The Debut

6.0
  • Genre: Drama
  • Run time: 88 min
  • Premiere: 2000. May 18.

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.

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Dante Basco

Ben Mercado

Mindy Spence

Jennifer

Ernie Zarate

Tito Lenny

Gina Alajar

Gina Mercado

Bernadette Balagtas

Rose Mercado

Derek Basco

Edwin Mercado

Joy Bisco

Annabelle Manalo

Tirso Cruz III

Roland Mercado

Darion Basco

Augusto

Dion Basco

Rommel

Eddie Garcia

Lolo Carlos

Art

Michael Rizzo

Production Design

Camera

Hisham Abed

Director of Photography

Directing

Gene Cajayon

Director

Editing

Sound

Curtis Choy

Production Sound Mixer

Wendall J. Yuponce

Original Music Composer

Writing

Art

Michael Rizzo

Production Design

Camera

Hisham Abed

Director of Photography

Directing

Gene Cajayon

Director

Editing

Sound

Curtis Choy

Production Sound Mixer

Wendall J. Yuponce

Original Music Composer

Writing