ENZO TRAPANI – Television Director

(Rome, 1922 – 1989)

Born in Rome in 1922, after his Bachelor in Architecture he entered the world of cinema as a set decorator and then collaborated to the making of numerous films as set designer, becoming one of the closest collaborators of Roberto Rossellini. After working as assistant director for some important names of Italian cinema, from Mario Mattioli to Luigi Zampa to Rossellini himself, and after filming several genre movies, he landed to RAI television from the very beginning of its broadcasting, and dedicated himself with prevalence to variety shows and music shows. He was one of the innovators of television and among the first to conceive programs without the all present figure of the presenter. Senza rete, Non Stop, (Oscar of Television 1978) Fantastico 1 e 2 (Award for television direction 1980) are all shows that he directed. In 1968 he directed the commercials with Mina shot live at the Bussola of Viareggio. In 1975 he was asked to direct a series of commercials for Barilla pasta again, featuring Raoul Casadei, and set in ballroom dancing halls in Emilia and Romagna, in which he proved his noteworthy technical skills. In the landscape of Italian television shows Trapani had a relevant role, especially for the continuous attempt he made to utilize television in a non conventional way, with the support of a good command of his craft and a never ending array of effects.

Giancarlo Gonizzi

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