What is a Paparazzi
Paparazzo (pa·pa·raz·zo) is an Italian noun whose plural Paparazzi (pa·pa·raz·zi) is used to identify the free lance photographers who aggressively pursue celebrities for the purpose of taking their candid and sensational photographs. In fact Paparazzo was the surname of such a photographer in the film La dolce vita (1959) by Federico Fellini.
Good Profession, Bad Name
Due to the reputation of paparazzi as a nuisance, some states and countries (particularly within Europe) restrict their activities by passing laws and curfews, and by staging events in which paparazzi are specifically allowed to take photographs. In Germany and France, photographers need the permission of the people in their photographs in order for them to be released. The presence of paparazzi is not always seen as vexatious; the arranger of an event may, in order to make the guests feel important, hire a number of actors who pretend they are paparazzi.
Freelance Paparazzi
This breed of photographers usually sell their work to dozens of magazines and newspapers that publish such photos for their readers and subscribers, and hence many paparazzi feel they are helping celebrities and public figures in general by increasing their visibility. Still, these photographers often earn large sums for a particularly good, or revealing picture.
Staff Paparazzi
They usually work for a Press Agency that sell their work to two hundred magazines, newspaper, website and TV networks worldwide. Staffers are getting a fix yearly salary and a percent of the sales. They have their car, phone, car insurance, gasoline (Petrol), and health insurance paid by the agency.
Paparazzi Power
Many conglomerate corporations own of a number of magazines, websites, and even movie and televison studios together (i.e: TMZ, People Magazine, AOL, CNN, the Warner Bros. studios, and other companies are all owned by Time Warner). Relations between these companies come into play when business of one company relies upon the efforts of another to increase revenue and publicity. For exapmple, perhaps Warner Bros. will be releasing a new movie starring Brad Pitt. During the few months leading up to the movie's release, the studio will order an affiliate to get pictures and videos of Brad to generate more propaganda for the movie.
Anything for a Photo..
- Anything will do...
It is not uncommon for paparazzi (or more specifically, the tabloids) to get information regarding a celebrity from the celebrity's manager, publicist, or agent, and will even go as far as looking to family and even doctors, dentists, body guards, and the like. Under California law, the paparazzi does not break any laws when they take a photo of a celebrity, unless the photographer is on private property.
Paparazzi in the news
A inquest jury investigating the paparazzi involvement in the deaths of Princess Diana and her companion Dodi Fayed, who were killed in 1997 in a high-speed car accident in Paris, France, while being pursued by paparazzi. Although several paparazzi were briefly taken into custody, no one was ever convicted. The official inquests into the accident attributed the causes to the speed and manner of driving of the Mercedes, and to the speed and manner of driving of the following vehicles as well as to the impairment of the judgement of the Mercedes driver through alcohol.
Scandals and Paparazzi
In 1999, the Oriental Daily News of Hong Kong was found guilty of "scandalizing the court", an extremely rare criminal charge that the newspaper's conduct would undermine confidence in the administration of justice. The charge was brought after the newspaper had published abusive articles challenging the judiciary's integrity and accusing it of bias in a lawsuit the paper had instigated over a photo of a pregnant Faye Wong. The paper had also arranged for a "dog team" (slang for paparazzi in the Chinese language) to track a judge for 72 hours, to provide the judge with first-hand experience with what paparazzi do.
Time magazine's Style & Design special issue in 2005 ran a story entitled "Shooting Star", in which Mel Bouzad, one of the top paparazzi in Los Angeles at the time, claimed to have made US$150,000 for a picture of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in Georgia after their breakup. "If I get a picture of Britney and her baby," Bouzad claimed, "I'll be able to buy a house in those hills (above Sunset Boulevard)." Paparazzi author Peter Howe told Time that "celebrities need a higher level of exposure than the rest of us so it is a two-way street. The celebrities manipulate."
On 2006, Daniela Cicarelli went through a scandal when a paparazzo caught video footage of her having sex with her boyfriend on a beach in Spain, which was posted on YouTube. After fighting in the court, it was decided in her favor, causing YouTube to be blocked in Brazil. This caused major havoc among Brazilians, including threatening to make a boycott against MTV unless Daniela was fired from the company. Ultimately, the block lasted merely a few days, but Daniela did not get fired. However, the legal action backfired as the court decided she had no expectation of privacy by having sex in a public location. The E! network program Celebrities Uncensored used often-confrontational footage of celebrities made by paparazzi.
A paparazzi recently sued and lost his case against actor Keanu Reeves claiming that Keanu hit him with his car after he left his friends house. The photographer also claimed that he was unable to work since the accident stating that his hand was permanently injured and asked the court for over $700,000 dollars in compensation. The photographer was privately investigated and filmed (a nice irony) still working using the said injured hand and shown to have many inconsistencies in his story.
Stalkerazzi
The term "stalkerazzi", a portmanteau of stalker and "paparazzi", is a newly coined slang term which signifies papparazzi whose techniques tend to invade personal space and privacy. The term has gained significant usage in recent years as more public figures, primarily celebrities, gain a shocking amount noteriety. Throughout 2007, pop musician Britney Spears had a notable increase in papparazzi "stalking" her every move. Tabloid shows such as Access Hollywood, TMZ on TV and print media such as People have facilitated such activities.
