Angry Julia Roberts turns tables in paparazzi chase

Hollywood icon Julia Roberts angrily gave chase to a car carrying paparazzi photographers after spotting them filming her near a school, reports said Thursday.

The actress raced after the photographers in her Mercedes sports utility vehicle, blasting them with her horn and gesturing the lensmen to pull over, in footage broadcast by syndicated television show "Inside Edition."

The 40-year-old Oscar-winning star of "Pretty Woman" and "Erin Brockovich" then angrily scolds the photographers for allegedly filming her near a school, ordering them to turn off a video camera filming her.

"Turn it off," Roberts tells the photographers. "I want to talk to you about the fact that you're at a school where children go. Turn it off."

The incident is the latest flashpoint involving celebrities and members of the Los Angeles paparazzi.

Actor George Clooney last week hit out at paparazzi "bounty-hunters," accusing them of risking the safety of innocent bystanders in their pursuit of celebrity photos.

Clooney, who was also involved in a filmed altercation with photographers earlier this month, said paparazzi often broke the law while chasing their targets.

"What they're doing is illegal, it's high-speed chases and they're competing with each other," Clooney said.

"They're not trying to catch me doing something stupid; they're trying to create me doing something stupid. You don't get to break all these laws and then say, 'I'm just doing my job.'"

CLICK HERE to see the video.

Celebs vs. Paprazzi - - Crash Course is a Snap

Motown had it down to a science, decades ago. Before the recording stars became famous, they had to graduate from the in-house finishing school, led by the elegant Maxine Powell. They learned about posture before they became Supremes.

Apparently, there are no classes in Hollywood today about how to be classy. The stars don't know how to get out of a car with their legs together, or to steer clear of Tommy Lee. They certainly don't know how to deal with the paparazzi.

» Click to enlarge image

Lindsay Lohan’s role in “Herbie: Fully Loaded” did nothing to improve her skill at paparazzi-outrunning.

(AP)

So today's public service is a crash course in how to navigate the swarm of snapping photographers that surround celebrities.

Just a civilian? Read on anyway. The same applies to overzealous uncles with camcorders during the holiday season.

DON'T RUN OVER THE PAPARAZZI'S FEET.

There's a lot to remember when you're driving a Mercedes -- strap in the toddlers, glance in the rearview mirror -- so it's understandable that Britney Spears might neglect to check for photographers. Still, we urge her to drive around the crowds of photographers. Running over their feet just makes them mad.

DO ASK THEM FOR DIRECTIONS.

It makes them feel useful. In fact, Paris Hilton is so friendly with her stalkerazzi that when her Bentley ran out of gas in January, she didn't have to call AAA. One of the photogs offered to run up the street and get her some unleaded.

DON'T THROW FOODSTUFFS AT THEM.

Hugh Grant thought that getting caught on Sunset Boulevard with a hooker was a low point. That was until the Baked Beans Incident. Grant was arrested in April for hurling a container of baked beans at a free-lance photographer who shouted, "Give us a smile, please!" Grant also allegedly kicked him three times, and kneed him in the groin.

DO FEED THEM.

While the paparazzi staked out Nicole Kidman's Sydney home before her wedding to Keith Urban, she sent out two cases of cold beer with a note that said, "Enjoy!" Let's hope the bridesmaids received nice keepsakes, too.

DON'T ENGAGE IN A CAR CHASE.

Lindsey Lohan tried to outspeed the paparazzi in her car, and ended up in a collision with one. Thank God she was able to walk away from the accident, or the world may have been deprived of her work in the stripper drama "I Know Who Killed Me."

DO WORK WITH THE ENEMY.

If you can refrain from hitting them (I'm talking to you, Sean Penn and Cameron Diaz), the paparazzi can be your friends. That's how OK! magazine stays in business. Some event organizers have gone so far as to hire actors to pretend to be paparazzi, just so their guests will feel important. If no one wants a photo of you, then you don't have a career. Some stars reportedly collude with photo agencies who sell only flattering photos of them, tipping them off when they're heading to, say, a Malibu grocery store. Don't forget the oversize sunglasses and lip gloss!

DON'T INVITE THEM INTO THE JOHN WITH YOU.

I said the paparazzi can be your "friends," not your "best friends." I hate to pick on Britney Spears again, and this is one rule I'd hoped would go without saying. But let me emphasize this: No good will come out of asking a photographer to accompany you to the loo.

Spears reportedly did just that during a trip to Atlanta.

In a Quiznos.

Hey Britney. ... You know where there are some really nice, private bathrooms? At your house. Any of your houses. Try staying in one for a few days, out of sight.

The price of your photos will only go up.

Clooney condemns paparazzi for profiting from wrong deeds

A videotape of a very upset George Clooney scolding paparazzi for reckless driving has made it online and the actor is annoyed that photographers are using the tape to make money.

