Italian humanist director Federico Fellini was among the most intensely autobiographical film directors the cinema has known. "If I were to make a film about the life of a soul", said Fellini, "it would end up being about me." Born in Rimini, a resort city on the Adriatic, Fellini was fascinated by the circuses and vaudeville performers that his town attracted. His education in Catholic schools also profoundly affected his later work, which, while critical of the Church, is infused with a strong spiritual dimension. After jobs as a crime reporter and an artist specializing in caricature,
Was a contributor to satirical magazine, "Il 420" in Florence; also worked for a time as a proofreader
Went to Rome where he worked as secretary for newspaper, "Il Popolo di Roma"
1938
Enrolled in the University of Rome Law School; did not attend classes but used his student status to avoid conscription; sold stories and cartoons to weekly magazine, "Marc Aurelio" (also became story editor in 1939) (date approximate)
1939
Travelled with a vaudeville troupe, writing gags and doing general support work; later recalled the year as "the most important of his life"
