Spielberg

Spielberg's professional breakthrough came when his 22-minute short film, (1968), was shown at the Atlanta Film Festival. This led him to become the youngest director ever to sign a long-term deal with a major Hollywood studio at just 20 years old. Age & Innocence - DGA

* RICHARD SCHICKEL: There's a popular myth that you got started in the film business when you snuck on to the Universal lot. ... * Spielberg

Despite his early passion, Spielberg faced significant setbacks before his career took off: Resilience Against Rejection

: Undiagnosed with dyslexia until his 60s, he was often labeled "lazy" by school administrators and bullied by classmates. ... * Despite his early passion

: He allegedly found a vacant office, put his name on the door, and went to work every day for months before being discovered. Resilience Against Rejection