Various websites have picked this video up where Clooney pulls his motorcycle over and scolds two video photographers for rash driving as they followed him.

Clooney now has gone on TV to berate the fact that those photographers have gone on to make some money with that video, contactmusic.com reports.

'This tape, they are selling it all around everywhere. So, that means that these guys who committed all these crimes get rewarded for it. There must be a formula for someone that says, `If you are committing a crime, you shouldn't be able to profit off them (tapes).' It's gotten really dangerous out here,' Clooney said on a TV show.

Kidman Tells Court of Paparazzi Terror...

I was really, really scared: Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman leaving the Supreme Court in Sydney today.
Photo: Brendan Esposito

One of Hollywood's most glamourous actresses dressed down today for her eagerly awaited appearance to give evidence in a packed Sydney court.

Wearing a staid combination of grey skirt, blush blouse done up to the neck and pink cardigan, Nicole Kidman braved a crush of photographers to make her way into the NSW Supreme Court to give evidence in a defamation case involving celebrity photographer Jamie Fawcett .

She told the court how she had been scared and in tears after an incident three years ago when Fawcett allegedly ran red lights and mounted the median strip in what she termed a "crazy'' pursuit.

Kidman said she was crouched down in the back seat during the drive to her parents' Greenwich house on January 23, 2005.

She said longtime employee John Manning had agreed to drive her, after a listening device had been found outside her Darling Point home - which she said had been a "deeply disturbing'' revelation.

During the drive Mr Manning told her they were being followed by Fawcett and another car, which worried her.

"He said that they were driving crazy and that they had run red lights and jumped the median strip,'' she said.

Mr Manning's voice had sounded "pretty panicked'' and she added: "I was frightened and I was worried about a car accident.''

Kidman, who sat with her hands folded on her lap throughout her testimony, said she had been "really, really scared'' during the trip.

It was as a result of incidents like that that she had to hire private security, she said.

"There were so many occasions, I've employed people to protect me now - 24-hour security - I don't drive myself because I'm too scared [of] being pursued,'' she told the court.

A lighter moment came when she was asked to read her police statement, and she began reading it out aloud until the judge told her just to read it by herself.

She smiled and tapped her forehead in a reflex action as might Homer Simpson, though a tad more daintily.

Last year, a jury found an article in The Sun-Herald had defamed Mr Fawcett.

The jury found the article conveyed six defamatory meanings including that Mr Fawcett was "Sydney's most disliked freelance photographer'' and had behaved in such "an intrusive and threatening manner that he had scared'' Kidman.

Justice Carolyn Simpson is conducting a hearing in which Fairfax has called witnesses seeking to establish some of the defamatory meanings are true.

CBS Offers Midtown Manhattan Free Wireless Internet Access

Some awesome news out of Manhattan today. CBS Corporation has announced today that it will "light up" midtown Manhattan with the creation of the "CBS Mobile Zone," a wireless high-speed network enabling New Yorkers with Wi-Fi-enabled cell phones, laptops or other devices to access the Internet for free, and make voice over internet (VOI) calls.

The zone will be from Times Square to Central Park South and from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue and is a test in partnership with the MTA.

You might be asking what CBS gets out of the deal - ad impressions! New Yorkers who access the "CBS Mobile Zone," will be greeted by an ad-supported homepage that includes hyperlocal content such as breaking local and national news, sports highlights, weather reports, music discovery, wallpapers, ringtones, maps, a social network and the ability to search for nearby restaurants, shops and entertainment complete with geographically- targeted community reviews. Citi and Salesgenie.com(TM) have signed on to be early sponsors of the Wi-Fi HotZone.

"This is another example of how the assets of CBS Outdoor are enhanced by new technologies," said Wally Kelly, Chairman and CEO of CBS Outdoor. "What better way to show we are committed to turning our Outdoor assets
into next-generation interactive platforms than providing free Wi-Fi service in what is arguably the busiest stretch of real estate in the world. This offering will allow us to evaluate the prospect of applying Wi-Fi capabilities across our Outdoor properties globally."

They are also giving routers to local businesses in the Mobile Zone to enhance the signals. I wonder what the signal will be like on New Year's Eve! Just how many connections can this system handle was not disclosed.

Many of the companies covered on CN are included in the Homepage including: Tropos, BIG, Fon, Ning, Goowy, Veoh, Yelp, 1020, Aptilo and Can-Do Entertainment.

Paparazzi photographer injured chasing Spears

A paparazzi chasing troubled pop star Britney Spears was injured when his motorcycle was struck by a car driven by another photographer, police said Tuesday.

The accident occurred on Monday in Beverly Hills when a photographer driving a Range Rover made an illegal right turn hitting the motorbike and its rider, police sergeant Jay Kim said.

