Teenage Paparazzo A film by Adrian Grenier.
Teenage Paparazzo was broadcast this week as part of the Channel 4 documentary season.
Review by Seanog O’Hara.
Teenage Paparazzo provides a stunning insight into the world of the paparazzi, and provides it from the viewpoint of a 14 year old named Austin Visschedyk trying to make it in the world of celebrity photography.
Documented, produced and narrated by Adrian Grenier, the star of the cult HBO show Entourage, it is perhaps the incidents which led to the production of the documentary which are most intriguing. Being considered one of Hollywood’s newest stars, Adrian Grenier finds himself followed by the paparazzi daily. During one of Grenier’s well documented nights out, he encountered the budding, then 12 year old paparazzo, Austin Visschedyk attempting to photograph him. The encounter influenced Grenier, also an established film producer, to ensue role reversal with the paparazzi. The tables, or rather the cameras would be turned.
The documentary focuses on various aspects of life as a “pap.” Amongst others, the competition within, and the brotherhood of the paparazzi are closely juxtaposed. However, although not as prominent, it is very much suggested that the true focal point of the film is the impact of the media on society today, and the negative effects it has on us.
Grenier begins his documentation by following Austin throughout his everyday life. With the careful consideration and trust of his mother, Austin is allowed to roam the streets of Hollywood California to his heart’s content. No school, no friends, only photographs. Austin is more than happy with his lifestyle, and it is this carefree recklessness that perhaps suggests to the audience that direction is needed in life. Austin becomes a regular paparazzo, and although tough at first he finds his way into the close knit community that defines the paparazzi. It is very much a ‘friends close, enemies closer’ environment. Britney, Paris, David and Victoria, Lindsay and Adrian himself are Austin’s focus for the big money shots, earning him from anywhere in the regions of $500 to $5000 per photograph.
It is the involvement of Adrian Grenier in the project himself that gives this documentary a real feel of just how difficult it is to be a celebrity. Dawning nothing but a hat and a camera, Grenier joins Austin on the papping scene. Despite being recognized several times, Grenier felt the pressure of being a paparazzo first hand.
The most striking feature of this documentary however is Grenier’s insight into the change in media over the years to the impact it has on our lives, and the thirst we have for celebrity culture. Grenier describes “Para social relationships” which exist between the viewing public and the celebrity world. We feel like we know these people; these actors and singers and entertainers, but we don’t. We feel like we are somehow part of their lives because we can relate to the characters they play on television. We are not.
Over time, Adrian recognizes that his experiment of turning the cameras on the paparazzi may have had adverse effects. Eventually his foremost focus, Austin, becomes famous in his own right as the ‘teenage paparazzo.’ Adrian decides to show Austin the very documentary we have been viewing up to present day. Austin sees his life from an outsider’s perspective. Grenier observes the change in Austin with fame. Eventually he refuses to film, for no reason what so ever, and when offered a reality TV show from the popular American broadcast channel “E!” contact is lost completely.
Adrian revisits Austin one year later with heart-warming results that you just have to see for yourself.
Grenier manages to grip the audience with this production, and not let them go until they understand what media and fame does to people. How it changes them, for better and worse. It is with this, and in depth insights that I can only offer this advice; sit down, and watch this documentary. Discover things in your life that you never noticed where there. I have nothing but praise for Adrian Grenier for his outstanding portrayal of the media in this under dog documentary.
Review by Seanog O’Hara.
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