A former assassin finds himself pulled back into a world of violence in Director Robert Lorenz’s action thriller, In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
Lorenz’s film tells the story of Finbar Murphy, a man hoping to leave his dark past behind him and live a quiet life in a coastal Irish town. But when terrorists menace the village, he must choose between exposing his secret identity and defending his friends and neighbors.
On April 7, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Lorenz discussed the making of In the Land of Saints and Sinners during a Q&A moderated by Director Brian Helgeland (Finestkind).
During the conversation, Lorenz spoke about what he learned from frequent collaborator Clint Eastwood when transitioning from 1st AD to Director.
“I learned from Clint to be very objective in the casting process. If you get that right, your job is 90% done. So, I was just really careful in making sure I was finding people who had the right takes on the characters.”
Asked what he looks for in a 1st AD having been one himself, Lorenz commended his 1st AD Paula Case and said, “When I was a 1st, I always thought like a Director and thought about ‘What does he want? What is he looking for? What does he need?’ So, if you've got someone below that's supporting you making sure that your job is covered, that frees you up.”
Lorenz’s other directorial credits include the feature films The Marksman and Trouble with the Curve. He has been a DGA member since 1993.