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Cirio H. Santiago

Directing

Born January 18, 1936 · Manila, Philippines

Died September 26, 2008

Also known as Leonard Hermes · Cirio Santiago

Biography

Producer/director Cirio H. Santiago is the son of Dr. Ciriaco Santiago, who founded Premiere Productions in Manila in 1946. He has two siblings. After starting out as a producer he started directing english-language movies in the early 70s. Santiago became one of the pioneers of the "Blaxploitation" genre by being one of the first to cast black actors and especially actresses as strong action heroes. Movies like TNT Jackson (1974) became instant cult classics. In the 80s, Santiago became known for his numerous low-budget Vietnam war movies such as Firehawk (1993) which gave him a reputation as the "master of the Vietnam war genre". A long running production partnership with Roger Corman assured proper distribution of his movies in the USA. Many of today's hottest filmmakers such as Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante or Carl Franklin got their first directing jobs with Santiago. In 1995 he was named president of the Philippines Film Development Funds by President Ramos. The organization strives to uplift the quality of Filipino filmmaking to new, higher standards and to encourage production of foreign movies on location in the Philippines. Premiere Productions, headed by Cirio H. Santiago, still remains one of the biggest studios in the Philippines and went public in 1997.

Filmography35 titles

Once a Moth

1976Executive Producer

Savage!

1973Director

Eye of the Eagle 2: Inside the Enemy

1989Producer

Ebony, Ivory & Jade

1976Director, Producer

Machete Maidens Unleashed!

2010as Self

Bamboo Gods and Iron Men

1974Producer

Eye of the Eagle

1987Director

The Big Bird Cage

1972Producer

The Big Doll House

1971Producer

The Hunt for Eagle One

2006Co-Producer

Aladdin and the Adventure of All Time

2000Director

Blackbelt

1992Producer

The Devastator

1986Director, Producer

Death Force

1978Director, Story

Women in Cages

1971Producer

Beyond the Call of Duty

1992Director, Producer

Nam Angels

1989Director

Blackbelt II: Fatal Force

1989Executive Producer

Naked Vengeance

1985Director, Producer

Firecracker

1981Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay, Story

Bloodfist

1989Line Producer

Bloodfist II

1990Line Producer

TNT Jackson

1974Director, Producer

The Muthers

1976Director, Producer, Writer

The Hot Box

1972Producer

Future Hunters

1986Director

Silk

1986Associate Producer, Director, Producer, Story

Raiders of the Sun

1992Director, Producer

Wheels of Fire

1985Director, Producer

Equalizer 2000

1988Director, Producer

Dune Warriors

1991Director, Producer

Cover Girl Models

1975Director, Producer

Demon of Paradise

1987Director, Producer, Screenplay

The Sisterhood

1988Director, Producer

Kill Zone

1993Director, Producer