The Debut (2000)

The story revolves around Ben Mercado, a talented high school senior who has rejected his Filipino heritage. The long-simmering feud between Ben and his immigrant father Roland threatens to... See full summary »

Director:

Gene Cajayon

Writers:

Gene Cajayon, John Manal Castro

Stars:

Dante Basco, Eddie Garcia, Jayson Schaal

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dante Basco	...	Ben Mercado (as Danté Basco)
Jayson Schaal	...	Doug
Brian Card	...	Dave
Mindy Spence	...	Jennifer
Nicole Hawkyard	...	Susie
Brandon Martinez	...	Rick
Ernie Zarate	...	Tito Lenny
Gina Alajar	...	Gina Mercado
Emelita Moll	...	Tita Connie
Gina Honda	...	Tita Florie
Tirso Cruz III	...	Roland Mercado
Bernadette Balagtas	...	Rose Mercado
Rawlins Apilado	...	Jun
Derek Basco	...	Edwin Mercado
Joy Bisco	...	Annabelle Manalo

Storyline

The story revolves around Ben Mercado, a talented high school senior who has rejected his Filipino heritage. The long-simmering feud between Ben and his immigrant father Roland threatens to boil over and ruin the 18th birthday party of Ben's sister Rose. But to Ben's surprise, his sister's celebration challenges his sense of misplaced identity, and the way he regards his father and grandfather. In one night, Ben faces the true nature of his relationships with his family, his friends, and himself.

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Plot Keywords:

based on short film | party | birthday party | high school | thug | 

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Taglines:

One night can change a lifetime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Gene Cajayon

Country:

USA

Language:

English Tagalog Filipino

Release Date:

13 August 2003 (Philippines)

Also Known As:

The Mercado Family Debut

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,784, 15 March 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,743,570, 10 November 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

5 Card Productions, Celestial Pictures, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was never picked up by a major distribution company. Instead, the producers organized a grass roots effort to self-distribute the film. Three years passed between initial principal photography to opening, and another three to have the film travel and screened across the United States. A total of six years before the film made it to DVD and home video.

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Connections

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

User Reviews

Could have been a lot more than it was

I get it, it's the first movie starring primarily young American- Filipinos and that was a big deal to a lot of people because they and Asian groups in general have a very limited place (if any) in the entertainment business.

But that doesn't mean the movie is automatically good because it brings up a culture seldom seen in American movies.

A lot of times the movie becomes way to focused on showcasing the culture that it forgets about telling a good story.

Long scenes of people singing, folk dancing etc might be nice to see for some but just doesn't move the movie forward. And it doesn't help that Dante Basco's 2 white friends in the movie act like they just witnessed the birth of Christ after seeing the performances.

The 2 white friends serves no real purpose in the movie except for I guess portraying what the white public watching the movie is SUPPOSED to feel, but at least as with the case with me this was not the case.

When it does focus on the story though and the Basco brothers it's fairly good but yeah too often it slips into something that more resembles a promotion video for Philipino culture and various artists.

There's also a dance-battle which I usually enjoy but it's so overly choreographed it's ridiculous to think that they are suppose to make it up on spot.

Anyways, like I said if it wasn't for all that it would be a fairly good movie, now it's just okay with occasional moments of greatness but also occasional moments of annoyance.