When he was 9, Tornatore got to know a projectionist who was also a photographer. He taught the boy how to project films and take photographs, becoming the inspiration for Alfredo in Nuovo Cinema Paradiso, Tornatore says.

During that time, Tornatore began filming with an 8mm camera, and by the time he was 14, he was working as a projectionist.

He had a busy life as a youth, taking classes in the morning and showing films in the afternoon. During summer vacations, he took pictures for people to earn pocket money.

While projecting a movie for others, he would study it and think about how two images connected. He also projected films he made with the 8mm camera.

"Through this training, I learned how to edit films."

He also suggested that aspiring moviemakers must learn as much as they can, especially film editing, a vital skill for filmmakers. "I edited most of my creations myself", Tornatore says.

When Tornatore returned to his hometown at 21 after serving in the military, the old cinema he used to go to was being demolished. At the manager's request, he dismantled the projection room in two days. "It felt like holding a funeral for my beloved projector. I thought to myself, I should make a movie about cinemas."