How did the undisputed king of Italian cinema, Federico Fellini, find himself in a gothic revival castle mansion in Toronto? Well not Fellini himself of course, but rather a treasure trove of artifacts from his personal collection.
In early September, the Hidden Archive exhibition was unveiled at the iconic Casa Loma, a gothic-revival castle located in Toronto. The Fellini artifacts were stored in a nondescript warehouse in one of the city’s industrial pockets, before being transported to the castle for the exhibition. However, the back story that made that journey possible took the better part of a decade. It was the cumulative result of the visionary efforts of the Fellini Forever preservationists, combined with the support of arts & culture and business leaders in the community, and an incredible transatlantic voyage.
When queried about how the Hidden Archive exhibition came to be, Fellini Forever co-founder and managing director Dominic Sciullo shared that it was a natural progression of the legacy project that found him back in 2019. A series of happy coincidences is how Dominic describes this part of his decades-long Fellini journey: “For nearly 30 years, Fellini’s Production Manager Roberto Mannoni maintained custody of the artifacts at Cinecitta Studios in Rome. The collection finally found a new home in Toronto, its care now entrusted to Fellini Forever. It was never intentional, it just sort of happened. Yet, there was always a strong feeling of purpose… and a natural serendipity that permeates this unique legacy project.”
Megaphone & Olivetti (Photo: R. Norton)
Was all the juggling of the financing, sponsorship, promotion and cultivating the relationships worth it? “Absolutely! Beyond the people I met, and the connections made, it was the stories that people shared with me about their Fellini experiences, about how his movies touched them, that were so fascinating to hear. Even decades after his passing, Fellini lives on in the memories of so many.”
Casa Loma welcomes about 2,000 visitors per day, and from September 4th to 14th they were very fortunate to enjoy the Hidden Archive: a special exhibition of Fellini artifacts that were artfully displayed throughout the Casa.
Visitors viewing the exhibit saw a grouping of iconic objects that are forever linked to Fellini, a Maestro of the cinematic arts. First and foremost, among these treasures were the Director’s chair, the megaphone, the red scarf, the hat, and eyeglasses. These iconic objects were among the basic tools of the trade for Fellini – humble everyday objects that are small parts of cinematic history.
The highlight of the Hidden Archive was found in the Round Room of the Casa. Gazing upon Felllini’s desk in that regal setting, one can only wonder what its influence on Fellini’s creative vision might have been? After all, Casa Loma itself is no stranger to film and television as it has served as a period set for many productions over the years. Perhaps Fellini’s epic 8 ½ could have employed Casa Loma as stand-in for the principal set. Or imagine a scene or three from the masterpiece La Dolce Vita, with Marcello and Anita cavorting about in the castle and in its lush gardens.
Strolling through the exhibition, some visitors may have noted the contrast between the Hidden Archive and our current digital era. This time travel contrast was most evident while viewing Fellini’s desk. Consider that the landline telephone occupying a corner of the desk is now an antique from a bygone era. For visitors of digital native age this may have been the first actual landline telephone they had ever seen, while for older visitors seeing that telephone may have evoked the warm nostalgia of memories. Just imagine the conversations that flowed through that particular telephone: Masina, Mastroianni, Loren, Quinn, Ekberg, Magnani, Sordi, Rota and Rossellini. If he was with us today, would Fellini have gone digital and acquired a smart phone?
On a display pillar positioned in front of and to the right of the desk was the famous red megaphone that is synonymous with Fellini, as well as his less famous Olivetti Lettera 35 typewriter. Close your eyes and imagine the clickety-clack of that typewriter as Fellini worked on his most famous screenplays. The typewriter, like the telephone, offered visitors either a curious discovery or a nostalgic memory depending on their age. If Fellini was still in his office at the Cinecitta Studios, on the outskirts of Rome, would the trusty Olivetti have been mothballed in favour of a laptop computer?
Hat, scarf, glasses (Photo: R. Norton)
Fellini was an accomplished cartoonist and caricaturist, and these talents followed him into the movies as an integral part of his creative process. From their humble beginnings as sketches on paper, Fellini’s drawings captured and communicated his artistic vision, ultimately metamorphosizing into the cinematic masterpieces that are known and loved by millions.
A few of Fellini’s sketches were framed and on display as part of the Hidden Archive exhibition. Astute visitors would have made the link between those sketches and the three cylindrical containers holding vivid rainbows of coloured pencils and markers that occupied the left-hand front corner of Fellini’s desk.
The Hidden Archive exhibition was many things: a witness to the genius and legacy of a cinematic arts icon; a testimony to the vision, dedication and perseverance of the Fellini Forever preservationists; nourishment for the arts and culture community, as well as for the public at large who visited the exhibition.
Perhaps most importantly, for some visitors the Hidden Archive was an introduction to Federico Fellini and his art, while for others it was a unique opportunity to renew their appreciation of the Maestro and his masterpieces. Going deeper, the exhibition was a portal into the past during the golden era of Italian cinema – a portal that afforded the visitors a rare glimpse into the creative process via some of the actual tools used by Fellini in the practice of his craft. The results speak for themselves: five Oscars, including one for Lifetime Achievement, a Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival, as well as a host of similar international accolades and awards.
What’s next for Fellini Forever? “The Fellini Unseen documentaries,” says Dominic with a gleam in his eyes. “We have so much Fellini outtake footage, as well as recently shot interview footage that we are planning several documentary films. This project is in its initial stages, as financing, grants and partnerships emerge. Pairing the documentary films with the artifacts is a natural, as the films will really bring the artifacts alive for viewers. The dream, the goal: a touring exhibition at film festivals across the globe.” The legacy is in great hands, Fellini forever!
Moving day (Photo: R. Norton)
For more on Federico Fellini:
federicofellini.info;
federicofellini.it;
fellini-forever.com;
cinecitta.com;
fellinimuseum.it;
criterion.com
Also:
A Companion to Federico Fellini, edited by F. Burke, M. Waller, M. Gubavera;
Federico Fellini: The Complete Films, edited by P. Duncan;
Fellini: An Intimate Portrait by Liliana Betti;
Fellini on Fellini, I. Quigly (translation);
The Book of Dreams by Federico Fellini;
Making a Film by Federico Fellini;
Federico Fellini: The Films by Tullio Kezich;
Federico Fellini: His Life & Work by Tullio Kezich.
Robert T. Norton is a multi-discipline creative who is eternally grateful for visits from the Muses. Robert has numerous publication credits, photographic awards, and has facilitated workshops on photography and creativity. Frequent travels to Italy have inspired Robert to write Via Roma, a collection of 15 short stories that are a passport to an eclectic Italian journey. Readers can join Robert’s creative journey on Instagram at soulartsstudio, dark_artist_2020, fortunecookiewisdoms, and speedkingsinc.