The injured photographer was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center with cuts to his legs and arms although the extent of his injuries was not immediately known. Spears was not injured and had "no direct involvement" in the collision, police said.

The incident is the latest traffic scrape linked to Spears, whose daily movements around Los Angeles are routinely tracked by a pack of paparazzi.

Last month Spears accidentally ran over the foot of a photographer who had crowded her Mercedes as it exited a car-park.

When Paparazzi Strike Back: Keanu Reeves Edition

Keanu Reeves is the latest celeb to face the ire of an angry and purportedly injured paparazzo. Photographer Alison Silva claims Reeves struck him in the knee with his Porsche 911 on March 19th of this year, as he was backing out of a parking space at a clinic in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

Silva’s lawyer claims the photographer has sustained “serious injuries to the body and severe shock and injuries to the nervous system and person, all of which have caused and continue to cause the Plantiff great mental, physical and nervous pain and suffering.” Silva is also claiming the incident has left him unable to make a living, which we suspect probably involves chasing cars with cameras.

Reeves’ camp claims the paparazzo was blocking his way as he tried to back out of the spot and also suggests the injuries were extremely minor and not enough to warrant legal action.

As of late, several paparazzi have come forward, citing celebrity mistreatment. Photographer Robert Rosen alleges “James Bond” star Pierce Brosnan took a swing at him after he spotted the star dining with his son at an L.A. restaurant and a TMZ photographer claims Britney Spears ran over his foot as she pulled out of a medical building garage.

In Britney’s case, it doesn’t look like she’ll face any charges, but Pierce Brosnan is a different story. LAPD are currently investigating the incident.

In other, more pleasant, Keanu Reeves news, the “Matrix” star has signed on to appear in the upcoming remake of the sci-fi classic, “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” opposite the very lovely Jennifer Connelly. Connelly will take on the role of Helen Benson, which was played by Patricia Neal in the original and Reeves has been cast as the alien Klatuu, a role made famous by British actor Michael Rennie. Reeves will also star in the upcoming “The Night Watchman,” directed by “Training Day” scribe David Ayer, which stars Forest Whitaker and Jay Mohr as well.

Photogs Jacked at ACE Awards

Ace Awards Gala
Cipriani, 42nd St.

One question... why do you credential 30+ photographers for this event and proceed to provide only enough room for 10. If you call in and reserve a spot with the PR, is it to much to expect a spot actually to be reserved? When the PR from Paul Wilmot answer, "We told you to bring ladders", you have overbooked your press pen.

Twenty plus photographers wound up outside in the street where all the talent graciously posed.
And Jessica Simpson almost took a header when her heal got caught in the subway grating...(see photo)

Jessica Biel Snaps Back At the Paparazzi

A little over a week ago, Jessica Biel released some of her built-up frustration by lashing back at the horde of paparazzi who follow her every move.

This weekend, rather than swinging around an umbrella, the Powder Blue babe kept things more civil by simply giving them a taste of their own medicine.

Jessica spent the day running errands with a gal pal around Los Angeles, as both took turns pointing their camera at the shutterbugs as they took Jessica’s dog to the vet and visited a grocery store to do some shopping.

On the way home, the 25-year-old stopped in at a picture framer’s, purchasing two frames, and then a hardware store before calling it a day and returning home.

Keanu Reeves sued for crashing into paparazzi

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A paparazzi hit in March by Keanu Reeves in a slow-moving Porsche 911 is suing the actor, according to judicial sources Monday. Press photographer Alison Silva said he was injured in the incident and incurred losses due to his hospitalization. He filed a civil suit against Reeves asking for an unspecified level of damages. The photographer was hit by the star of the "Matrix" trilogy on March 19 in Rancho Palos Verdes, a posh seaside neighborhood in southwest Los Angeles. At the time local law enforcement said Silva was lightly injured and sent to the hospital.

MILLS CALLS FOR PAPARAZZI TO BE LICENSED

SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY's estranged wife HEATHER MILLS has slammed the British press for making her life a misery. The 39-year-old launched into a bitter tirade against the media during an interview with U.K. TV show GMTV on Wednesday (31Oct07) and insists she is being forced to "live in a prison' because of the snappers who turn upon her doorstep.

Mills recently took a photographer to court on assault charges after accusing him of grabbing her shoulder as he tried to take her picture. Jay Kaycappa was sentenced to 140 hours community service in August this year (07) after he was found guilty of assaulting both Mills and her friend Mark Payne in a subway in Brighton, England in July 2006.

The former model insists the media need to crack down on 'irresponsible journalism' and has launched a campaign to take her views to the European Parliament.

She says, "I live in a prison. I have to fight back or I will go insane. They (the paparazzi) follow me all the time. They even tried to hack down my fence. They follow me constantly and they've got no licences. They have to be licensed because how do I know if these people outside my house are stalkers or not?"