For an actor who plays a famous actor on HBO’s Entourage, Adrian Grenier notes the irony of the fiction that has altered his reality. It is through this documentary, “Teenage Paparazzo” that he steps behind the lens in an attempt to understand and make sense of his new-found fame.

The documentary provides a surprisingly deep and honest portrayal of paparazzi in today’s culture that is obsessed with celebrity. The film makes a conscious effort to provide media theories and psychology through interviews with professors, actors, and those in the celebrity business.

The subject of Grenier’s documentary is an ambitious 13-year-old paparazzo Austin Visschedyk who is enraptured by the glitz and glamour of the Hollywood lifestyle. Unknowingly, Grenier’s association with Visschedyk heightens the young paparazzo’s personal desire for fame and celebrity. It is this lure of the Hollywood lifestyle that creates tension and drama in what they come to realize is a mutually exploitive relationship. Much like the business they work in.

Grenier moves “Teenage Paparazzo” beyond the ‘rise-to-fame’ personal documentary as he dives deeper to explore the human-desire for acceptance. Placing himself as a prop to test out his theories and the relationship between celebrity, those who feed into it, and those who consume it.

Teenage Paparazzo is perfectly narrated and nuanced as well as thoroughly entertaining. Who knew Vincent Chase was so deep?

Check out Adrian Grenier at Sundance.

Hey guys – it’s been a little while (for a girl averaging a post a day, a five day quiet zone is a rarity). Though this blog has been established as a go-to for fashion + local culture, I like to add in a personal note sometimes (helps to vocalize those random thoughts).

So you ask what I’ve been up to if I haven’t been on-web? I threw Swapify Your Wardrobe, which I would completely deem a success, I finished up a big work 2010 plan for the day job, bought an ugly sweater, went to #carolbomb, saw friends, ran around downtown and uptown, went to a blogger tea, and was generally overwhelmingly exhausted. 2009 was the year I killed it, but it was utterly tumultuous emotionally, physically, and mentally. Undoubtedly a challenge, but not one that couldn’t be met.

As the year draws to a close, I’m realizing that maybe I’ve taken on too much – you can only be so multi tasking. My key lesson of today was to calm down on the social obligations because you’ll only beat yourself up for making the wrong decisions over and over. I’m upset at myself for literally leaving someone at the mic to rush to something else. I couldn’t feel more wrong about doing that to someone who was an especially great friend. So above’s Wonderwall (that I missed) is to you, good sir.

I’m finally taking one week off to myself – the last week of the year. See you full throttle then, and here and there in the interim!

So I tried to do a vlog for you guys but my computer has been funking out and I’m going to presume that a shotty-noised-out (intentionally of course) webcam photo should suffice. It will.

Cleverly coining new phrases is what I’m all about. Though if you don’t find this even the slightest bit clever I can definitely accept that as well. I just really like alliteration to be honest, that’s where all the c’s came into play.

Truth is, I have been swamped this last little while. Swamped with either figuring out what my next steps are, what I’m doing now and how to do it better, event planning, and working two jobs (until end of last week, phew).

I’ve come back renewed. I know where I want to take mon career, I’m coming to terms of with the things that I’ve done in the last year (which by the by, I am completely going to summarize for myself in an upcoming birthday-esque post), and I know what skills and morsels of talent that I want to hone.

I want to be the creator of something great. I want to be an originator of art and content. And I’m looking to urbanebloc.com to help me channel that.

Watch out world, the soon-to-be-23 is coming.

I went in the other day and not only did I get EXACTLY what I was looking for (actually 3 of what I was looking for—I haven’t shopped in a while), I could have left with like 50 other pieces, including a chocolate brown bag trimmed with fringe and some lime green four inchers that almost made me weep right there in the store.

Zara is doing nothing for the recessionista lifestyle I’m trying to lead!

Geez I got bills to pay.

