January 20, 1920

Federico Fellini (January 20, 1920 to October 31, 1993) was a major film director of the last century. He explained his success by saying he didn't know what he was doing. Here is the context:

The director is asked how, if he refuses to look at rushes, at any filming he already did on a movie, how exactly he can proceed with and finish a film:

And here is what Fellini said:

I don't want to know what I am doing....This is the same way I provoke my psyche, my muse. When I get out of bed each morning I say I wonder what I did yesterday? And my creative self sits up like a cat and cats don't like to be ignored. If you pretend to walk away from a cat, it may just get curious and follow you. So an idea then, if you neglect it, it will follow you.