Page 103 of Forbidden

Lorenzo explains, they have very complex scheduling problems, and over runs. And it’s been costing Lorenzo two million a week more, than he budgeted for.

Those extra costs have been going on for weeks, and weeks, and I’m surprised he has not been freaking out.

Lorenzo is so cool, calm, and confident under pressure, it blows my mind.

“Just a few hours,” he says, as he hits a switch, and the jet steps drop. “I need to control the mess, enough is enough.”

As we exit the plane, our eyes meet. Lorenzo calmly adjusts his Ray Bans, and he looks impeccable in his navy-blue suit. I can tell he is going into work mode, and his soft gentle side is retracting, his serious and colder side is taking back over.

We slideinto the production Escalade, and we head towards the sets. Lorenzo says little, likely getting in the zone, remembering the budget, schedule, script, production reports and problems. He has his copy of the movie script on his lap, and a sleek file.

Rolling hills, and fields continue as far as the eye can see, and it is stunning. In saying that, we are here to do business. I suspect, the movie crew will know, if people fly in to investigate why things are so messed up, there will be consequences.

I feel more nervous than excited, as we drive past crew who rig lights and cranes, work on sets, and put lenses on cameras.

The driver is heading in fast, and hard, I feel like a complete outsider.

Lorenzo is providing almost all of the movie finance, and he told me on the jet, he has a full right to know what is going on.

He also explained, there is a good chance we’d be kept in the dark, and that people would be covering their butts, and the butts of their co-workers.

The only other party involved in financing the movie, is a silent entertainment bank, and that deal was handled by Lorenzo. In effect, this is Lorenzo’s movie, and his power sits above the director, producer, and everyone. He basically calls the shots, and he can fire anyone and anytime.

Finally, we pull up to the main sound stage, car parks and production offices.

As I realize the scale of the epic drama, I gulp. It’s absolutely massive, and it looks like three movie units, or crews, are shooting at the same time, both indoors and out.

We share a look, and Lorenzo is cold, completely in the zone. He kisses my hand and winks. “Relax baby, this is what I do.”

“Really?” I ask anxious.

“Every day. What do you think I do, when I’m not drizzling, then licking honey off your tight ass?”

I blush, try not to smile and climb out.

Minutes later, we receive drinks, and we are walked around the busy movie studio complex. I tag along silently, and I have not been on any kind of movie set before. Not even a TV set.

Lorenzo explains some detail to me, as he and the producer, plus another man with files lead the way. It is kind of cool, but it is a heck of a big production. People in wardrobe walk by fast, and others with radios, horses, cases of lenses and cameras on their shoulders.

Lights, cameras, tracks and cranes are everywhere, and in the distance a chopper flies low, filming horses charging alongside a forest.

I spin in a three sixty, and my jaw drops. What the actual hell.

Lorenzo calmly leads me to director’s chairs, and cameras shooting a different scene. Finally, the crew shoot another take, and the clapper board claps loud.

After the crew get some perfect takes, I watch them set up the next shot. The actors prepare their lines, and clapper loaders, gaffers, and grips move fast. The make-up is also perfected, and old-fashioned hair adjusted.

Lorenzo listens to people, in the distance, and at times he talks low.

It looks like, he is in and out of short fast standing discussions with various crew, and he looks cold.

Even fierce.

He is fully back in business mode, and his jaw looks tense, his energy hard. After the next shot, he joins me, and his eyes scan, taking everything in.

Lorenzo and I watch the crew shoot for the rest of the morning, I think he’s trying to ascertain what the current issues really are. And why the heck the movie is shooting so slow.

He has already explained, the recent heavy rains, and the lost shoot days because of the rain, the distracted stars, and special effects problems.