When Adrian Grenier arrived at Jesse Auditorium on Thursday, he didn’t bring his entourage. Instead, he appeared laid-back and average, wearing a navy buttoned-up cardigan, jeans and sneakers while brushing his shoulder-length tresses out of his face.

Grenier, who is well known for playing a celebrity on the HBO series Entourage, visited MU on Thursday to screen his documentary, “Teenage Paparazzo,” and answer questions from students.

MU students flocked to the auditorium expecting to catch a glimpse of the celebrity and perhaps snap a few photos to brag to their friends.

“He’s cute, and I loved Entourage so I had to come,” sophomore Mary Clare Gibson said.

Aside from Grenier himself, “Teenage Paparazzo” also features celebrities such as Eva Longoria, Lindsey Lohan, Alec Baldwin and Paris Hilton. But the celebrities weren’t the focus of the evening.

Grenier’s documentary aims at telling the truth about tabloid media through the eyes of the paparazzi. The documentary, which premiered at Sundance in 2010, focuses around the life of a 14-year-old paparazzo named Austin Visschedyk. Grenier became interested in the role of the paparazzi after he witnessed Visschedyk taking pictures of him one night.

Throughout the documentary, Visschedyk shows Grenier the daily life on the job. The film advances in stages and perspectives; whether it’s the lives of the celebrities, the paparazzi or of average citizens, the layers add to the film’s overall ability to uncover a certain truth about the media and society.

“Teenage Paparazzo” discusses the prosocial relationship present in society. Media, the documentary claims, has caused people to become obsessed with celebrities and their lifestyles. Paparazzi exist because of the desire for celebrities to remain famous and for everyday citizens to become famous, the documentary said.

Audiences watched as Visschedyk transforms from a young photographer into a celebrity of his own. It’s through this process that the film shows the negative side effects of fame and how it is easy for a person to lose track of purpose when presented with it.

“(Visschedyk) responded to his world,” Grenier said.

Modern society beckons such reactions to celebrities and fame, Grenier said.

During his lecture, Grenier emphasized that each individual has great influence over the media.

“We’re in a very beautiful time — we’re starting to develop layers (in how we communicate),” Grenier said.

He pleaded with the audience to remain informed, claiming that ignorance brings fear.

“Don’t pledge allegiance to the dictatorship of the image; challenge it,” Grenier said.

Cale Sears, senior chairman for the speakers committee of the MU Department of Student Affairs — which was behind getting Grenier to speak on campus — said the issues of media in society discussed in “Teenage Paparazzo” are relevant.

“We want our students to be understanding of what it’s like to be in the spotlight,” Sears said. “So many people have these big goals and dreams, but it’s not all glamorous.”

Grenier reinforced the idea that celebrities are average people through his relaxed discussion with the audience. By using words like “shucks,” wishing a sneezing audience member “bless you” and joking about “singing kumbaya,” attendees said Grenier made everyone feel like he was their friend. During the Q&A session, he spent over an hour answering questions.

“You think he’d act like a big celebrity, but he’s selfless,” sophomore Hannah Overfelt said.

Grenier surprised attendees with his intellect.

“He’s really intelligent and a deep thinker,” sophomore Blythe Boyle said.

Today’s generation has the ability to make a change in the future, Grenier said.

“We all have power, it’s agnostic,” Grenier said. “It’s what you do with power that make it a good or bad thing.”

In the future, Grenier plans to use his power for good, by continuing to act and produce a documentary about growing old and falling in love.