
These are the words of Paris Hilton as seen in Adria Petty's documentary
Paris, Not France, which only screening took place Tuesday evening at the Ryerson theatre. The film follows Hilton all over the world promoting her brand, which essentially is her name and fame. Like in the film, papparazzi follow Hilton day in and day out, the same scene took place just outside the theatre minutes before.
In the film, Petty (pictured right with Hilton) shows Hilton behind the scenes. She lets Hilton speak about what it is like to have all eyes on her and have everyone follow her every move. Hilton says she's aware of what's going on and presents herself the way people want her to be, when in reality she's nothing like that caricature of herself. Stylistically, Petty uses some really neat techniques in the film; probably due to her experience as a music video director. As RTR programmer Thom Powers said, the film is a "piece of pop art."
At the Q&A (sans Hilton), Petty mentioned she wanted the film to have a bit of the French New Wave feel in some parts. Editor J
ohn Gutierrez went on to elaborate on how the film has a "voyeur point of view," since Petty shoots over Hilton's shoulder for several frames. Petty continued by telling the audience she made this film because she wants to show the real Paris Hilton. "It's sad that we get so used to these inaccuracies in the media, especially in America." An interesting point in an era where mass media feeds us celebrity images incessantly. In the case of Paris Hilton, it is all a show and she'll eventually say it's over and have the last laugh.