I have a confession to make: I’m absolutely FASCINATED by celebrities. I like to think of it as a healthy interest though, rather than some sort of fanaticism. I don’t get starstruck, and I don’t give a damn about meeting celebrities or getting their autographs. But somehow I just LOVE to follow their lives and be in their presence. I get a kick out of it.

One of the things I’ve been meaning to do since moving to NYC is track down celebrities. I hear about them being in the city all the time, whether it’s shopping/dining in Soho or filming for some tv show or movie… yet I’d never gotten around to doing some stalking myself. So on a pseudo-whim, and a tip from some undisclosed sources, I biked out to Chelsea to stake out the set of Gossip Girl. Apparently they were filming indoors at a building on 9th ave and 16th street, with trailers set up all along 16th. After waiting around with a few teenage girls, I took a break and popped into the Chelsea Markets for the first time (note to self: must return soon!). When I emerged and reclaimed my position, I noticed the paparazzi had staked out each corner of the intersection, each with two big-ass cameras on their shoulders. Ah, the competition!

After more waiting, the crew and extras started to emerge from the building. I braced myself for the cast members to follow suit. Shortly after, I turned toward the street and saw Leighton Meester being escorted by a bodyguard out the side door and across the street. The paparazzi and I followed them to the trailers. It was all so exciting! I’d run up ahead of them, position myself, and take a few shots before running a bit further and taking some more. Granted most of them were horribly out of focus, but it was my first time celebrity stalking! They rushed Leighton into her trailer, but then Penn Badgley stepped out of another one and all the teenyboppers were snapping away with their little p&s cameras. Did I mention how pretty he is? ;)

I then followed all the girls around the corner to 15th street, where they were setting up for a scene. They had us wait on the sidewalk on the opposite side while the crew was on the other side. I noticed the paparazzi had gone closer to the action, so I said screw it and walked right over to the set. No one really said anything to me, other than asking us to move out of the “eye line” (line of sight?) while cameras were rolling. There was one beast of a pap who kept snipping at everyone else who came near him with a camera, making it clear that he had dibs on the best spots (yeah, I’m sure) and that we didn’t know how to act in close quarters with him. Seriously?! And then one of the guys I saw earlier at the intersection at one point was like “yo new girl, step back”. Geezus!

So overall, I got a bunch of photos of Penn Badgley and Hilary Duff(!) rehearsing the scene and in-between takes. It was more difficult to get them while cameras were rolling because everyone crowded around the few spots we were allowed to stand. But I did get to witness an on-screen kiss (ooh the scandal!). I later saw like 10 variations of this shot on the websites of celebrity photo agencies with other sites referencing a so-called romance between the actors as evidenced from the kiss.

See, that’s the thing with the paparazzi – timing is everything. You need to be fast. I didn’t have time to dart home and upload my photos because I had to go to class, and consequently the other paparazzi beat me to the press. I did end up submitting some of my shots to Celebrity Splash Online though. But honestly, I would make a damn good paparazzo. I’m fast, I’m up on the news and gossip, I don’t get starstruck, I’m always out and about, I’ve got certain sources/connections, and I can be one hell of a beast when called for. The only thing is I refuse to cross the line over to hardcore stalking. I’m not going to put anyone in danger for the sake of a shot, and I’m not going to completely disrespect someone in the process either.

So am I starting a career as a paparazzo? Ehhh not quite. We’ll see what happens with these photos, and maybe I’ll stake out another shoot sometime. I WILL say that it was pretty freaking exciting, and that it was such a rush once everything was happening. So we shall see :D

All shots taken with the 5d2 & 135L.