Bologna-born Giuseppe 'Pupi' Avati gave up veterinary studies to join a jazz band as a clarinetist in the mid-1950s and later left a job in the frozen food industry to enter films in 1964. Forming the A.M.A. production company with his brother Antonio and Gianni Minervini, Avati went on to direct several award-winning films in his native Italy ("Bordella" 1975, the made-for-TV "Jazz Band" 1978). He also collaborated on the screenplay of Pasolini's last film, the highly controversial "Salo o le 120 Giornate di Sodoma/The 120 Days of Sodom" (1975).Avati moved into production with Lamberto Bava's
