Danny Zialcita

Danilo L. "Danny" Zialcita (November 24, 1939 – March 10, 2013) was a Filipino film director, writer and producer.

Early life Zialcita was born November 24, 1939, in Manila. During his long career where he made 52 films as director, 22 of which he wrote either the story or screenplay or both, Zialcita has explored various genres that included action, drama, suspense and comedy.

Career Some of Zialcita's films are Kapag tumabang ang asin (1976), Mga basag na kristal (1977), Anak sa una, kasal sa ina (1978), Parolado (1979), Tatlong bulaklak (1979), Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi (1983) and May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo (1984). Zialcita made his directorial debut with Lady Killer (1965), starring the suave Romano Castellvi in the title role.

Although he is perhaps best known for Dear Heart (1981), the very first team-up of heartthrobs Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion, Zialcita had churned out several outstanding dramas way before 1981. These include Palos Strikes Again (1968), with Bernard Bonnin (the original Palos star), with whom he worked again in Bart Salamanca (1968) of the same year; films of the "bomba" genre like Gutom (1970) starring Rossana Marquez and Hidhid (1971) starring Rosanna Ortiz and Annabelle Rama; adult dramas like Lakaki, babae kami (1977), with Pinky de Leon, Chanda Romero, Janet Bordon, Alona Alegre, George Estregan, Eddie Garcia, Raoul Aragonn and Tommy Abuel; Hindi sa iyo ang mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978), topbilled by Beth Bautista, with Joseph Sytangco, Dick Israel, Anthony Alonzo, Josephine Garcia, Suzanne Gonzales; Ikaw at ang gabi (1979) with Dindo Fernando, Chanda Romero, Ronaldo Valdez and Beth Bautista; Kaladkarin (1980) with Jean Saburit in her first lead role, supported by Eddie Garcia, Suzanne Gonzales and George Estregan; and Langis at tubig (1980) with Vilma Santos, Dindo Fernando, Amy Austria, Ruben Rustia, Greg Lozano, Suzanne Gonzales, George Estregan, Ronaldo Valdez and Vic Silayan.

He was also noted for homosexual-themed fare like Si malakas si maganda at si mahinhin (1980), starring Elizabeth Oropesa, Alma Moreno, Dindo Fernando, George Estregan, Rudy Fernandez, Leonor Vergara, Mario Escudero and Mary Walter; Mahinhin vs. mahinhin (1981) with Dindo Fernando and Ronaldo Valdez in drag, costarring Edu Manzano, Carmi Martin, Dante Rivero and Pinky de Leon; Lalakwe (1985) starring Ronaldo Valdez, with Gloria Diaz, Rio Locsin, Tommy Abuel, Lyka Ugarte, Chanda Romero, Michael de Mesa, Eddie Arenas, Odette Khan, Lucita Soriano, Virginia Montes and Suzanne Gonzales; and the controversial cult classic T-Bird at Ako (1982), considered the landmark team-up of ultimate rivals Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos. Where in the hand of a lesser auteur the portrayal of gay people, transvestites, bisexuals and the like would be stereotyped caricatures, Zialcita directed such fare with class and panache.

Timely with today's proliferation of video scandals, Zialcita directed, seemingly with foresight about society's voyeuristic tendencies, The Betamax Story (1981), starring Vilma Santos, with Pinky de Leon, Cherie Gil, Alma Moreno, Jean Saburit, Chichay, Elizabeth Oropesa, George Estregan and Beth Bautista. He was also famous for films with kilometric and naughty titles; witness Nang masugatan ang gabi (1984), Hawakan mo at pigilan ang kanahon (1984), May daga sa labas ng lungga (1984), Menudo at pandesal (1985) starring Gloria Diaz, Carmi Martin, Tanya Gomez, Janice de Belen, Paquito Diaz, Max Alvarado, Lou Veloso and Caridad Sanchez; Bakit manipis ang ulap (1985) with Chanda Romero, Laurice Guillen, Tommy Abuel, Mark Gil and Janice de Belen; and Bakit madalas ang tibok ng puso? (1986), featuring the then-popular love team of Aga Muhlach and Janice de Belen, costarring Dante Rivero, Liza Lorena, Laurice Guillen, Anita Linda, Isabel Granada, Odette Khan, Johnny Vicar and Joonee Gamboa. Zialcita would go on to direct Cuneta for the second and last time in To Love Again (1983), the title based on a song written by Odette Quesada, which also marked the film debut of Miguel Rodriguez. He worked a second time with Concepcion in what would turn out to be his swan song, Bakit iisa ang pag-ibig (1987), which starred Snooky Serna.

Historians, film critics and the stars themselves attested that Zialcita liked his movie characters well-dressed, and the term "glossy melodrama" was famously coined for him in the 1980s. While Brocka's films chronicled poverty, squalor and struggle, Zialcita's movies were often about the well-heeled and their neuroses and quirks. His leading ladies often wore outlandish dresses and beautiful hats for scenes that would become the "Zialcita trademark."

Plans were afoot for Zialcita to direct again, before his untimely demise in March of this year. In a 2009 interview with Jerome Gomez for Metro Him magazine of ABS-CBN Publishing, Zialcita was all set to reprise Dear Heart (1981) (maybe with new actors), and he wanted to direct Sharon Cuneta and daughter KC Concepcion together, probably with John Lloyd Cruz as Concepcion's love interest. Zialcita and Gabby Concepcion's father were also touching base to develop a film for Gabby, in the vein of The Thorn Birds (1983 American TV mini-series).

