The Debut

May 18, 2000

1h 28m

★ 5.4

One night can change a lifetime.

Overview

Filipino-American high school student Ben (Dante Basco) works in a comic book shop to earn money to pay his way into Cal Arts. His father, a postman, is determined that his son--who has won a pre-med scholarship to UCLA--will become a doctor. The eighteenth birthday party of Ben's sister, Rose, sets off a comedic and touching series of events and family struggles that will in turn determine young Ben's future. This fresh independent production from Gene Cajayon presents a lighthearted and warm coming-of-age tale filtered through the eyes of an American subculture rarely seen on film.

Genres

Drama

Production Companies

Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)

National Asian American Telecommunications Association

The Debut Trailers

Cast

Ben Mercado

Dante Basco

Doug

Jayson Schaal

Dave

Brian Card

Jennifer

Mindy Spence

Susie

Nicole Hawkyard

Rick

Brandon Martinez

Tito Lenny

Ernie Zarate

Gina Mercado

Gina Alajar

Rose Mercado

Bernadette Balagtas

Edwin Mercado

Derek Basco

Annabelle Manalo

Joy Bisco

Jun

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