Nilton Travesso, director who helped create 'Fantástico', is mourned at wake in São Paulo

Summary written by the Panorama newsroom from the sources listed below. Facts are attributed to the original publications.

The body of television director Nilton Travesso, who died at 92, lay in repose on Saturday morning (7) at a funeral home in Bela Vista, in central São Paulo, g1 reported. Family and friends attended, among them TV hosts Silvia Poppovic, Ronnie Von and Cesar Filho and actor Dionísio Neto. The burial site was not disclosed.

In an interview with TV Globo, the director's son, Marcelo Travesso, recalled that his father described himself as "a television laborer" and highlighted his knack for discovering new talent and betting on it. According to him, Nilton was shy, preferred working behind the scenes and liked to keep a good atmosphere with crews and casts.

With a career of more than 70 years, Travesso worked at networks such as Globo, Record, Bandeirantes, Manchete and SBT. He started in 1953, alongside the founding of TV Record, where he was one of the first professionals. At Globo, he was invited by Boni to work on 'Fantástico' in 1974 and took part in creating the program. The following year he produced 'América do Sul', with Ney Matogrosso, considered the first music video on Brazilian TV, shot in the middle of the forest.

In the 1980s, he helped create shows such as 'Som Brasil' and 'TV Mulher', led the children's program 'Balão Mágico' and was executive director of the 'Chico Anysio Show' in 1986. He also directed soap operas and 'Mais Você', and was known for his ability to build drama units and lead teams.

In 2001, he founded the Nilton Travesso Oficina de Atores in Pinheiros, in São Paulo, a school that prepares artists for the job market with courses in acting, production, technical operation, set design and costume design.