The Debut
“One night can change a lifetime.”
Synopsis
Filipino-American high school student Ben 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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Debut Trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2008-02-03
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Dante Basco
Ben Mercado
Jayson Schaal
Doug
Brian Card
Dave
Mindy Spence
Jennifer
Nicole Hawkyard
Susie
Brandon Martinez
Rick
Ernie Zarate
Tito Lenny
Gina Alajar
Gina Mercado
Bernadette Balagtas
Rose Mercado
Derek Basco
Edwin Mercado
Joy Bisco
Annabelle Manalo
Rawlins Apilado
Jun
Tirso Cruz III
Roland Mercado
Darion Basco
Augusto
Dionysio Basco
Rommel
Eddie Garcia
Lolo Carlos
Release History & Theatrical Window
May 18, 2000
Wide Cinema Exhibition
April 13, 2006
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
Pending
Total global ticket sales
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Gene Cajayon
- Screenplay & Story
- Gene Cajayon, John Manal Castro
- Original Score
- Wendall J. Yuponce
- Original Title
- The Debut
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Tagalog, English
- Runtime
- 1h 28m
- Production Budget
- $1M
- Production Studios
- Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), National Asian American Telecommunications Association
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Gene Cajayon
Gene Cajayon, John Manal Castro
Wendall J. Yuponce
Hisham Abed
Kenn Kashima
Department Leadership Roster
Gene Cajayon
Director
Gene Cajayon
Writer
John Manal Castro
Writer
Kenn Kashima
Editor
Michael Rizzo
Production Design
Hisham Abed
Director of Photography
Wendall J. Yuponce
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Debut.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Debut.
2000
Seasonal: Asian & Pacific Islander Films
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
MovieLens[:10K]
Seasonal: Asian & Pacific Islander Films
Auto-managed by seasonal classifier. Do not edit manually.
Movie Watchlist
70 Removal
Similar Titles to The Debut
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
5.7
7.4
6.1
6.5
6.7
4.8
4.4
6.6
5.1
7.2
7.0
6.0
6.8
6.3
6.8
7.3
0.8
More Like The Debut
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Debut
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Debut about?
Filipino-American high school student Ben 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.
Who directed The Debut?
The Debut was directed by Gene Cajayon.
Who stars in The Debut?
The principal cast of The Debut includes Dante Basco, Jayson Schaal, Brian Card, Mindy Spence, Nicole Hawkyard.
When was The Debut released and how long is it?
The Debut was released in 2000 with a total runtime of 1h 28m.
Who composed the musical score for The Debut?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Debut was composed by Wendall J. Yuponce.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Debut?
The Debut holds official age classifications: US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).