Entourage Star Adrian Grenier Shows Vulnerable Side in Doc

(andPOP) - Before anyone knew his name or recognized his face, Adrian Grenier – who has hit it big starring as Vincent Chase on HBO's Entourage – packed his bags, picked up a video camera and traveled to Ohio with his best friend in search of the father he never knew.

It's like an emotional episode of Entourage, but real.

In "Shot in the Dark," the documentary that resulted from his journey, Grenier familiarizes himself with his family history, and along the way tries to discover the true meaning of fatherhood.

Still passionate about the seven-year-old documentary that has yet to find a proper outlet to be screened, the star of Entourage – which returns this weekend with the conclusion of the third season after a six-month break – took his film to the Toronto International Film Fest late last year. Grenier spoke with andPOP.

andPOP: The film is now a few years old but you're still pushing it and putting your newfound power behind it. Why is it still important to you?

Adrian Grenier: I was just waiting for the right outlet for it. It's a really personal documentary and I was a little nervous how it would be shared with people so I was only recently more comfortable doing so and just making sure that I found the right places. And Toronto is a great starting point to share that part of my life with people.

andPOP: What did you learn, not about your family, but about filmmaking while creating this documentary?

AG: It's hard to put into words. I think persistence is definitely something I learned. It's a really important part of filmmaking. And seven years of persistence is sometimes what you need to give into a film.

andPOP: You've worked with people like Woody Allen and Steven Spielberg. Have they ever given you advice that has stuck with you now about filmmaking.

AG: Woody Allen doesn't talk a lot. He's really reserved. It's hard to distinguish what I learned on a particular movie because I've worked with so many people as an actor and a director that in hindsight, it all sort of realms into one larger working experience. I owe a lot to Jon [Davidson, his friend who travels with him] and I think it's important to allow yourself to be vulnerable as a director, to know what you don't know and to allow yourself to take advice from other people and not to be too cocky or arrogant because then you'll miss out on great suggestions that people around you will make and it's important to have a strong vision to begin with but ultimately be flexible when directing.

andPOP: You mentioned vulnerability. Were you at all hesitant now that people do know you, whereas seven years ago they didn't, so to now show this film that does portray your vulnerable side?

AG: I'm a little bit hesitant but ultimately confident that the movie has some positive and encouraging things to share with people and hopefully people will get something out of this movie and out of watching this movie and the lessons that are apparent in it.

andPOP: Your mom could become a star if this movie picks up. Is she excited about that?

AG: My mom is a hell of an actor. She's been in a bunch of my short films. You always cast the people you know because they'll do it for free. She would make one hell of an actress. And my dad, if you watch the movie you'll see, there's a couple times when he gets to demonstrate his acting skills and he is eerily good.

andPOP: What else is coming up for you?

AG: I have a couple movies I'm working on and playing with my band [The Honey Brothers]. We want to go on a Canadian tour. One of our band members is from Montreal and he keeps telling us how important it is that we go because people love music in Canada and we're totally into it. We just have to find the right time.