Bezos and Madison.