Cultural Writing. Screenplay. Asian American American Studies. Directed by Gene Cajayon and written by Cajayon and John Manal Castro, THE DEBUT has triumphed at film festivals. This volume features the companion screenplay by Cajayon and Castro - including scenes dropped from the final cut - full-color images from the film, and an account by historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon of Cajayon's struggle to represent Filipino Americans on the big screen. More than the story of an ambitious and promising director, it is a record of a community supporting one of its own. It's great! ... this is thumbs up! Roger Ebert at the 2000 Hawaii International Film Festival