Franklin Clinton meets a lot of weirdos. That’s just life in Los Santos. But honestly, nobody encapsulates the vapid, soul-sucking vacuum of Vinewood quite like Beverly Felton. If you’ve played through the story, you know exactly who I’m talking about. He’s the guy hiding in a dumpster in West Vinewood, clutching a camera like it’s a holy relic. The Beverly missions GTA V offers aren't just side content; they are a biting, often frustrating commentary on celebrity culture that forced players to become the very thing most people hate: the paparazzi.
It starts simple. You’re driving down West Eclipse Boulevard and see a "Strangers and Freaks" icon. Most players expect a shootout or a high-speed chase. Instead, you get a guy named Beverly who’s obsessed with a starlet named Miranda Cowan. He’s convinced he’s a "journalist." He’s not. He’s a stalker with a press pass.
The Reality of the Beverly Missions GTA V Experience
The first mission, Paparazzo, sets the tone perfectly. You hop on a PCJ 600 and have to keep Beverly close enough to a limo so he can snap photos of Miranda Cowan. It sounds easy. It’s actually a localized nightmare of AI traffic and narrow alleys. If you bump the limo, you fail. If you lag too far behind, you fail. It’s one of those missions that reminds you Rockstar Games loves to troll its audience by making them do mundane, irritating tasks in a world built for chaos.
What makes these missions stick in your brain isn't the mechanics. It’s the dialogue. Beverly is a narcissist. He genuinely believes his work—taking invasive photos of people in their most vulnerable or embarrassing moments—is a public service. He talks about "the truth" while trying to get a shot of a celebrity having a breakdown. It’s gross. It’s supposed to be.
Why Players Actually Care About the Paparazzo Subplot
Let's talk about The Sex Tape. This is the one everyone remembers. You have to sneak into the Gentry Manor Hotel to record Poppy Mitchell. It’s a stealth mission, sorta. You follow Beverly, stay in the green circles, and eventually record a scene that is peak GTA satire. The game isn't just making fun of Poppy Mitchell (the Lindsay Lohan archetype); it’s making fun of us for watching. You’re holding the camera. You’re the one framing the shot.
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The payoff for the Beverly missions GTA V players usually look for is the gold medal requirement. To get that 100% completion, you have to be precise. In The Sex Tape, you need to stay perfectly behind Beverly and jump into the pool during the escape. It’s these weird, specific objectives that turn a creepy voyeurism simulator into a genuine gameplay challenge.
Breaking Down the "Paparazzo - The Partnership" and Beyond
After the initial encounters, Beverly disappears for a bit. He texts you. He’s "blown up" in the industry now. He’s got a reality show. He’s too busy to do the dirty work, so he outsources it to Franklin. This is where the missions The Partnership, The Meltdown, and The Highness come in.
- In The Meltdown, you’re chasing Poppy Mitchell again, but this time she’s in a high-speed police pursuit. You have to snap a photo of her being handcuffed. It’s chaotic.
- The Highness involves a drug deal with a British royal. You have to stay on a rooftop and get the shot without being seen.
- Then there’s the final confrontation.
A lot of people miss the nuance in the final mission, Paparazzo - Reality Check. You meet Beverly in West Vinewood. He’s filming his show. He’s successful. And he refuses to pay Franklin. He tells you that "the exposure" is the real payment. It’s the ultimate insult in the creative world, and in the context of GTA, it usually ends in a bloodbath.
The Moral Choice (Or Lack Thereof)
You have two options when Beverly stiffed you. You can walk away. Or you can kill him.
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Most people kill him.
Honestly, the game basically begs you to. If you kill Beverly and his crew, you can pick up the money he owed you (and a bit extra). It’s one of the few moments in the game where the "freak" you’re helping actually gets what’s coming to him. Unlike the Epsilon Program missions where you just feel scammed, killing Beverly feels like a civic duty.
Technical Tips for Gold Medals
If you’re a completionist, the Beverly missions GTA V list can be a bit of a headache. Here is the reality of getting those gold medals without losing your mind:
- Paparazzo - The Sex Tape: Don't rush. The stealth mechanic in GTA V is finicky. If you move too fast, you'll bump into Beverly, and the mission fails instantly. When you have to escape, don't just run to the car—jump in the pool. It’s a specific requirement for the gold medal.
- Paparazzo - The Highness: Use a silenced weapon if you feel the need to interfere, but honestly, just stay on the roof. Use the zoom on the phone camera. Most players fail because they try to get too close. The game’s zoom is surprisingly powerful.
- Paparazzo - The Meltdown: This is all about driving. Use Franklin’s special ability. It’s the only way to weave through the scripted traffic while keeping the camera focused on Poppy’s car.
The Impact of the Paparazzi Satire
Rockstar was really hitting a nerve here. In 2013, when the game launched, the "TMZ era" was at its peak. Today, in 2026, it feels even more relevant with TikTok "journalists" and clout-chasers. Beverly isn't just a character; he’s a precursor to the modern influencer. He doesn't produce anything of value. He just exploits others.
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There's a reason these missions are exclusive to Franklin. Trevor would have killed Beverly in five seconds. Michael would have complained about the "downfall of culture" while doing it. But Franklin? Franklin is the guy trying to make a buck. He’s the "straight man" in a world of lunatics. Seeing him get dragged into Beverly’s nonsense highlights how desperate the hustle is in Los Santos.
Finalizing the Beverly Arc
So, what should you do if you're just starting these missions? First off, don't expect a massive payout. The money is terrible. Do them for the 100% completion stat and for the sheer absurdity of the writing.
The Beverly missions GTA V provides are some of the most focused social critiques in the game. They aren't about the "American Dream" in the way the main story is. They are about the American Obsession. We want to see celebrities fall. We want to see the "truth" behind the curtain, even if that truth is just a messy arrest or a private moment.
If you’ve finished the missions and haven't killed Beverly yet, go back to a save or just find him during the final mission. It’s one of the most satisfying "justice" moments in the Strangers and Freaks category.
Next Steps for Players:
- Check your Map: Look for the green "?" in West Vinewood to trigger the first mission.
- Upgrade your Phone: Make sure you're comfortable with the in-game camera controls, as three of the five missions rely entirely on your ability to frame shots quickly.
- Focus on Franklin's Special: If you're struggling with the bike chase in the first mission, spend some time driving at high speeds in traffic to level up Franklin's "Driving Focus" ability. It makes the Paparazzo mission significantly easier.
- The Final Choice: When you reach Reality Check, remember that Beverly has a significant amount of cash on his person. If you're low on funds for Franklin's properties, taking him out is the most "profitable" ending to the story arc.
There's no grand conspiracy here, no hidden jetpack (well, not in this mission line), just a sad man with a camera and a protagonist who really needs better friends. Use Franklin's special ability during the chases, stay patient during the stealth segments, and don't feel bad about pulling the trigger in the end. It's just Vinewood, baby.