> josette you crack me up! – gloria

Whilst joking about this handcream smelling like “science” (yeah yeah stop giving me dirty looks for my lack of verbal coherency), I really am in love with this handcream. Impruv handcream (okay, James Bond moment there). I’m a strong advocate for this derma-membrane-patented-cream, and I’m just spreading some good knowledge, albeit us walking into spring.

Thanks Jon for the share – this is never leaving my purse!

> image from impruv.ca

This is a shoutout to the little trollsta that I purchased this week – while it’s not directly fashion, it’s something I love and it gets a spot on here for the day. That’s right – I coveted a curvy legged yellow table and dated it for far too long before buying it half off. I love it – do share if you care!

That’s it for now, I’m off for an absolutely packed day but I’m back tomorrow to catch up. Happy weekend folks, may your day and night be filled with an abundance of techno music and inappropriate dancing (because well, that’s the opposite of what I’ll be doing). Cheerios!

> image from ikea.com

I’m going to openly testify that you are able to purchase shoes that deserve coveting from seemingly cheesy stores. While Aldo and Feet First are brands that scream mass availability, I’m completely content with my menswear inspired boots and tall-whatever boots (I know, technical term that is). Thoughts and concerns? I know I have lurkers – delurk as a favour to me.

Happy Saturday folks!

In true lookbook.nu style (oh gah, I adore that website) I’ve titled this lyrics from a song. Snow Patrol that is, the concert that I’ve been yearning to back to. Regardless, it’s been five days (likely my longest dry spell in ages) since I’ve last posted and here I am again (publish Wayne, demands the people!)

My things are in a complete disarray again, I’ve learned that it’s important to simplifiy my life because things outside of your belongings are never ever simple. I’ve learned that my love for clothing is absolutely out of control and needs to be contained somehow, and I’ve learned that being mobile is the most important thing in life.

Upcoming things – that video draw that I owe you guys for the MGMT cds (mm mm good, love that CD), an interview with the ever amazing Fidelity Denim, a bunch of finds, and I owe you Torontonians a great event come July (full blown planning is starting come Friday). So that’s it folks – enjoy my bout of narcississm, because you won’t be seeing this many photos of me in one time span for awhile (wink wink). By the way, check out this hot image from JWu Photography (Justin Wu)! It’s the homemaker complacency that I fear most. Enjoy!

Well, love is in the air – I felt it as I was literally all over Toronto today. Lakeshore, Queen W. (of course), North York, Scarborough, Markham, Bloor West Village, Danforth, and other random places that I had to drive through seeing as I am deterred from taking the highway for now. I totally sensed the mushy gushy.

For the couples out there – hope you had a fantabulous day, take note of all the lovey items from La Senza for the occassion. For those rocking the singledom – enjoy the splurging. I know I have (oh…have I ever. PS – Club Monaco sale items are now final saleds. Way to follow the leader leader). Oh, and be bitter to your heart’s content, because it’s all us singles have (snickers)

I’m done with the loving – onwards to summer love, aka love of the summer. PS – Check out “Tamarama – Dusty Road”, it’s a hard song to find but so worth it..

You know their infectious music and you know their infectious behaviour (well, at least I think I do). I absolutely ADORE the ORACULAR SPECTACULAR CD from the Brooklyn fiends.

I know you love it too.

So at long last I bring to you the MGMT KIDS Contest, here’s all you have to do to win a

WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY
of ORACULAR SPECTACULAR FROM MGMT

You heard! Here’s all you have to do:

1. Subscribe to my email updates, on the right hand there (just enter your email and hit subscribe – I’ll be checking!)
2. Comment on this post (be sure to enter a valid e-mail address in the form, no worries, no one will see it but me) with a line from either KIDS or Time to Pretend (I wasn’t clear earlier…but I prefer you use KIDS) and why you love that line. I vote you make it funny.
   
3. Wait for me to do a video draw for the winner after Feb 15th, 2009. And zat is it folks!
4. PS – I’m giving away TWO.

* Please note that the contest is only available to CANADIAN RESIDENTS.