The Debut (2000)

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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Top billed cast

Dante BascoBen Mercado
Jayson SchaalDoug
Brian CardDave
Mindy SpenceJennifer
Nicole HawkyardSusie
Brandon MartinezRick
Ernie ZarateTito Lenny
Gina AlajarGina Mercado
Bernadette BalagtasRose Mercado
Derek BascoEdwin Mercado

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