Zialcita received the Best Screenplay award from the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS) for his collaboration with Tom Adrales on Gaano kadalas ang minsan? (1982). He was cited by the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for Best Story, for Langis at tubig (1980). He was nominated by URIAN twice for screenplay and direction, for Hindi sa iyo ang mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978) and Ikaw at ang gabi (1979). The FAMAS nominated him four times as best director, Hindi sa iyo ang mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978), Langis at tubig (1980), Gaano kadalas ang minsan? (1982) and Bakit manipis ang ulap (1985), and once as Best Scriptwriter for Nang masugatan ang gabi (1984).

Death Zialcita died on March 10, 2013, after suffering a stroke. He was 73 years old.

Awards

FAMAS Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient 1979 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Hindi sa iyo ang mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978) 1981 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Langis at Tubig (1980) 1983 FAMAS Award Best Screenplay for: Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan? (1982) shared with: Tom Adrales 1983 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan? (1982) 1984 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba ng Gabi (1983) 1985 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Nang Masugatan Ang Gabi (1984) 1986 FAMAS Award Best Director for: Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap? (1985)

Gawad Urian Awards Year Result Award Category/Recipient 1979 Nominated Gawad Urian Awards Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) for: Hindi Sa Iyo Ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978) 1979 Nominated Gawad Urian Awards Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) for: Hindi Sa Iyo Ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna (1978) 1980 Nominated Gawad Urian Awards Best Direction (Pinakamahusay na Direksyon) for: Ikaw At Ang Gabi (1979) 1980 Nominated Gawad Urian Awards Best Screenplay (Pinakamahusay na Dulang Pampelikula) for: Ikaw At Ang Gabi (1979)

Metro Manila Film Festival Year Result Award Category/Recipient 1980 Won Festival Prize Best Story for: Langis at Tubig (1980)

Cinema One Original Year Result Award Category/Recipient 2009 Won Cinema One Originals Awards Special Honorary Award

Filmography

Director Title Year Lady Killer 1965 Masquerade 1967 Palos Strikes Again 1968 Bart Salamanca 1968 Ina Ko Patawarin Mo Ako Ako'y Nagugutom 1970 Gutom 1970 Tres Pistoleros 1970 Hidhid 1971 Polyanna 1972 Ito'y Isang Baliw na Baliw na Daigdig 1975 Laging Umaga 1975 Gumapang Ka Sa Lupa 1975 Ang Biyuda ay Misteryosa 1975 Katas ng Langis 1976 Kapag Tumabang Ang Asin 1976 Escolta; Mayo 13; Biyernes ng Hapon! 1976 Mga Basag ng Kristal 1977 Lalaki, Babae Kami 1977 Anak Sa Una, Kasal Sa Ina 1978 Hindi Sa Iyo Ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna 1978 Pretty Boy Segovia 1978 Kulang Sa Init, Kulang Sa Lamig 1978 Parolado 1979 Tatlong Bulaklak 1979 Ikaw At Ang Gabi 1979 Si Malakas, Si Maganda, at Si Mahinhin 1980 Ang Kabiyak 1980 Kaladkarin 1980 Langis at Tubig 1980 Mahinhin vs. Mahinhin 1981 Dear Heart 1981 The Betamax Story 1981 Karma 1981 Tinimbang Ang Langit 1982 T-Bird at Ako 1982 Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan? 1982 Palabra de Honor 1983 To Love Again 1983 Nagalit ang Buwan sa Haba ng Gabi 1983 Nang Masugatan Ang Gabi 1984 Hawakan Mo at Pigilan Ang Kahapon 1984 May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo 1984 May Daga sa Labas ng Lungga 1984 Lalakwe 1984 Sugat Sa Dangal 1985 Heartache City 1985 Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap? 1985 Menudo at Pandesal 1985 Always In My Heart 1986 Always and Forever 1986 Bakit Madalas Ang Tibok ng Puso? 1986 Bakit Iisa Ang Pag-Ibig? 1987

Writer Title Year Lady Killer 1965 Ina Ko Patawarin Mo Ako'y Nagugutom 1970 Ito'y Isang Baliw na Baliw na Daigdig 1975 Hindi Sa Iyo Ang Mundo, Baby Porcuna 1978 Topo-Topo Barega 1978 Ikaw At Ang Gabi 1979 Ang Kabiyak 1980 Langis at Tubig 1980 Mahinhin vs. Mahinhin 1981 Dear Heart 1981 Tinimbang Ang Langit 1982 Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan? 1982 Palabra De Honor 1983 Nagalit Ang Buwan Sa Haba ng Gabi 1983 May Daga Sa Labas ng Lungga 1984 Lalakwe 1984 Sugat Sa Dangal 1985 Heartache City 1985 Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap? 1985 Bakit Madalas Ang Tibok ng Puso? 1986 Bakit Iisa Ang Pag-Ibig? 1987

TV Writer Title Network Year Gaano Kadalas Ang Minsan? GMA Network 2008

Producer Title Year Lalakwe 1985 Heartache City 1985

Executive producer Title Year May Lamok sa Loob ng Kulambo 1984 May Daga Sa Labas ng Lungga 1984