Some people are born naturals. Sometimes it’s a song, a scene or a new idea that impacts us all. What happens when a knack for getting the “money” shot is your gift before adulthood – welcome to Actor/film director Adrian Grenier’s Teenage Paparazzo.
Photojournalism in modern society has constantly evolved and TP demonstrated how a West Hollywood 13 year old launched and potentially tanked his Paparazzi career. Known to some celebrities as that cute kid with a fluttering flash, Austin dedicated his time to the Canon long lens to get what today is the Tabloid money shot.
More important in the film is how Grenier (known currently as HBO’s Vincent Chase) addressed the serious issue for society while unraveling a very thorough documentary on the economics of stardom that starts from a single shot.
To promote you need something to entice. But without law and order you can have complete mayhem – Princess Paris properly pointed out in one scene that the Paparazzis’ motorcycle pursuit was one reason behind the loss of Princess Diana.
In Capitalism, as Adrian emphasized to a full house at GEN ART’s Saturday evening showing, the economic incentive is the leading reason the Paparazzi has become anyone’s game. And when consumers are given a product based on our documented para-social primate behavior, the big business of rumors and lack of fact checking takes it’s course. To stop the consumer addiction would mean the loss of free press, the loss of Hollywood’s current star machine and the loss of the very serious US Weekly.
Of course certain “Mosquitos” are willing to do anything to survive. There are some who may not be as parasitic as others. The path of a fine art photo journalist only materializes for a very few, deeply connected photographers today with demonstrated talent. For all others there is the rumor mill shooters called Paparazzi.
At the close of the evening’s event Paparazzi Steve Sands (also prominently featured in the film) due to habitual nature and his career promptly did what he knew how best to do – point and shoot.
Love to see the shot.
– We forgot the after party details -Amnesia
