I watched Teenage Paparazzo on Friday night at the Sidewalk Film Festival.  Adrian Grenier, Paris Hilton, and Lindsey Lohan all make appearances in this documentary that has everything to do with fame, publicity, and celebrity culture.  It’ll also make its first appearance on HBO tonight.  Even by writing those celebrity names, I probably guaranteed myself a few more blog hits.  And there you go – that’s one of the movie’s big themes.

In truth, Adrian Grenier is largely responsible for this documentary.  I’ve never watched Entourage, but he’s apparently famous for playing a character on TV who is famous.  Once this fame bled over into his real life and he drifted into real celebrity, he started getting chased by the paparazzi.  One of those photographers was 13-year-old Austin Visschedyk.  This short, blonde kid stood out from the packs for his youth, even as he blended in with the professionals’ relentless pursuit of the perfect celebrity photograph.

With cameras rolling, Grenier befriended Visschedyk and spent his time documenting what it’s like to be a celebrity photographer.  We meet Austin, see what he does, see what he’s into, meet his paparazzi friends (who are very skeptical of Adrian’s motivations), and find out where exactly all those pictures go.  Grenier even spends time chasing Brooke Shields around and learning how to do the job.

Equally fascinating, Grenier spends time talking to Eva Longoria, Matt Damon, and others about their strained relationships with these annoying photographers.  He does a good, even-handed job of researching the celebrity culture and why we even consider it relevant.  Over the course of the film, we get to know the Teenage Paparazzo and watch him go through the process of attaining some of his own celebrity.

I couldn’t help but think that the whole thing felt a little like a considered PR move for Grenier – oh, isn’t he a thoughtful and interesting guy – but I can’t fault the content.  It’s a good and provocative product.  It’s also highly entertaining.

Frankly, I was surprised at the parallels to my own work on this blog.  One of the most interesting comments made during the documentary is that the reason celebrity culture exists is to give people something in common to discuss.  I agree entirely.  After you and a new friend have talked about the weather, you can almost always find something to say about Michael Jackson, Heidi Montag, or Charlie the Unicorn.  We use this stuff to fill gaps and make conversation.

It’s obvious that Birmingham is entirely third-rate when it comes to celebrity culture, but I’m using our arts organizations to fill in.  No one would read my blog at all if I didn’t talk about Opera Birmingham, the Alabama Ballet, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Sidewalk Film Festival, or the Red Mountain Theatre Company.  Right?  If there were a few individual stars of these organizations, rather than just the organizations themselves, you betcha I’d have an opinion about them.

The flip side of that observation is that it might be wise for arts organizations to get hip – just like Adrian Grenier, Lindsey Lohan, and Paris Hilton – and realize that they need media mosquitos like the paparazzi.  If people can’t google your show, see your performers, and read about your productions, then – in a very real way – you don’t exist.  We’re the audience and the audience is half of the equation.  All communication (and art) requires a speaker and a listener.  We’re the ones who ignite these conversations and keep them going.  If you’re an arts organization, or anyone in search of a listener, I’d think it would be in your best interest (and win-win) to help promote those who are promoting you.  Think about that.

And then stand still for just a minute and let me snap a picture.

Thanks to Rebecca Pugh and Sidewalk Film Festival for letting me write about their event and this movie.