Emerging Filipino Filmmaker Debbie Su Collaborates with Comedy Trailblazer David Zucker

Just a few months after earning her Certificate in Cinema Production from Los Angeles City College (LACC), Debbie Su is already taking her first steps into Hollywood. Originally from Cagayan de Oro, the 28-year-old studied Information Design at Ateneo de Manila University on a scholarship, then worked as a graphic designer and saved up her earnings to enroll at LACC.

“When I was younger, we had the ‘Lord of the Rings’ disc set with the behind-the-scenes features, and I would watch the behind-the-scenes way more than the actual movies. I’ve always wanted to be in film. At first, I was aiming for writing since I’d been writing from a young age. But when I went to LACC, I realized you can’t just write and let somebody else handle the rest. To be really part of a film, you have to do so much more than just write,” she shares.

Located close to the heart of Hollywood’s creative scene, LACC quickly opened doors, giving her the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience as a production assistant at Film Independent, a nonprofit dedicated to championing creative independence and inclusion; and as part of the Disney Production Assistant Initiative, which includes her in the pool eligible for Disney productions.

Through the school, she also earned a grant from the Golden Globe Foundation that allowed her to enhance “RIP in Peace,” a film she wrote and directed for her Advanced Production class. The 13-minute dark comedy about grief is still on its film festival run and not yet available for public viewing, but it has already drawn recognition. It was nominated for Best First Time Female Filmmaker and Best Dark Comedy at the Indie Short Fest 2025, was a semifinalist at Venezia Shorts Italy 2025, earned Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Shortsfest 2025, and was an Official Selection at the Independent Shorts Awards 2025.

Debbie’s other creation, developed under her directing professor Xavier Neal-Burgin, an Emmy-nominated writer and director, is a three-minute short about homesickness titled “America is Amazing, Mom.” It won Best Cinematography at the Dreamanila International Film Festival 2024 and was an Official Selection at the FilAm Creative Film Festival 2024.

“I have a notepad in my phone that just has snippets of ideas, and whenever I have to write something, I scroll through it and expand on those ideas,” she says, offering a glimpse into her creative process.

Today, Debbie is working alongside David Zucker, who is regarded as one of the most influential forces in spoof comedy. He co-created Airplane! (1980), a landmark spoof film that became a critical and commercial hit and remains one of the greatest comedy films of all time. He directed The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), and co-wrote and produced its sequels, as well as directed Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Scary Movie 4 (2006). His distinct parody style set the blueprint for modern spoof films.

What began as an internship for Debbie has turned into a key seat on his team launching MasterCrash, a new learning platform created by David. In MasterCrash, David opens the vault to his extensive career in comedy to share the 15 essential rules he created for writing, directing, and editing spoof. It is a masterclass in the fast-paced style he helped pioneer. The program includes Q&A calls with David, surprise celebrity guest sessions, and access to a community of comedy enthusiasts eager to connect and collaborate.

“I’m a producer and director on the course. I co-produced the videos with David. We planned out the course, went through pre-production, and then my crew shot all the content for the 15 rules videos. And I am also the lead editor,” she explains. “David has a movie in early pre-production ‘Star of Malta’ and I’m excited to work with him on it,” she continues. No doubt, collaborating with such a trailblazer so early in her career is both a milestone and a launchpad.

“Debbie is a crucial member of our MasterCrash team. She has a knack for production and direction and doesn’t settle for less than excellent, from pre-production, filming, and post-production. She spearheaded finding the right crew members to get this filmed and she has done fantastic work with the editing. MasterCrash is a close collaboration with Debbie and she has always been an integral and indispensable part of the MasterCrash leadership team. I look forward to elevating this course and working on its evolution with Debbie,” David enthuses.

Simultaneous with the projects she is working on with David, she is also producing and directing a web series called “Enmeshed,” which is going through its fundraising stage. She co-produced the pilot episode with creator Rix Messenger and is currently co-producing and directing the other five episodes with her as well. The pilot episode features Kim Rhodes, known for her roles in “Suite Life of Zach & Cody” and “Supernatural.”

Two years ago, Debbie could only glimpse the Hollywood sign from the hallways of LACC. Today, Hollywood is no longer just a distant view on the horizon but the very stage where her journey is unfolding.

“I’ve been telling people that my ultimate dream is to win an Oscar for something that I made that has a proper representation of Filipinos. And while that’s true, I’m also an artist who really just loves being part of the creation of things. So if I can just keep creating beautiful things that matter and not have to worry about money, I’ll be happy,” she closes.